Mizzou New Play Series 2018
Synopses and performance times and dates
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Let Us Melt by Jamie Berry, directed by Leah Huskey
A fast-paced medley of poetry, science, and everyday conversation that combines the story of young love and young heartbreak with the classics of Greek literature and the beautiful vastness of space.
Wednesday, February 7, 2018, 7:30PM
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Blue Unicorn by Xiomara Cornejo, directed by Xiomara Cornejo
An Adaptation of "Poemas Clandestinos" by Roque Dalton
Roque Dalton, known as "The Blue Unicorn" and one of the greatest revolutionary poets of Latin America, was exiled from El Salvador for his radical views. Through the names of five imaginary poets, Dalton continues to publish poetry while exiled. In Blue Unicorn, these five imaginary poets are trapped in a prisoner's torture cell, shortly after an earthquake. Through poetry and music, they relive the unbelievable story of Roque Dalton and his escape from prison, multiple Romances, Radical Poetry And Ultimate Disappearance.
Wednesday, February 7, 2018, 7:30PM
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The Crystal Egg by Mimi Hedges, directed by Blake Willoughby
The Crystal Egg is adapted from a short story by H.G. Wells. We find ourselves in an antiquities shop in a New England town: Enoch Falls, Vermont. The year is 1918. Phineas Cave, a dealer in curiosities, has an egg shaped crystal with mysterious properties. Several customers are interested in this item but Cave is reluctant to sell it, much to the consternation of his wife. As the play develops, the audience discovers just how special this egg is. Professor Stermond Harrington (a friend of Cave’s) delivers the prologue and epilogue (as if addressing an audience for a National Geographic presentation) placing this tale as a recent memory.
Wednesday, February 7, 2018, 7:30PM
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A Murder of Crows by Derek Munson, directed by Taylor Sklenar
A Murder of Crows (2 women). A gothic tale. A mother and daughter’s battle for acceptance ends in tragedy.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
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Hot Chocolate with Hitler by Natalie McCabe, directed by Al Dabiri
This play details the life and death of Helga Goebbels. Goebbels was otherwise known as Adolf Hitler’s “favorite child.” Her body was found in Hitler’s bunker with bruises all over her face as the Soviet army drew ever closer.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
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Full Course Deal by Annelise Moloney, directed by Kate Busselle
When a spitfire high school student realizes he is dangerously close to failing his lit class, a teacher on the brink of retirement gives him a second chance. In an attempt to teach him lessons on life and lit, he assigns extra readings. However, can two weeks of patience put out the pent up anger if an impatient teen?
Thursday, February 8, 2018
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Of Madness and the Electric Dream by Taylor Sklenar, directed by Joshua Saboorizadeh
After discovering a groundbreaking new technology, wind research scientist, Cam, is faced with opposition from her financially-minded boss. While she struggles to develop her new prototype, Nikola Tesla similarly contends with Edison for the chance to electrify the world. But what are they each willing to sacrifice in the name of progress?
Friday, February 9, 2018
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Stuff by Lewis Shilane, directed by Natalie McCabe (one-act)
Emmy and Rick want to marry, but something is revealed about
Emmy's past which presents a problem.
Saturday, February 10, 2018, matinee
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Sharkie Shelfie by Natalie McCabe, directed by Lewis Shilane
People behave like animals, vying for selfies with sea creatures that wash up on our shores often at the expense of the sea creatures' lives. What happens when the tables are turned?
Saturday, February 10, 2018, matinee
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A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by Ben Knapp, directed by Minuette Layer
My ten-minute play, titled A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, is written about a timely issue concerning show business in 2017. An upcoming actress named Natalia Clark, along with her agent Drew Petersen, meet with a Hollywood film and television mogul named Harry Eckerstein. The meeting is going well, until Harry takes advantage of his powerful position, leaving Natalia conflicted about her future. Her reputation and career are on the line, as well as the relationship with her agent, Drew.
Saturday, February 10, 2018, matinee
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The Landlord by Lainie Vansant, directed by Al Dabiri (ten-minute)
Chad struggles to overcome his conservative roots to support the women in his life, especially his roommate Jenna, but this support is tested when he is faced with an older generation’s version of masculinity.
Saturday, February 10, 2018, matinee
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Cool by Ross Earley, directed by Lainie Vansant (ten-minute)
RYAN, a social misfit with a love for show tunes, attempts to woo MARGARET, a precocious but sassy bookworm, during the ten-minute intermission of his performance and realizes that pretending to be cool is less cool than he thinks.
Saturday, February 10, 2018, matinee
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Proxima Centauri by Minuette Layer, directed by Blake Willoughby
An aspiring astrophysics graduate students and her professor discover more than stars together.
Saturday, February 10, 2018, matinee
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Reincarnated Love by Charlotte Newman, directed by Lainie Vansant
Molly discovers than an elevator acquaintance is more than he seems in this strange time warp of past and present.
Saturday, February 10, 2018, matinee
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Shiver and Shake by Lainie Vansant, directed by Mimi Hedges
Jack struggles to understand the emotional worlds of people around him - tonight, he must survive a night in a haunted castle, where he hopes to learn to shiver and shake or lose his love forever.
Saturday, February 10, 2018, matinee
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Aaron Scully’s The Disappointments, directed by Derek Munson, Taylor Sklenar, dramaturg
The Disappointments follows Second, an alcoholic, as he attempts recovery in an alcoholism and addiction treatment facility.
Saturday, February 10, 2018, evening
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Heat Rising by Taylor Sklenar, directed by Michelle Lancaster
A climate scientist seeks a night of anonymous sex, but when she discovers she is meeting the politician responsible for declining environmental regulations, her night of no consequences turns to a desperate fight for policy change.
Sunday, February 11, 2018, matinee
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Original Sin Jacob Estes, directed by Austin Vincent
A ten minute play that explores the impact of discriminatory police practices in SouthEast Washington D.C.
Sunday, February 11, 2018, matinee
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I Was Just Gaming Around Blake Willoughby Directed by Kate Busselle
Two teenage friends go home after school to play a video game. The ghost of a past relationship and unfulfilled sexual urges leads to sexual assault.
Sunday, February 11, 2018, matinee
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Good Business by Michelle Lancaster, directed by Kate Busselle
A night at The Jackpot Elvis. A businessman and his protégé finalize a relationship that has come to place of serious negotiation.
Sunday, February 11, 2018, matinee
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The Hamburger Clown by David Hawley, directed Taylor Sklenar (ten-minute)
Two actors are competing to be the new Roland MacTavish, the new mascot for a famous hamburger chain. The director has asked them to provide a back story for the character. The two candidates provide their own stories. Unfortunately one of them is a psychopath, and after telling a bizzare and horrifying story he produces an axe threatens everyone in the room, including the audience.
Sunday, February 11, 2018, matinee
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The Comedian by Austin Vincent, directed by Amy Taylor
No one except John can see or interact with the Man, an embodiment of his own depression. What could happen when he’s been cheated one too many times and he pushes himself to his own breaking point?
Sunday, February 11, 2018, matinee
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My Own Darling Boy by Kaylin Jones directed by Derek Munson
Being a gay man can be dangerous, especially for soldiers on the cusp of the Second World War. Set around the days leading and following the event of Pearl Harbor, John finds himself entangled in the greatest (forbidden) love of his life and his greatest loss, and those who try to help him along the way.
Sunday, February 11, 2018, matinee
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Florence of Arabia by Minuette Layer, directed by Michelle Lancaster (ten-minute)
As the Cohen family prepares for Comic-Con, Lisa and Charlie have just 10 minutes to convince their daughter, Sarah, to be part of the family- by joining a “normal” fandom or they will “loose her forever”.
Sunday, February 11, 2018, matinee
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