English and screenwriting seniors Katie Murphy ’17 and Alexandra Papa ’17 joined actors, directors and playwrights from around the region at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival’s regional festival, held February 14-18 in Mesa, Ariz.
The regional festival is an annual opportunity for theater students in the Southwest to showcase their work, build their networks, and compete for placement in a national festival, held each spring in Washington, D.C.
Murphy’s play, “Just a Game,” won its category at the regional festival and will be one of a handful of finalists to compete nationally this spring.
Murphy and Papa were both accepted as regional playwriting finalists in the 10-minute play category; as two of six finalists, both had their plays staged and performed at the festival. They submitted their scripts for consideration at the suggestion of Kelly Younger, their playwriting professor in the English department.
Papa describes her play, “Bring in the Clowns,” as a laugh-out-loud comedy: “An aspiring actor turned birthday clown’s dreams go POP when he gets in a disagreement with a snotty housewife over balloon animals.”
Murphy’s sober “Just a Game” is the story of two online gamers who are struggling to move on from their best friend’s suicide.
Last year, Mark Noa Gardner ’16 participated in this regional festival with his play, “Nan.” Like Murphy, he won the regional competition and was one of four finalists in the country to present his play in D.C.