Play-goers and drama connoisseurs of Moscow can catch a sneak peek of student-written plays during March’s chamber readings hosted by the University of Idaho’s theater department Master of Fine Arts program.
“These readings are very unique,” said Rob Caisley, head of dramatic writing. “Instead of watching the traditional acting in plays, the audience listens to the actors read directly off the script. Plays featured in these readings are farther along in developmental stages than those that would be read at New Play Wednesday, our other event that features pieces in progress.”
Caisely teaches a course for budding playwrights and students hear critique from Caisley, fellow students and — during the chamber readings — audience members. Caisley selects plays for the chamber readings in the fall and spring semesters.
“The chamber reading experience is always positive for the writer,” Caisley said. “It’s one of the only chances they will get to really interact with the audience. It implicates the community in a different way than usual.”
Three pieces will be showcased during the course of the performances — “One Foot,” “Lilly’s Room” and “Pickup Man.”
“It’s overall a neat experience,” Caisley said. “If a playwright has an addition or change to be made to the script 20 minutes before showtime, it’s completely fine.”
“Lilly’s Room,” by J.C. Svec, a first-year distance-learning MFA student, is about a trio of strangers who overcome emotional obstacles after traumatic loss of loved ones. Svec wrote the play about five years ago.
“I’m just really happy to have gotten it off the ground,” Svec said. “It went through several workshops and rewrites from the amount of feedback I was given.”
Svec resides in New Jersey and said he does most of his communication with actors and directors through Skype.
“It’s not as good as actually being there, but it comes in handy. I cannot make it to Moscow for the showing, so I will be Skyping in to watch,” Svec said.
John Remington, another distance learning student, will premier his two-man play titled, “Pickup Man.” In the piece, a one-legged cowboy befriends an electrician in Maui and they begin to fix each other’s troubles.
“This program has really allowed for me to polish this work,” Remington said. “I enjoy working with writers who are focused on their craft and are able to collaborate. I’m very thankful to be chosen for the readings and all of the help I receive.”
Lauren Simon, writer of “One Foot,” will be the third playwright featured. “One Foot” is about a man who wakes up to find his foot missing.
The Spring Chamber Readings series will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Kiva Theater. Admission is free for UI students and $5 for the general public.
Amy Asanuma can be reached at [email protected]