By Brent Lyday
Commerce – The Texas A&M University-Commerce University Playhouse will be continuing the 10th annual "Catch a Rising Star New Play Festival" with plays written by A&M-Commerce students on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Studio Theatre of the Performing Arts Center.
Each student was assigned to write two plays each, one comedy and one drama, in 48 hours. After all plays were read, a vote took place to determine which would be performed. Directors and cast members were then selected and plays were rehearsed for three weeks.
"One quality of good writers is self discipline, and writing two plays in 48 hours certainly requires self discipline," said Jim Anderson, directing manager of the University Playhouse summer theatre. "Our students find it challenging, but I've never had a student who simply couldn't do it. One the plays are cast, the real work of revision begins."
Plays to be performed at the festival include "Call Waiting," "Clothes," "Future of the Species," "The Interview," "Nerds Gone Wild," "Irony and Hope," and "So Not Gangstur." The ensemble includes A&M-Commerce junior Kasey Thompson and A'Mari Rocheleau, seniors Bronson Roper, Micah Haynes, Morgan Garrett, Christina Jones, and Forrest Attaway, and graduate students Jeffrey Stirl, Alex Embry, Erica Franks, Matha Daniel-Dupree, Charlie Crews, Misty Doroshow, and Phil Ingle.
"Some of these plays in the past have gone on to win awards at the Kennedy American College Theatre Festival, and others have been expanded to full length plays and had professional productions," Anderson said. "One of our first playwrights was nominated for an Emmy last year."
Admission to all performances are free, but donations will be accepted. Some plays may contain adult language and content. For more information, please contact the University Playhouse box office at 903-886-5900, or at playhouseboxoffice@tamu-commerce.edu.