playwriting

Adams shares career advice with student writers and recent graduates hoping to work in the industry

Earlier this year, Larson received the Smith-Pettit Foundation Award for Outstanding Contribution to Mormon LettersMelissa Leilani Larson discovered her talent and love for crafting words at an early age, writing her first short story in third grade.

BYU’s Department of Theatre and Media Arts will present Microburst Theatre Festival in the Nelke Theatre on Jan. 13-16, at 7:30 p.m., with ASL interpretation on Jan. 14 and a 2 p.m. matinee on Jan. 16. Tickets are $5. Tickets can be purchased in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com. Directed by Rodger Sorensen, Microburst Theatre features a series of thought-provoking and funny short plays, newly written by BYU student writers that explore the theme “taking time, making time.” Winner of three national awards at the 2014 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, this annual showcase of new work explores the moments in time that often go unnoticed. “These short plays come at us in brief, intense bits of drama and comedy–sometimes unexpected and sometimes anticipated. Either way, they don’t last long,” said Jeff Martin, the producer for BYU Arts. Now in its third year, this season’s festival features the work of 13 playwrights, 12 actors, 6 student directors and 2 dramaturgs. The plays and playwrights include “Baby Steps” by Hadley Holyoak, “A Blossom Tree” by Ting-Chun Chang, “BYU Time Experience” by Daniel Fifield, “Ding” by Janine Sobeck, “A Dramaturg’s Tale” by Rick Curtiss, “Freeze” by Kristen Perkins, “Keeping Clocks” by Marianne Hales Harding, “Possibilities” by Teresa Love, “Recompense” by Kiersten Carr, “Salvo” by Cristin Lunt, “Time Crimes” by Brad Witbeck, “Time in the Attic” by Jessica Fluegel and “Time Lapse” by Keith Grover. The cast includes Andrew Smith, Courtney Miller, Francisco Acosta, J.D. Shaeffer, Logan Ruesch, Mari Toronto, Rachel Belt, Rachel Bennett, Rachelle Hull, Shay Ruesch, Sierra Docken and Teagan Clark. The production team includes Amberly Plourde, Britney Miles, Daniel Brown, Lauren Wilkins, Michael Comp and Soren Budge as student directors; Juliette Lewis Mergist as costume designer; Celia Rivera as makeup designer; Bronte Campbell as scenic designer; Celia Linford as lighting designer; Scott Jackson as prop shop manager; Aubrianna Hockett as prop designer; and Dillian Durrant as stage manager. Tickets and Show Details Performance Dates and Times: Jan. 13-16, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. ASL performance on Jan. 14. Matinee on Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. Location: Nelke Theatre, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $5 Tickets: Available in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com

What started as a CFAC student’s writing assignment for a playwriting class is becoming a publication of Samuel French, Inc., one of the most distinguished play-publishing companies in the U.S. Ariel Mitchell, a recent TMA graduate, received the 2013 Harold and Mimi Steinberg National Student Playwriting Award at the National Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. While a 10-minute selection of her play was being read by equity actors in a Millennium Stage reading, representatives of Samuel French liked what they heard and decided to publish her play, A Second Birth, on June 18. “It is unreal. I still don’t believe it’s happening,” Mitchell said. “I’ve been incredibly blessed to have this opportunity so early in my life.” A Second Birth shares the struggles of a poor Afghani girl named Nasima, who is raised a boy to improve the family’s social and economic standing in their community. Nasima wrestles with past relationships and future traditions on her way to self-discovery. Through her strife the play tackles important contemporary issues. “I hope that through publication the play will be able to go on and reach many other people and encourage conversations about gender, love, family and friendship in their communities,” Mitchell said. Mitchell recently finished her first year at the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program in the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. For the second and final year of her program Mitchell will work with a partner to write a 90-minute musical, her master’s thesis. She and her collaborator are writing a musical comedy about a girl raised by a Mormon father and a Jewish mother who has to choose what she believes without alienating her parents or relatives. As a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mitchell finds inspiration for her plays wherever she can. “I’ve always been happier to listen than talk and be heard,” Mitchell shared. “I joke with my friends and family and say they should sign a waiver before getting too close to me, because somehow their lives are going to end up on stage.” Mitchell noted that the success of A Second Birth would not be possible without the training and education she received while in the TMA program. “I am most grateful for the professors who work so hard to pull the best out of their students, work with the Spirit and teach and encourage each individual’s process, goals and stories,” Mitchell said. “It gave me assurance that I am a talented theatrical artist and that I can create good work while still keeping and bearing testimony.” The success of A Second Birth may have come as a surprise to Mitchell, but the experience has strengthened her personal faith. “I never expected it to be published. All I can say is if you work hard, God opens doors,” Mitchell said.

Seven BYU playwrights worked tirelessly for weeks to create a performance that included seven, 7 minute plays in what came to be known as the Microburst Theatre Festival. Under the direction of George Nelson, an associate professor in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts (TMA), the group acquired five actors to play all the roles. The show went on to receive three prestigious awards at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). Student playwriting achievements have been celebrated at KCACTF throughout the nation for over 40 years. These BYU playwrights put in weeks of work, and the stories they told have been received with near universal acclaim. According to Nelson, these playwrights all have one thing in common. “This is the writing of my very beginning playwriting students,” Nelson said in regard to the KCACTF awards. “I’m really kind of flabbergasted.” The plays, written by Taryn Politis, Amy McGreeby, Katie Jarvis, Amberly Lourde, Amanda Welch, Chelsea Hickman and Chauntel Lopez, tackle the topic of love in comical and touching ways, exploring its unpredictable and sometimes awkward development. Students won the Distinguished Production of New Work Award and a Performance Award for Distinguished Achievement. Nelson was recognized at KTCACTF as well, receiving the Distinguished Direction of a New Work Award. Wade Hollingshaus, a fellow TMA faculty member, received the Excellence in Theatre Education Award at the festival as well. Hollingshaus mentioned that his coworkers help make these recognitions possible. “I love working in TMA. The TMA faculty–we have great relationships, we have great respect for each other,” Hollinghaus said. “I want to continue to work in this environment, and to make sure to do my part so the environment stays the way that it is.” Nelson said that playwriting is most rewarding when writers get an opportunity to see their work performed, receive feedback on it and rewrite the script. This pattern has proven to be successful with BYU’s popular sketch comedy group, Divine Comedy, which Nelson advises. He decided to try this rigorous system with these new playwrights. “This was our first attempt to do that, and to get this kind of a reaction–it’s remarkable,” Nelson said happily. “If BYU is to distinguish itself from other universities that exist in the world, the greatest opportunity we have to do that is in writing. If we get good at it, then we can change the landscape of the theatrical world.” Nelson noted that while modern views of love take on a variety of perspectives, the Microburst Theatre Festival attempts to show the truth about love without being crude or vulgar. “We don’t have to reflect the voice of the world,” he said.