to Friday`s program - Minnesota Shorts Play Festival

Fire Cupid! stars Molly Vouk, Jason Barkmeier, Seth Rausch and Joe Bidwell.
At What Price? stars Elta
Covington, Carissa Christenson & Kendra Braunger.
Minnesota
Shorts
Play
Festival
2015
Alban’s Garden stars Jennifer Potocnik and
Tracy Stokes-Hernandez.
7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11
Jury Duty stars Jean Eelma,
Laronda Bourn & Anita Prestidge.
Good Corporate Citizen stars Reba Clamp,
Michelle Casali and Elizabeth Hilber.
Catnipped
stars
Charles
Numrich,
Matthew
Englund,
and Lolly
Foy.
Alban’s Garden
At What Price?
Jury Duty
Catnipped
Good Corporate
Citizen
Fire Cupid!
by Rich Espey
by Janet Barnes
Last Words stars Cindy Olson
and Chuck Kind.
by Sam Graber
Last Words
by Philip J. Kaplan
by Cheryl Navo
by Nissa Nordland
by Matt David
SUMMARIES & PLAYWRIGHTS SUMMARIES & PLAYWRIGHTS
ALBAN’S GARDEN
STARRING: Tracy Stokes-Hernandez as Sharon; AND
Jennifer Potocnik as Laura
DIRECTED BY: TIM BERRY
SUMMARY: Two neighbors meet in the aftermath of a neighborhood tragedy. Is a
pot of White Chicken Chili a gift of comfort or an act of revenge?
WRITTEN by RICH ESPEY of Towson, Maryland
Rich is a Baltimorean whose plays have been produced throughout the United
States. Recent highlights include The Revelation of Bobby Pritchard produced by Iron
Crow Theatre, and Stand Up!, a monologue included in Center Stage’s “My America”
project. Rich is a three time winner of the Carol Weinberg Award for best play at the
Baltimore Playwrights Festival. He is the former Baltimore Regional representative of
the Dramatists Guild, a member of DC’s Playwrights Gymnasium and the Playwrights
Group of Baltimore, and has served as Chair of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival
and as President of the Board of Single Carrot Theatre. Check out samples of his
work and a production history at www.richespey.net.
FIRE CUPID!
STARRING: Seth Rausch as Cupid; Joe Bidwell as Daryl;
Jason Barkmeier as Robin Hood; Molly Vouk as Mockingjay;
Lydia Helder as Daughter; Greg Abbott as Older Man;
AND Leslie DuPree-Cady as Venus/Mother
DIRECTED BY: MOLLY SMITH
SUMMARY: Can the world’s best archers help Cupid’s aim and stop Venus from
sending the Cherub of Love to the unemployment line?
WRITTEN by MATT DAVID of Duluth, MN
Matt is a University of Minnesota-Duluth graduate whose dream is still to write that
one “To Kill a Mockingbird” novel...or at least get filthy rich writing science fiction or a
comic book series. He is ecstatic to be back in the Minnesota Shorts Festival with a
play that combines Greek gods with Daryl from “Walking Dead.” His latest short plays
include “A Little Race With Your Beer?” and “Some Drivel for the NSA.”
JURY DUTY
STARRING: Jean Eelma as Gert; Laronda Bourn as Henrietta;
AND Anita Prestidge as Nola
DIRECTED BY: PAUL WARSHAUER
SUMMARY: Gert Cummford and Henrietta Waverstock, residing in a retirement
residence, receive Juror Summons. Excited at the prospect of serving, they envision
and elaborate on their prospective duties. Cross-examination by Nola Rhodes, the
selection examiner, leads to the decision as to whether they will or won’t be on the
jury.
WRITTEN by JANET BARNES of Edina, MN
Janet Barnes is a former actress who appeared on Broadway in “Take Her, She’s
Mine”, Old Log theater productions and summer stock. She was a television reporter, writer and producer in Minneapolis, New York City and Australia. Her one act
plays have been produced off-off Broadway in New York. “Jury Duty” was previously
included in the Lakeshore Players 10-Minute Play Festival, White Bear Lake, MN and
the North Park Playwright Festival in San Diego, CA. She holds a BA in Theater from
the University of Minnesota and is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Playwrights’
Center, ASCAP and Theater Resources Unlimited.
OUR SPONSORS:
SUMMARIES & PLAYWRIGHTS SUMMARIES & PLAYWRIGHTS
AT WHAT PRICE?
STARRING: Elta Covington as Trudi; Carissa Christenson as
Left Brain; AND Kendra Braunger as Right Brain
DIRECTED BY: SUSAN OLSON
SUMMARY: Trudi has just been told that she has a BRCA1 genetic mutation that
gives her a much higher chance of developing breast and ovarian cancer. She was
given the option of a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. While Trudi talks to her husband, her logical Left Brain and emotional Right Brain disagree on a course of action.
WRITTEN by CHERYL NAVO of Germany
Cheryl’s theatre involvement began in 2009 as an actor with KMC Onstage, a military
community theatre in Kaiserslautern, Germany. She spent several years exploring
the roles of actor, set designer, charge artist, costumer, and director before writing
her first play. Her one-act play, “Parade of Queens,” was produced by the Baumholder Hilltop Theatre. Her one-act play, “Hotline,” was produced for the 2013 Pittsburgh
New Works Festival, and the 2013 Army Europe Festival of One Act Plays, and was
published by Dramatic Publishing Company. Cheryl’s first full-length play, “Lie of
Omission,” will be in production with Studio Theatre, Long Island.
CATNIPPED
STARRING: Charles Numrich as Mr. Waffles; Lolly Foy as Erin;
AND Matthew Englund as Timothy
DIRECTED BY: NISSA NORDLAND
SUMMARY: Erin has received notice from her landlord to choose between her two
pets; a tuxedo cat, Mr.Waffles, who she has had for nine years, or a new adorable
kitten, Timothy.
WRITTEN by NISSA NORDLAND of Minneapolis, MN
Nissa Nordland is an actor and writer in the Twin Cities. She has had the pleasure to
work with several theatre companies in the area and has appeared in Play It Again,
Sam (Artistry, Bloomington Civic); Tesla and The Ghost Sonata (Nimbus theatre);
Chaste Maid in Cheap Side, Romeo and Juliet, and Love’s Labor’s Lost (Classical
Actor’s Ensemble); Black Tie and The Hollow (Theatre in the Round); Three Sisters,
The Knife Show, Chief, and Littler Women (The Buoyant Group); Dracula (Lyric Arts);
The Tempest (Public Dreams Theatre). She has a BA in Theatre Arts from Southwest
Minnesota State University where she co-founded an Annual Playwriting Festival for
readings of new works. Nordland resides in Minneapolis with her woodsy boyfriend,
Zach, and her fluffy cat, Delilah. She also enjoys playing pinball.
GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN
STARRING: Reba Clamp as Checkmark;
Michelle Casali as Gap/Wal-mart/CNN; AND
Elizabeth Hilber as Smith Cantor/Recruiter/Judge/Atlantic Health
DIRECTED BY: SCOTT PAKUDAITIS
SUMMARY: Are corporations people?
WRITTEN by SAM GRABER of Minneapolis, MN
Sam Graber has become widely heralded as the world’s skinniest playwright. His
plays have been staged in some shape or form by Abingdon Theatre (off-Broadway),
Abstract Sentiment Theatre Co. (off-off), Mission Theatre (MN), The Blank Theatre
(CA), Box Wine Theatre (MN), Seven Stories Theatre (WV), Seven Collective (NYC),
The Warner Theatre (CT), Upstage Theatre (TX), The Pulp Stage (OR), Mildred’s
Umbrella (TX), City Theatre of Independence (MO), The Driftwood Players (WA),
Venture Theatre (MT), Love Creek Productions (NYC), Collaboraction (IL), HartBeat
Ensemble (CT), Renegade Theater (MN), The AlphaNYC Theater (NYC) and Between Us Productions (NYC). Meanwhile, he lives outside Minneapolis where the
temperature is currently 406 degrees colder than wherever you are. He resides there
with a wife, two kids and a half-working iPad which means that he is, at best, the fifth
most important person in his house. His website is www.samgraber.com. His mother
wants him to eat more.
LAST WORDS
STARRING: Chuck Kind as Gus; AND Cindy Olson as Kristin
DIRECTED BY: MAGGIE MAES
SUMMARY: A brother and sister politely fight at their father’s funeral.
WRITTEN by PHILIP J. KAPLAN of Brooklyn, New York
Philip J. Kaplan is the author of “Hollywood Musicals: Best, Worst and Most Unusual.” He has also been published in two volumes of Best Ten Minute Plays (Smith and
Kraus). Full Length plays include: “The Cupcake Conspiracy” (w/ C.J. Ehrlich), Rover
DramaWerks (2015), Getchell Contest Finalist (2013), Mountain Playhouse International Comedy Playwriting Contest Finalist (2012); “I, Vermin: A Hollywood Success
Story,” New York Fringe Festival (2002); and “Violent Overthrow of the Government
(and Other Family Matters).” His website is: http://philipkaplan.weebly.com.
THE SURVEY
BEST OF THE FEST
This festival is made possible by a grant provided by the Prairie
Lakes Regional Arts Council, from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural
Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature
with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4,
2008.
ZIP CODE ___________
Age o
5-25
o
o
26-50
Male o
o
Female
51-75 o
76-99
1. Rate today’s show with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor
1
2
3
4
5
(poor)
(average)
(excellent)
2. This is our seventh annual festival of all original plays. Would
you like to see this continue as an annual event?
YESNO
3. Circle how you heard about today’s show?
Poster/Postcard Friend
Newspaper
TV
Social Media/Web
Radio
Other
4. Arts help the economy. Circle if you ate at a restaurant before
the show, plan to go to a pub after the show or are from out of
town and stayed at a hotel.
RestaurantPubHotel/Motel
5. Was the $10 ticket price ($8 in advance or $5 for students) fair?
YES
NO
I BOUGHT A 2-DAY PASS
CIRCLE YOUR TOP PLAY OF THE EVENING. The play receiving the most votes will get a $100 Best of the Fest prize. Rank
the rest 1-5, with 1 being poor, 3 average and 5 excellent.
Alban’s Garden
At What Price?
Jury Duty
Catnipped
by Rich Espey _______
by Janet Barnes
_______
Good Corporate
Citizen
by Sam Graber
_______
by Philip J. Kaplan
_______
Last Words
by Cheryl Navo
_______
by Nissa Nordland _______
Fire Cupid!
by Matt David
_______
BEST ACTOR & ACTRESS
CIRCLE YOUR TOP ACTRESS & ACTOR OF THE EVENING
ACTRESSES
Tracy Stokes-Hernandez as Sharon
Jennifer Potocnik as Laura
Jean Eelma as Gert
Laronda Bourn as Henrietta
Anita Prestidge as Nola
Reba Clamp as Checkmark
Michelle Casali as Gap
Elizabeth Hilber as Smith Cantor
Cindy Olson as Kristin
Elta Covington as Trudi
Carissa Christenson as Left Brain
Kendra Braunger as Right Brain
Lolly Foy as Erin
Molly Vouk as Mockingjay
Lydia Helder as Daughter
Leslie Cady as Mother
ACTORS
Chuck Kind as Gus
Charles Numrich as Mr. Waffles
Matthew Englund as Timothy
Seth Rausch as Cupid
Joe Bidwell as Daryl
Jason Barkmeier as Robin Hood
THANKS TO PEPSI FOR SODA DONATIONS