MinnesotaShortsPlay

Festival2015

7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11

Alban’s Gardenby Rich Espey

Jury Dutyby Janet Barnes

Good Corporate Citizen

by Sam GraberLast Words

by Philip J. Kaplan

At What Price?by Cheryl Navo

Catnippedby Nissa Nordland

Fire Cupid!by Matt David

Last Words stars Cindy Olson and Chuck Kind.

Jury Duty stars Jean Eelma, Laronda Bourn & Anita Prestidge.

At What Price? stars Elta Covington, Carissa Christen-son & Kendra Braunger.

Cat-nipped stars Charles Numrich, Matthew Englund, and Lolly Foy.

Good Corporate Citizen stars Reba Clamp, Michelle Casali and Elizabeth Hilber.

Fire Cupid! stars Molly Vouk, Jason Bark-meier, Seth Rausch and Joe Bidwell.

Alban’s Garden stars Jennifer Potocnik and Tracy Stokes-Hernandez.

SUMMARIES & PLAYWRIGHTSALBAN’S GARDEN

STARRING: Tracy Stokes-Hernandez as Sharon; AND Jennifer Potocnik as Laura DIRECTED BY: TIM BERRY

SUMMARY: Two neighbors meet in the aftermath of a neighborhood tragedy. Is a pot of White Chicken Chili a gift of comfort or an act of revenge?

WRITTEN by RICH ESPEY of Towson, MarylandRich is a Baltimorean whose plays have been produced throughout the United States. Recent highlights include The Revelation of Bobby Pritchard produced by Iron Crow Theatre, and Stand Up!, a monologue included in Center Stage’s “My America” project. Rich is a three time winner of the Carol Weinberg Award for best play at the Baltimore Playwrights Festival. He is the former Baltimore Regional representative of the Dramatists Guild, a member of DC’s Playwrights Gymnasium and the Playwrights Group of Baltimore, and has served as Chair of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival and as President of the Board of Single Carrot Theatre. Check out samples of his work and a production history at www.richespey.net.

SUMMARIES & PLAYWRIGHTS

OUR SPONSORS:JURY DUTY

STARRING: Jean Eelma as Gert; Laronda Bourn as Henrietta; AND Anita Prestidge as Nola

DIRECTED BY: PAUL WARSHAUERSUMMARY: Gert Cummford and Henrietta Waverstock, residing in a retirement residence, receive Juror Summons. Excited at the prospect of serving, they envision and elaborate on their prospective duties. Cross-examination by Nola Rhodes, the selection examiner, leads to the decision as to whether they will or won’t be on the jury.

WRITTEN by JANET BARNES of Edina, MNJanet Barnes is a former actress who appeared on Broadway in “Take Her, She’s Mine”, Old Log theater productions and summer stock. She was a television re-porter, writer and producer in Minneapolis, New York City and Australia. Her one act plays have been produced off-off Broadway in New York. “Jury Duty” was previously included in the Lakeshore Players 10-Minute Play Festival, White Bear Lake, MN and the North Park Playwright Festival in San Diego, CA. She holds a BA in Theater from the University of Minnesota and is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Playwrights’ Center, ASCAP and Theater Resources Unlimited.

FIRE CUPID!STARRING: Seth Rausch as Cupid; Joe Bidwell as Daryl;

Jason Barkmeier as Robin Hood; Molly Vouk as Mockingjay; Lydia Helder as Daughter; Greg Abbott as Older Man;

AND Leslie DuPree-Cady as Venus/Mother DIRECTED BY: MOLLY SMITH

SUMMARY: Can the world’s best archers help Cupid’s aim and stop Venus from sending the Cherub of Love to the unemployment line?

WRITTEN by MATT DAVID of Duluth, MNMatt is a University of Minnesota-Duluth graduate whose dream is still to write that one “To Kill a Mockingbird” novel...or at least get filthy rich writing science fiction or a comic book series. He is ecstatic to be back in the Minnesota Shorts Festival with a play that combines Greek gods with Daryl from “Walking Dead.” His latest short plays include “A Little Race With Your Beer?” and “Some Drivel for the NSA.”

LAST WORDSSTARRING: Chuck Kind as Gus; AND Cindy Olson as Kristin

DIRECTED BY: MAGGIE MAES

SUMMARY: A brother and sister politely fight at their father’s funeral.

WRITTEN by PHILIP J. KAPLAN of Brooklyn, New YorkPhilip J. Kaplan is the author of “Hollywood Musicals: Best, Worst and Most Unusu-al.” He has also been published in two volumes of Best Ten Minute Plays (Smith and Kraus). Full Length plays include: “The Cupcake Conspiracy” (w/ C.J. Ehrlich), Rover DramaWerks (2015), Getchell Contest Finalist (2013), Mountain Playhouse Interna-tional Comedy Playwriting Contest Finalist (2012); “I, Vermin: A Hollywood Success Story,” New York Fringe Festival (2002); and “Violent Overthrow of the Government (and Other Family Matters).” His website is: http://philipkaplan.weebly.com.

SUMMARIES & PLAYWRIGHTSGOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN

STARRING: Reba Clamp as Checkmark; Michelle Casali as Gap/Wal-mart/CNN; AND

Elizabeth Hilber as Smith Cantor/Recruiter/Judge/Atlantic Health DIRECTED BY: SCOTT PAKUDAITIS

SUMMARY: Are corporations people?WRITTEN by SAM GRABER of Minneapolis, MN

Sam Graber has become widely heralded as the world’s skinniest playwright. His plays have been staged in some shape or form by Abingdon Theatre (off-Broadway), Abstract Sentiment Theatre Co. (off-off), Mission Theatre (MN), The Blank Theatre (CA), Box Wine Theatre (MN), Seven Stories Theatre (WV), Seven Collective (NYC), The Warner Theatre (CT), Upstage Theatre (TX), The Pulp Stage (OR), Mildred’s Umbrella (TX), City Theatre of Independence (MO), The Driftwood Players (WA), Venture Theatre (MT), Love Creek Productions (NYC), Collaboraction (IL), HartBeat Ensemble (CT), Renegade Theater (MN), The AlphaNYC Theater (NYC) and Be-tween Us Productions (NYC). Meanwhile, he lives outside Minneapolis where the temperature is currently 406 degrees colder than wherever you are. He resides there with a wife, two kids and a half-working iPad which means that he is, at best, the fifth most important person in his house. His website is www.samgraber.com. His mother wants him to eat more.

SUMMARIES & PLAYWRIGHTS

CATNIPPEDSTARRING: Charles Numrich as Mr. Waffles; Lolly Foy as Erin;

AND Matthew Englund as Timothy DIRECTED BY: NISSA NORDLAND

SUMMARY: Erin has received notice from her landlord to choose between her two pets; a tuxedo cat, Mr.Waffles, who she has had for nine years, or a new adorable kitten, Timothy.

WRITTEN by NISSA NORDLAND of Minneapolis, MNNissa Nordland is an actor and writer in the Twin Cities. She has had the pleasure to work with several theatre companies in the area and has appeared in Play It Again, Sam (Artistry, Bloomington Civic); Tesla and The Ghost Sonata (Nimbus theatre); Chaste Maid in Cheap Side, Romeo and Juliet, and Love’s Labor’s Lost (Classical Actor’s Ensemble); Black Tie and The Hollow (Theatre in the Round); Three Sisters, The Knife Show, Chief, and Littler Women (The Buoyant Group); Dracula (Lyric Arts); The Tempest (Public Dreams Theatre). She has a BA in Theatre Arts from Southwest Minnesota State University where she co-founded an Annual Playwriting Festival for readings of new works. Nordland resides in Minneapolis with her woodsy boyfriend, Zach, and her fluffy cat, Delilah. She also enjoys playing pinball.

AT WHAT PRICE?STARRING: Elta Covington as Trudi; Carissa Christenson as

Left Brain; AND Kendra Braunger as Right Brain DIRECTED BY: SUSAN OLSON

SUMMARY: Trudi has just been told that she has a BRCA1 genetic mutation that gives her a much higher chance of developing breast and ovarian cancer. She was given the option of a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. While Trudi talks to her hus-band, her logical Left Brain and emotional Right Brain disagree on a course of action.

WRITTEN by CHERYL NAVO of GermanyCheryl’s theatre involvement began in 2009 as an actor with KMC Onstage, a military community theatre in Kaiserslautern, Germany. She spent several years exploring the roles of actor, set designer, charge artist, costumer, and director before writing her first play. Her one-act play, “Parade of Queens,” was produced by the Baumhold-er Hilltop Theatre. Her one-act play, “Hotline,” was produced for the 2013 Pittsburgh New Works Festival, and the 2013 Army Europe Festival of One Act Plays, and was published by Dramatic Publishing Company. Cheryl’s first full-length play, “Lie of Omission,” will be in production with Studio Theatre, Long Island.

THE SURVEYThis festival is made possible by a grant provided by the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008.

ZIP CODE ___________ o Male o Female Age o 5-25 o 26-50 o 51-75 o 76-99

1. Rate today’s show with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor 1 2 3 4 5 (poor) (average) (excellent)

2. This is our seventh annual festival of all original plays. Would you like to see this continue as an annual event? YES NO

3. Circle how you heard about today’s show? Poster/Postcard Friend Newspaper Radio

TV Social Media/Web Other

4. Arts help the economy. Circle if you ate at a restaurant before the show, plan to go to a pub after the show or are from out of town and stayed at a hotel. Restaurant Pub Hotel/Motel

5. Was the $10 ticket price ($8 in advance or $5 for students) fair? YES NO I BOUGHT A 2-DAY PASS

Alban’s Gardenby Rich Espey _______Jury Dutyby Janet Barnes _______ Good Corporate Citizenby Sam Graber _______Last Wordsby Philip J. Kaplan _______

At What Price?by Cheryl Navo _______Catnipped by Nissa Nordland _______Fire Cupid!by Matt David _______

CIRCLE YOUR TOP PLAY OF THE EVENING. The play re-ceiving the most votes will get a $100 Best of the Fest prize. Rank the rest 1-5, with 1 being poor, 3 average and 5 excellent.

BEST OF THE FEST

BEST ACTOR & ACTRESS

ACTRESSESTracy Stokes-Hernandez as Sharon

Jennifer Potocnik as LauraJean Eelma as Gert

Laronda Bourn as HenriettaAnita Prestidge as Nola

Reba Clamp as CheckmarkMichelle Casali as Gap

Elizabeth Hilber as Smith CantorCindy Olson as KristinElta Covington as Trudi

Carissa Christenson as Left BrainKendra Braunger as Right Brain

Lolly Foy as ErinMolly Vouk as MockingjayLydia Helder as Daughter

Leslie Cady as Mother

ACTORSChuck Kind as Gus

Charles Numrich as Mr. WafflesMatthew Englund as Timothy

Seth Rausch as CupidJoe Bidwell as Daryl

Jason Barkmeier as Robin Hood

CIRCLE YOUR TOP ACTRESS & ACTOR OF THE EVENING

THANKS TO PEPSI FOR SODA DONATIONS