The 42nd William Inge Theatre Festival April 17 to April 19 celebrates the stage with a full production of a new play, scenes at the historic William Inge House that are open to the public, and readings by playwrights who traveled from across the nation to Independence.
The Inge Festival is the Official Theatre Festival of the State of Kansas, as proclaimed by the Kansas Legislature, and produced by Independence Community College. The Festival’s namesake is Pulitzer Prize and Oscar-winning writer Wiliam Inge, a native son and alumnus of ICC.
The following public events are free admission to the public.
Thursday, April 17
Workshops and Panels on Theater: 12:30 p.m. to 2:20 p.m., Fine Arts Building, ICC
Scenes at the Inge House: 4 p.m., William Inge Historic Home, 514 N. 4th St., Independence
New Play Lab Readings, Session 1: 7 p.m., William Inge Theatre, ICC
Friday, April 18
Workshops and Panels on Theater: 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, Fine Arts Building, ICC
New Play Lab Readings, Session 2: 2:30 p.m., William Inge Theatre, ICC
Play: Helens of Troy New York: 7 p.m., William Inge Theatre, ICC
Saturday, April 19
Guest Artist Panel and Discussion: 9:30 a.m., Independence Public Library, 220 E. Maple St.
Play: Helens of Troy New York: 2 p.m., William Inge Theatre, ICC
“Unscripted: A Playwright’s Discussion” with Playwrights Carson Kreitzer and Tim J. Lord, moderated by Paul Molnar, Professor of Theatre ICC. 3:30 p.m., William Inge Theatre, ICC
Helens of Troy New York, is written by 2024 Inge Playwright-in-Resident Emma Horwitz. ICC Professor of Theatre Paul Molnar directs the student and community cast. The shows are Fri. April 18 at 7 p.m. and Sat. April 19 at 2:30 p.m. at ICC Inge Theatre.
Area high school actors perform “Scenes at the Inge House” at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at 514 North 4thStreet, in Independence.
There are two different sessions of the New Play Lab, where fourteen writers from eight states across the nation will have their new plays presented at readings April 17 at 7 p.m. and a 2:30 p.m. April 18. Both are at the Inge Theatre.
Panels and workshops are open to the public. At the culminating event, Carson Kreizer, a creator and book writer of the 2024 Broadway musical Lempicka, and award-winning playwright Tim J. Lord, will speak during “Unscripted: A Playwright’s Discussion,” at 3:30 p.m. Sat. April 19, at the Inge Theatre. Further workshops and panels take place at ICC Thursday, April 17, from 12:30-2:20 p.m., and Friday April 18 from 10 a.m. to noon; and then on Saturday, April 19, at the Independence Public Library.
Major Inge Festival supporters include Independence Community College; the William Inge Festival Foundation; the Independence Chamber of Commerce; the Kansas Arts Commission; and the National Endowment for the Arts.
For further information, visit www.ingecenter.org.