Emerging playwrights from across the nation have been selected to further develop their stories at the Midwest’s distinctive theater festival in a small Kansas town, where story-telling still lives on front porches of gentle evenings.
The New Play Lab of the 36th Annual William Inge Theater Festival and Conference, a partnership between Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission and Independence Community College, will host 36 outstanding writers from 15 states for the second annual New Play Lab. The Lab takes place April 19-22, during the Inge Festival, the Official Theatre Festival of the State of Kansas.
The scripts, chosen “blind” by a panel of theater artists from across the nation, are rehearsed by top regional directors and actors, in preparation for a public reading for conference and Festival attendees. Producing partner Kokopelli Theater of Kansas City, MO, casts and rehearses in advance of the Festival, enabling the writers chosen to do a final edit before presentation. A panel of Master Writers and select theater professionals serves as respondents to each work, following the reading.
Play Lab writers join Festival patrons nationwide for panel discussions, lectures, workshops with master playwrights and theater practitioners, evening performances, and the many social events the Festival offers.
The 2017 Inge Honoree for Distinguished Achievement in the American Theater is Beth Henley, who will be present throughout. For tickets and more information, visit www.ingecenter.org or phone (620) 332-5491.
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Independence Community College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
