December 21, 2010
NO MEETING DUE TO HOLIDAY
December 7, 2010
• KOOKABURRA – by Amy Doherty
A play about friendship, crazed mothers and a piano. Set in 1990s London during the Gulf War Crisis. Friends and family mingle to discover truths that they may not have wanted to know.
• THE NUCLEUS OF PANDER – by Jenni Miller
A Duke and Martha Stewart have a tryst, the Byron runs for office and two down home would be Hispanics find happiness in the trap door of life. It’s the search for the golden egg, like a triscuit… it’s simply woven goodness.
November 16, 2010
• YARP?! – by Jeremy Benjamin
The true story of two friends: Chad — a modern-day ninja with a foul mouth — and Jeremy — a writer, philosopher and father in the throes of a divorce and a life threatening illness — who cooperatively ran a food cart on Hawthorne that catered to a late-night crowd, dedicated to serving restaurant quality food for dirt cheap, and thereby building community. If you drive by Hawthorne and 12th today, you will see a metal merry-go-round standing next to a sign advertising “Fried Pies!” Where that merry-go-round is now, “Yarp?!” tells the story of what took place on that square of concrete in the not-too-distant past.
• SUNDOWNERS – by Cassidy Barnes
An Alzheimer’s home caregiver negotiates bedtime with two people entrusted in his care. One is back in World War II and the other can’t seem to find her mother.
November 2, 2010
• SINKING SPRING – by Dave Chapman
The residents of Sinking Spring, Iowa have learned to live with neglect. Kids grow up and leave forever. There are few jobs left. No one pays much attention to this little town except for the brief few days during campaign season when caucus candidates make their obligatory stops at the local pizza parlor. No one notices the desperation and resentment that threatens to tear the community apart. And certainly no one expects the senseless tragedy that gains national attention and shakes one family to its core … but that just might be the clarion call for which Sinking Spring has been waiting.
October 19, 2010
• DEATH OF THE PARTY – by Sven Bonnichsen
A frolicky pansexual disco boy goes to despicable lengths trying to unlock his best friend’s untouchable heart. Claude, who thinks other people’s suffering is the height of comedy, has the power to bed anyone he wants… Anyone, that is, except Dean: Man of Mystery, and rising musical sensation. When Claude pursues clues to Dean’s past through a series of one-night-stands, unscrupulous infatuation will be punished with the romance that both monsters deserve.
October 5, 2010
• RACOON – by Jenni Miller
A single mother discovers she has terminal cancer and decides to keep it from her only son. A dinner party celebration reveals the truth and dysfunction of their family history. The son runs away and upon his return months later finds that his mother is ending her life. It’s a comedy.
• FFIONA AND THE QUEEN OF BALTIMORE (excerpt) – by David Holloway
Margaret dreams herself to be Ffiona, Princess of Baltimore. Her father, Nathan, was killed in the war. Margaret seeks the place where he now resides — but cannot see that he walks in their dingy apartment. Only Margaret’s mother can see Nathan… And she has a plan.
September 21, 2010
• THE BAG LADY’S CHRISTMAS – by Sharon Sassone
It’s the week before Christmas, and everyone is shopping, cooking, baking, decorating, and, in short, looking forward to the holidays. That would be “everyone” unless you are homeless, sick, unemployed, or facing foreclosure on your home. In “The Bag Lady’s Christmas,” playwright Sharon Sassone (whom we know as ShaSha) weaves suspense and laughter to keep the audience wondering: Can Santa Claus be trusted? Can the Bag Lady be trusted? Can the police be trusted? Can the shelter managers be trusted? Can the homeless folks in the park be trusted? Can anyone be trusted?????????
September 7, 2010
• ALL TOGETHER – by John Servilio
A one-woman show inspired by the life of Audrey Munson, America’s first lady of nude artists’ models. At the age of 100, Munson is living in an institution when she receives unexpected and unwanted visitors. Desperate for companionship, she puts her own spin on the infamous scandals surrounding her life.
August 17, 2010
• WHITE BLOOD RIVER – by Jay Frank
A one-man show set before historical photographs, dealing with two historical mysteries: the kidnapping of Josephine Meeker by the Ute Indians, and the disappearance of a statue from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
• THE DEMON HUSBAND – by David Holloway
A little gothic interlude with a Widow, her Son, a very sharp and bloody sword, and the Dead Husband come to claim what is supposedly his.
August 3, 2010
• BIGFOOT FORWARD – by Nick Azer
A Bigfoot has to try and convince his fellow Bigfoots that humans exist.
July 20, 2010
• INTO THE DUST – by Cassidy Barnes
A young man struggles with mental illness, institutional oppression and sexual violence, eventually realizing his Queer identity at Burning Man.
• BACKTALK – by Brad Bolchunos
When a passenger on the back of a bus dares to object to another passenger’s behavior, the ride takes a turn into the surreal.
July 6, 2010
• STREET CORNER PROFIT – by John Servilio
In the early hours of the morning before sunrise, drag-queen sex worker Secretia runs into street corner prophet Ernie and tries to score some last-minute change before heading home. But Ernie doesn’t give in so easily and he demands something in return. Will Secretia be able to satisfy this End of Days preacher and still walk off with the cash?
• SCROOGE AND MARLEY HAVE DINNER IN HELL – by Dave Chapman
After delivering his warning to Ebenezer Scrooge on that fateful Christmas Eve, Jacob Marley has spent the better part of a century tormented in the underworld. But on this Christmas, his old friend Scrooge pays a visit and brings along a surprising gift.
June 15, 2010
• THE DARK THINGS – by Rachel Tusler
It’s twelve years since the war against the vicious Dark Things was won, but the air is still filled with smoke and the stench of death. A group of young people face their initiation into adulthood: Sam wants to prove he’s a real man, Thea wants to trick the others into thinking she’s one of them, and Ross just wants to cause trouble. But will they survive their initiation into society? And what violent, grotesque, and cruel acts will be required of them to do so?
June 1, 2010
• MY LIFE AS A COW – by Sharon “ShaSha” Sassone
Zeus is besotted with lust for the beautiful Princess Io, but his wife, the majestic Hera, suspects another of his frequent infidelities and comes to earth to investigate. Nearly caught red-handed, Zeus changes Io into a lovely white heifer and sets her on a hilarious adventure to regain her human form. She encounters many mythical people (who largely are dealing with their own spells and curses). It’s a farce fit only for those who have a sense of humor in the ancient Greek tradition.
• OCEANS, OCEANS – by David Holloway
Recently dead (but rich) father’s last Will and Testament might disinherit his callow son, who hopes to find and destroy the lost document in a basement room soon to be flooded by the rising ocean. An aged family servant, however, stands in his way.
• WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS, LIGHT (new scene) – by Claire Willett
When 13-year-old Francesca loses her best friend Dominic in a car accident, she takes refuge in the chapel at her Catholic school. While there, she begins to experience visions, and Dominic’s ghost begins to visit her. Their story is interspersed with that of two 12th-century Italian saints named Chiara and Francesco, who love each other but are both sworn to celibacy.
May 18, 2010
• SACAGESASQUATCH – by Brad Bolchunos
Somewhere deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the leaders of an expedition of peace make a startling discovery.
• WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS, LIGHT – by Claire Willett
When 13-year-old Francesca loses her best friend Dominic in a car accident, she takes refuge in the chapel at her Catholic school, to hide from the world and grieve in private. While there, she begins to experience visions, and Dominic’s ghost begins to visit her; he wants her to move on, but she’s convinced he’s going to come back. Meanwhile the parish priest quarrels with Francesca’s mother over what’s happening – he believes she’s experiencing a divine vision, while her mother wants her to receive psychiatric care. Their story is interspersed with the story of two 12th-century Italian saints named Chiara and Francesco, who love each other but are both sworn to celibacy. As Francesco and Chiara slowly move from the reality of their time and place into Francesca’s world, the two stories weave together. All the characters must face the realities of loss and death, but discover together the truth that no one we love ever really goes away.
May 4, 2010
• BY THE HOUR – by Jeremy Benjamin
In an expensive walk along the beach, a man hires a prostitute to NOT have sex with him.
• HELLO MY NAME IS – by Jenni Miller
A surreal and disorienting ride… With a surprise beginning, surprise middle, and surprise ending.
April 20, 2010
• MY APOLOGIES – by Hannah Fotter
A girl whose father died when her mom was going to divorce him… Confides in a friend following the father’s funeral.
• CRANIAL CAMARADERIE – by Brad Bolchunos
When psychics meet at the local coffee shop, zany comedy ensues.
• DOCTOR NIGHTSHADE – by Sven Bonnichsen
A light farce concerning a hard-boiled mystery writer — and the mysterious arrival of Paul Revere.
April 6, 2010
• STAY – by Amy Doherty
• HELLO MY NAME IS (first act) – by Jenni Miller
• UP, UP AND AWAY – by Brad Bolchunos
• HELL’S MERRY-GO-ROUND – by Sven Bonnichsen
March 23, 2010
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING