New Works Festival

Presented on May 2-4

Our annual presentation of new student writing, directed, designed and performed by students.

101.1 The Soul

Written by Daniel Levy
Directed by Vivian Luther

Together, Dave and Julia have hosted the morning show on KSOL for as long as they can remember. They met at work and fell in love, but now they must come to terms with the fact that nothing is forever – not work, not even rock and roll.

Cast

Anthony Topsfield (Dave), Ketino Christopher (Julia), Eli Shillinger (Tommy), Joshua Merwise (Reporter)

Crew

Isabella Lopez (Stage Manager), Emma Whitley (Assistant Stage Manager), Zoe Grandy (Set Designer), Katie Leszynski (Costume Designer)

Baby Alligator

Written by Madeline Correll
Directed by Leire Aguilera Kelly

A comedic critique of a modern-day college relationship.

Crew

Shannon Moran (Stage Manager), Emma Whitley (Assistant Stage Manager), Eliza Black (Set Designer), Kate Phillipp (Costume Designer)

Fresh Hell

Written by Courtney Harshbarger
Directed by Kayan Tara

A cynical old gravedigger and an uptight young woman clash over whose life is worse as they both try to cope with loss.

Cast

Francesca Xuereb (Sophia), Brian Reyes (Durdles)

Crew

Lisa Lawrence (Stage Manager), Harold B. Lloyd, Jr. (Assistant Stage Manager), Sika Lonner (Set Designer), Kate Phillipp (Costume Designer)

Heart Surgery

Written by Shani Hogan
Directed by Braden Wells

A peek into the trials and tribulations of being a black woman in modern hook up culture.

Cast

Brooklyn Kelly (Lila), Jimmy Darling (Chase)

Crew

Yawen (Evan) (Stage Manager), Harold B. Lloyd, Jr. (Assistant Stage Manager), Bridger Caicedo (Set Designer), Katie Leszynski (Costume Designer)

Stage Two in Five Stages

Written by Nicole Rosenbach
Directed by Juliet Shelton

Confronted with a bad diagnosis, a younger brother grieves his health while confusing need with weakness.

Cast

Brynn Doyle (Bella), Henry Bacon (Davey), Erik Scilley (Tyler), Sophia Kalff (Sasha)

Crew

Shannon Moran (Stage Manager), Harold B. Lloyd, Jr. (Assistant Stage Manager), Cate Chapman (Set Designer), Kate Phillipp (Costume Designer)

Pot Luck for Good Luch

Written by Amanda Nahin
Directed by Kate Bianco

A self-involved fitness fanatic learns that he’s only as good as his best side dish.

Cast

Noah Bradley (Henry), Carly Johnson (Josie)

Crew

Grace Villa (Stage Manager), Emma Whitley (Assistant Stage Manager), Cate Chapman (Set Designer), Kate Phillipp (Costume Designer)

Face to Face

Written and Directed by Harold B. Lloyd, Jr.

There are more Black bodies behind bars than the ones owned during the height of slavery.

Cast

Harold B. Lloyd Jr. (Voice)

Crew

Lili Koehler (Stage Manager), Emma Whitley (Assistant Stage Manager)

Improper Touch

Written by Cassidy Kepp
Directed by Polina Capuano

Across the United States women take public transportation every day. They should be safe...right?

Cast

Jessica Dickerson (Character #1), Katie Leszynski (Character #2), Avamarie Shroeder (Character #3)

Crew

Zoe Grandy (Stage Manager), Nick Dart (Assistant Stage Manager), Eliza Black (Set Designer), Katie Leszynski (Costume Designer)

They Are Not Here

Written by Albus Wang
Directed by Yilin Qian

A journey to the darkness, the unknown, and the complexity.

Cast

Meigan LaRocca (Voice)

Crew

Lili Koehler (Stage Manager), Sharon Law (Assistant Stage Manager)

Red Label

Written by Lucille Brillhart
Directed by Niall Sulcer

An odd couple forced together by someone else's tragedy.

Cast

Cecille Forsyth Rios (Rita), Isaac Tackman (Jude)

Crew

Cate Chapman (Stage Manager), Nick Dart (Assistant Stage Manager), Bridger Caicedo (Set Designer), Kate Phillipp (Costume Designer)

The Moon's Peak

Written by Maya Florin
Directed by Derby Reeves

Four hours till the moon rises. Four hours till everything changes.

Cast

Cat Hayes (Elaina), Amelia Comer (Maddy)

Crew

Madeline Mchugh (Stage Manager), Sharon Law (Assistant Stage Manager), Sika Lonner (Set Designer), Katie Leszynski (Costume Designer)

Girl Wonder

Written by Olivia Sikora
Directed by Amanda Nahin

“Where words fail, music speaks." -Hans Christian Andersen. What happens then when music fails, and words are all we have left?

Cast

Brittany Huie (Lily), Griffin Hunt (J-Man)

Crew

Juan Sebastian Bernal (Stage Manager), Sharon Law (Assistant Stage Manager), Zoe Grandy (Set Designer), Katie Leszynski (Costume Designer)

It Exists

Written by Kennedy Smith
Directed by Yilin Qian

Love is a complex thing. It comes in many shapes and forms. It can heal or hurt. The only thing that anyone really knows for certain about love is that it exists.

Cast

Sam Gianfala (Voice #1), Amanda Williams (Voice #2), Izzy Johnson (Voice #3)

Crew

Lili Koehler (Stage Manager), Sharon Law (Assistant Stage Manager)

Pull Out

Written by Neyah Barbee
Directed by Shannon O’Kane

Stuck in a tight spot, a young woman maneuvers love and parallel parking. Pull Out is an intimate drama about a relationship that is running out of gas.

Cast

Peter Sullivan (Xavier), Sydney Antill (Riley)

Crew

Megan Leberknight (Stage Manager), Nick Dart (Assistant Stage Manager), All Designers (Set Designer), Kate Phillipp (Costume Designer)

Production Team

Bill 1

Shannon O’Kane (Production Manager), Judith Royer, CSJ (Acting Mentor), Doris Baizley (Playwriting Mentor), Dana Resnick (Directing Mentor), Maureen Weiss (Set Design Mentor), Leon Wiebers (Costume Design Mentor), Rob Hillig (Lighting/Sound Design Mentor), Jason Sheppard (Technical Director), John Burton (Prop Master), Lili Koehler (Assistant Prop Master), Patricia McMahon (Costume Shop Manager), Juan Sebastian Bernal (Lighting Designer), Jessica Hadley (Sound Designer), Emma Whitley, Harold B. Lloyd, Jr. (Assistant Stage Managers), Cassandra Lechner (Light Board Operator), Preston Simpson (Sound Board Operator), Dillon Brown, Olivia Sikora, Katie Stottlemire, Makena Cecil, Milica Vrzic, Rose Raddatz, Susan Tilbury, Sean Jacobson (Running Crew), Sika Lonner, Julia Eckley, Kennedy Smith (Wardrobe Crew), Thea McKay, Keiva Bradley (Wardrobe/Hair/Make-up Crew)

Bill 2

Lawrence Azara (Production Manager), Judith Royer, CSJ (Acting Mentor), Doris Baizley (Playwriting Mentor), Dana Resnick (Directing Mentor), Maureen Weiss (Set Design Mentor), Leon Wiebers (Costume Design Mentor), Rob Hillig (Lighting/Sound Design Mentor), Jason Sheppard (Technical Director), John Burton (Prop Master), Lili Koehler (Assistant Prop Master), Patricia McMahon (Costume Shop Manager), Juan Sebastian Bernal (Lighting Designer), Jessica Hadley (Sound Designer), Sharon Law, Nick Dart (Assistant Stage Managers), Cassandra Lechner (Light Board Operator), Preston Simpson (Sound Board Operator), Dillon Brown, Katie Stottlemire, Makena Cecil, Milica Vrzic, Rose Raddatz, Susan Tilbury, Sean Jacobson (Running Crew), Sika Lonner, Julia Eckley, Kennedy Smith (Wardrobe Crew), Thea McKay, Keiva Bradley (Wardrobe/Hair/Make-up Crew)