First Bite Play Reading continues with “The Haven”

The University of Idaho theater department will be debuting, “The Haven,” on Feb. 5-6. The play is another installment in the “First Bite,” play reading series. It will follow a group of people who work at a homeless shelter and the challenges they face maintaining the center.  

Ian Paul Messersmith, a third-year Master of Fine Arts candidate in the dramatic writing program is the playwright for “The Haven.” Messersmith wrote the play throughout his second semester during his first year in the graduate program at UI. The play was inspired by his time volunteering at homeless shelters during his undergraduate at University of California, Santa Barbara.  

“It’s something that means a lot to me, to be able to bring these stories forward,” Messersmith said.  

The play will happen over Zoom with actors reading the play. Messersmith mentioned students who are long-distance can still audition for parts because of the capabilities of Zoom and one of the actors will be in Minneapolis, MI during the production.  

While people can’t attend the play in-person, Messersmith touched on the opportunities of having it over video.  

“People in the American theater have felt like this has been such a detriment to the way theater works,” Messersmith said. “In some ways it’s true but in other ways, it shows the thriving ability of the American theater to continue forward no matter what.”    

“The Haven” will feature a diverse range of characters who work at the shelter.  

Shawn Hunt, a senior Bachelor of Fine Arts student will be playing a lead role in the production and will be playing the character, Jack. The beginning of the play starts with Jack’s first day at the shelter and follows his character development throughout the story.  

Hunt touched on his preparation for the play by discussing his character with the play’s director, Sarah Campbell and Messersmith. He was able to draw inspiration by understanding Jack’s point-of-view from the script.  

“I ask myself where he is coming from, what is his background, what do I get from the script, what hints are they giving me and why do I find myself in the situation that I’m currently in,” Hunt said.  

Hunt spoke on the challenges of not being able to physically demonstrate actions that would be used in person because of the Zoom setup.  

“You have to change those in a way to play to the camera,” Hunt said.  

Both Hunt and Messersmith mentioned the production has been a joint process of actors, designers and crew. Hunt says the production has been an “amazingly collaborative process.”  

 “The best part of writing it is really being able to explore these people, these characters and be able to find their voice and their footing in what they represent,” Messersmith said. “Each of these characters are at a different stage in their life and coming from a different angle to end up at the haven.”   

The Haven will take place Feb. 5, 6 from 6-7:30 p.m. Register to view the play reading on the UI’s theater calendar page.  

Sierra Pesnell can be reached at [email protected].