Eye on new works

The Hormel New Works Festival runs through July 22 at Phoenix Theatre

I’ve been sporting a nifty little necklace of sorts around my neck for a couple of days now — a lanyard that reads “The Hormel New Works Festival.” It’s the keeper of my festival schedule, listing events by day through Sun, July 22. I’m tempted, once this year’s festival wraps, to keep this baby but throw a new schedule in it each week — though the content wouldn’t be nearly as glamorous.

My nifty schedule for week one of Hormel 2012

First table read–Laundry wars. 2nd draft reading–Reheating leftovers. First performance–Broom meets mop. Better to stick with the original, I suppose. It’s got offerings from first and second table reads to performances and a playwrights forum. Also talkbacks that invite audience feedback on new works, a teen playwriting camp showcase and more. Even beautiful pre-performance guitar ballads for you romantic types.

Detail of Kirt Shineman dramaturgy and Eric Beeck set design for Nureyev’s Eyes

Last night I saw a performance of “Nureyev’s Eyes” by playwright David Rush — which will be performed again at both 5pm and 8pm this evening. It’s directed by Judy Rollings, and has a cast of two — Toby Yatso (who plays American artist Jamie Wyeth) and Pasha Yamotahari (who plays Russian dancer Rudolph Nureyev). Though I wished the work packed more punch, it was highly praised by audience members during the post-performance talkback.

Festival goers also enjoy pre-show tunes and post-show talkbacks

This weekend I hope to hit a 2nd draft series reading of Scott McCarrey’s “The Wilds” and “An Evening of New Short Plays.” Options for next week include seeing performances of José Zárate’s “Smugglers” and D. Scott Withers’ “Big Dreams” — plus a “Teen Playwriting Camp Showcase” and “24 Hour Theatre Project.” Folks eager to join the festival fun can still buy individual tickets or VIP passes — and several works are free for anyone who’s game.

The next Hormel festival takes place early in 2014

The Hormel New Works Festival makes for a lovely summertime staycation, and I came pretty close yesterday to just packing a bag and settling in downtown for the weekend. During its next incarnation, the festival will move from a steamy summertime setting to a winter one — so folks whose winters aren’t quite as lovely can head to Phoenix for mild temps and a marvelous mix of new works. The next Hormel New Works Festival is slotted for Jan/Feb of 2014.

New construction is underway at Phoenix Theatre

Those who travel to the festival will find plenty of other cultural wonders in its midst. Phoenix Theatre is located next to the Phoenix Art Museum, and less than a mile from the Heard Museum — which is home to an extraordinary collection of Native American Art. It’s an easy jaunt by light rail to historic art districts and lots of other fun Phoenix fare. Other area gems include the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and Herberger Theater Center.

Tickets for this year’s festival are still available

Travelers will get more bang for their buck once festival dates fall within the seasons for Arizona’s opera, ballet, symphony and such. But this weekend, and next, I look forward to enjoying the festival that’s still a “best kept secret” in some ways. And to keeping an eye on all things new construction at Phoenix Theatre. Associate artistic director Robert Kolby Harper seems truly tickled that it’s finally reached the “vertical phase.”

Click here to learn more about all things Phoenix Theatre — from their “next stage” campaign to their 2012/13 season line-up.

— Lynn

Coming up: Towering musical meets tiny stage, Art inspired by myth, A mockingbird tale

Got scripts?

New works festivals present great opportunities for writers and audiences

Jason Tremblay of Austin won last year’s EVCT aspiring playwrights contest with “Queen Zixi of Ix, The Story of the Magic Cloak” — which was performed by East Valley Children’s Theatre just last month. It’s the adaptation of an L. Frank Baum story about two young children forced to live with a greedy aunt who moves them from country to city in search of work — and the adventures that help them bring happiness and prosperity to everyone in their new land.

Second place in last year’s EVCT playwriting contest went to Drew Ignatowski of Gilbert for “Moonprince,” and third place went to Texan Bobbi A. Chukran of Leander for “Princess Primrose & the Curse of the Big Sleep.” Cash prizes go to the top three winners each year, and the winning play is produced by EVCT (assuming it meets their criteria for performance). The deadline for 2012 submissions is Fri, March 15.

New Carpa Theater Co. recently issued a call for scripts inspired by the legacy of the civil rights movement, the United Farm Workers Union and contemporary social justice issues. They’re looking for works to present during a short plays festival they expect to hold in late May/early June as well as October. Think 5- to 10-minute stage plays, monologues, play excerpts and performance pieces. Scripts are due April 20, and can be submitted in either Spanish or English.

James E. Garcia, producing artistic director for the company, notes that eight to 10 pieces will be selected by a panel of seven local playwrights, writers and producers for staging at the festival. Additional works may also be presented for festival goers. Garcia describes the festival as “a non-partisan, grassroots, community-based project” designed to give theater artists and audiences “an opportunity to express their concerns regarding some of the most compelling human and civil rights issues of our time” — including those effecting immigrants, women and people of color.

The Utah Shakespeare Festival is now considering plays for its 2013 New American Playwrights Project. Scripts submitted for consideration must be postmarked by Nov 1, 2012. Three works (all with mature content) are being presented during the 2012 series directed by Charles L. Metten — “The Greater Love” by Frankie Little Hardin, “Turquoise Wind” by Kurt Proctor and “Play Desdemona” by Daniel Hintzsche.

Those of you who favor watching new works rather than writing them can enjoy the 15th annual Hormel New Works Festival being presented July 8-22 by Phoenix Theatre. The festival features staged readings performed by professional actors.

Phoenix Theatre also holds a “2nd Draft Series” designed to further the development of select plays presented during the Hormel New Works Festival. Three plays will get the “2nd draft” treatment in coming weeks and months — including Richard Warren’s “Pollywogs” (March 24), Kurt Shineman’s “Mother’s Milk” (April 21) and Scott McCarrey’s “The Wilds” (May 19).

The Arizona Women’s Theatre Company presents its 6th annual Pandora Festival of New Works May 18-20 at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. It features full-length plays, one-act plays and 10-minute plays written by Arizona women.

Theatre Artists Studio in Scottsdale is home to the “New Play Series and Reader’s Theatre.” Up next in their new play series is “4” by Terry Youngren (March 17). Their next reader’s theater will be presented April 23 by Drea Pruseau.

A Childsplay world-premiere read of Dwayne Hartford’s “The Color of Stars” comes to The Temple Lounge in Tucson Sat, April 14 as part of the Arizona Theatre Company’s “Café Bohemia” series. The play’s described as “a touching story about life in America during World War II with modern-day parallels about the costs of war both overseas and at home.”

Folks who prefer seeing plays fully staged and polished will be pleased to know that “The Color of Stars” is being performed by Childsplay April 22-May 20 at Tempe Center for the Performing Arts.

— Lynn

Coming up: Frankly speaking, So you want to be a playwright…

New works at Phoenix Theatre

The kiddies have plenty of theater options this summer — including “Pinocchio” at Hale Centre Theatre in Gilbert (through Aug 20) and “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Mesa (through Aug 6).

But sometimes grown-ups need a bit of their own theater time, complete with fresh original works they haven’t read to anyone at bedtime or seen a hundred times in cartoon form.

Phoenix Theatre presents its 14th Annual “New Works Festival” July 11-24 on their downtown Phoenix campus. Folks who attend can see four new works in the development stage, following them from first table read to staged reading.

“Tropical Heat” by Rich Ofloff recounts the clash between a fire-and-brimstone preacher and a good-time party girl. “Reykjavik” by Phillip Dawkins is “a twisted romantic comedy about finding your other half while keeping a firm grasp on your whole.” “The Penis Eulogy” by Daniel Cahill imagines a man with prostate cancer who learns that sex is a thing of the past. And “Dinner on the Inside” by Christian Krauspe has a group of blue-blooded couples hosting dinner for a new Congressman and his wife.

So basically you’ve got religion, sex and politics — all the things we’re told never to discuss in public. I like it. Folks who get the “VIP Pass” can attend the first table reads for each work (with cast, playwright, dramaturge and director) — as well as their staged readings. They even get a nifty T-shirt and VIP lanyard.

The VIP pass also gets you into other festival events, which include a playwrights forum, a “24 hour theater project” performance of several short works developed from start to finish in 24 hours or less, an ASU centennial project featuring works with Arizona themes written by diverse playwrights — and a VIP party.

There are other ticket options, and students can enjoy special pricing on the VIP pass. All the fine print, including detailed information on each play and playwright, is spelled out in Phoenix Theatre’s “New Works Festival” blog. But frankly, they had me at “Eulogy.”

— Lynn

Note: Once the AZ Centennial Plays (directed by Dan Schay) are developed, they’ll be presented at ASU (ASU Studio 133, FAC) Oct 21-30. Click here to find more theater works for families.

Coming up: Dancing with words, Happy birthday Paris!

Got Spam?

"Spamalot" opens tonight (Feb 15) at the Mesa Arts Center

You can “Spamalot” this week as Theater League brings the 2005 Tony Award winner for best musical to Mesa and Phoenix stages.

“Spamalot” creators say the musical — complete with cows, killer rabbits, show girls and french people — is “lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

It’s a very grown-up take on the legendary tale of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table, though the legend may be fading fast in the absence of disco versions of knight battles made for various home and pocket entertainment systems.

Even worse perhaps, is the fact that so few of our children have ever met a can of actual Spam, a product of the Hormel Food Corporation. It faded from popularity as things like sushi and arugula marched in, but I think a Spam-sushi mash up of sorts might be fun.

The fine folks of “Spamalot” will gladly take you through the tale of King Arthur’s quest in a little online ditty titled “What is all this rubbish?” They also make a convincing case for “Spamalot” as the world’s oldest musical.

The “Spamalot” you’ll see on Valley stages this week features book by Eric Idle and score by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. Hence you’ll enjoy both words and music in addition to dancing knights in tights.

But what, you may be wondering, is a Monty Python? And has it anything to do with that “Flying Circus” of yore? It does indeed, as explained ever so eloqently by a BBC piece you can enjoy by clicking here.

Whether you’re a lover of musical theater, of British comedy or of unadulterated genius, check out the touring production of “Spamalot” at the Mesa Center for the Arts and/or the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix.

And always look on the bright side of “Spam.”

— Lynn

Note: Click here for an overview of the legends of King Arthur by Michael Wood for the BBC.

Coming up: Reflections on Rosie’s House, The fine art of stage combat, ASU Gammage readies to unveil its 2011-2012 season, Tales of Tom Chapin