The 14th Annual PLAYground Festival of Fresh Works

2122 Sheridan Road,Evanston IL 60201

30 April, 2022

Description

The PLAYground Festival celebrates new theatre for young audiences plays from the best playwrights across the country. The PLAYground Festival for Fresh Works celebrates new theatre for young audiences plays from the best playwrights across the country. In its 14th year, the nationally acclaimed Purple Crayon Players organization partners Northwestern University students with professional playwrights to develop plays for young audiences. This two-day festival will include staged readings, workshops, and talkbacks for four new plays. All programming is free to the community. This festival is family friendly and accessible. Festival ScheduleSaturday, April 30, 202211:00 AM - The Dummy Class by Dave OsmundsenTed writes poems. Elizabeth tells jokes. Gina dances. Marcus conducts. With the Nockaquan Elementary School Talent Show coming up, these four children are determined to show everyone that they are more than just the dummy class. Run time: approx. 1 hour and 30 min. Recommended ages 10+. Content warnings: Please note that this play includes moments of loud yelling and strong language. 2:00 PM - Heart Strings by Lee CatalunaIn the small town of Koloa on the south shore of Kauai, Heart Strings follows the story of 2 sisters, Mahina and Hoku, as they navigate culture, tradition, and superstition. A story about hanai, hei, and ohana, Lee Cataluna offers us a heart-warming homage to found family. Run time: approx. 1 hour and 30 min. Recommended ages 5+. Sunday, May 1, 202211:00 AM - ImagineU New Play Project Collaboration: Salomé's Tour de France by Mariana Reyes-DazaOne day, Salomé will be competing in the Tour de France, beating legends like Nairo Quintana at their own game. But first, she needs a bike! In Mariana Reyes Daza's new play, Salomé's Tour de France, a town in Colombia unites to help 8-year-old Salomé bring her dream to life, one piece at a time. This play is the second annual collaboration between Purple Crayon Players, ImagineU, and the Northwestern Undergraduate Playwriting Program to commission a new play by an undergraduate playwright in the PLAYground Festival. Run time: approx.1 hour and 30 min. Recommended ages 5+. 2:00 PM - The Show Ends When the Stoop Breaks by Cris Eli BlakThis play tells the story of a neighborhood changing and the path that two friends must take - one being a street dancing artist looking to get the community back in order, and the other a hardworking pizza delivery boy who dreams of a life greater than the block he was raised on, while in the background, a mural important to both of them is at risk of being torn down. Run time: approx. 1 hour and 30 min. Recommended ages 10+. 4:00 PM - TeaYA Talkback with Playwrights and DirectorsJoin festival playwrights Cris Eli Blak, Lee Cataluna, Dave Osmundsen, and Mariana Reyes-Daza alongside festival directors Valen-Marie Santos, Frances McKittrick, Ryan Nguyen, and Alondra Rios for a conversation about theatre for young audiences, arts education, and new work development. This conversation will be moderated by Festival Producer Arella Flur. There will be an opportunity for audience Q&A. Run time: approx. 1 hour. Recommended ages 8+. Times are listed in CDT. All readings and talkbacks will take place in Seabury Hall at 2122 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60201. Please contact [email protected] with questions. Purple Crayon Players is a student-run theatre company on the Northwestern University campus committed to creating high quality productions, events, and educational materials regarding all aspects of theatre for young audiences. Purple Crayon Players believes that audience of all ages can appreciate, be inspired by, and grow through exposure to this unique art form. We produce a mainstage season of professionally written works for young audiences, while also sponsoring high quality outreach events, educational events, and special projects for audiences of all ages both on campus and in the outlying community. Learn more at purplecrayonplayers.com.