Here is the official text of the announcement of the plays from yesterday. It features all of the exciting statistics of the changes from last year and etc.
New Voices 22 Festival Announced
Performances in Alden Hall, April 14-17, 2004, times t.b.a.
Dramaturgs for NV 22
Christopher Cenotti WPI Alumni BS/CS 02 BS/HU 04
Tara Marie Ellsworth WPI Class of 2004
Jeremy Hamond WPI Alumni BS/HU 01
Eric Mill WPI Class of 2005
Sarah E Pavis WPI Class of 2006
Jamie Stern-Gottfried WPI Alumni ME 02; WPI Grad Student
Consulting Scenographic Dramaturg
David P Eger, WPI Class of 2004
Associate Executive Dramaturg
Ian Brodrick, WPI Class of 2004
Executive Dramaturg & Founder
Susan Vick, Professor of Drama/Theatre and Director of Theatre, WPI
New Voices 22 Executive Producer
Paul Messier, WPI Class of 2005
THE FESTIVAL
The dramaturgs have read 41 plays, for a total of approximately 629 pages of scripts; they have read 43 pages of text accompanying 4 scenic designs, evaluated models and drawings and added up supplies required to construct those scenic designs totaling between $ 1,208 and a million dollars. The turgs have chosen plays for the Festival and a scenic design for the Festival. They have informed all who submitted of the results. From now on they will each advocate for the playwrights and designer whose work will be produced for NV 22. They will help the playwright find a director, they will make sure the names and titles are properly written in the program, they will make sure the set reflects the model—things big and things little will be their purview. They will work to protect and to serve the playwrights and designer.
All the dramaturgs read each submission prior to deliberations. Only Ian and Susan had access to the playwrights' and designers' identities. This preserves fairness with no favoritism or prejudice. In most cases, in fact, the dramaturgs really had no idea who wrote the play. These ‘turgs just didn’t know who the playwrights and designers were, except of course the two who had submitted their own work. This point should be stressed this year since dramaturgs have 2 [two] of the slots among the plays and scenic design chosen. As usual, the ‘turgs made outrageous statements about the work of their colleagues who had submitted, calling them names and besmirching their work. The submitter stayed poker faced, but I believe retribution is just around the corner, and you’ll know what I mean when you hear who they are.
This year the Dramaturgs changed tradition. For one thing, they broke the pattern from the previous three festivals of one ‘turg getting in 3 plays. Well, three’s enough. That’s over. It’s a new New Voices, and these Dramaturgs have selected a compelling festival.
The dramaturgs—9 of us-- were together from 5:00 p.m. until 10:35 p.m., on the evening of Tuesday, February 10, 2004. We actually deliberated almost all of that time: 5 hours and 35 minutes [up 4 minutes from the 5 hours and 31 minutes of last year’s NV 21 selection/debate session].
Despite their appearances to the contrary, these Dramaturgs were not nice, sweet, kindly During the first part of the deliberations it looked like we might have maybe one play in the festival. We took several breaks, but during these breaks there was no stopping these shrewd critics from the business at hand—on and on they chattered about the plays and scenic designs.
And they ate continually. To the point of nausea in some cases. Speaking of food, we consumed $ 93.41of delicious Boomer’s food DOWN $2.07 from last year, BUT we called Boomer’s for another order so it went beyond last year eventually. Most of the food was eaten by Eger. Well, he’s a growing boy.
But make no mistake: we were a drug and alcohol free zone throughout the deliberations. Further, we were a staff without a single dead body thrown anywhere.
Blood was shed during the meeting, and by two people. They both had good reasons to bleed they said, and they bled from parts of their head. No one person ever left in a huff. We deadlocked an exceptional number of times. Yet, no crying episodes occurred, DOWN 2 from last year. Dave Eger, the bleeder, helped us all, not only with his kind and wise advice about the scenic designs, but keeping us moving along when things were rough.
At some point we put down the bags of candy, well we had to have dessert, got ourselves together, and selected the plays and scenic design upon which we all unanimously agreed. New Voices 22 has been very carefully selected and wondrously wrought.
At 10:47, Ian and I closed the doors on the annual meeting to select the New Voices Festival. I drove home convinced that we will have the best New Voices ever. I did not get home in time to see any of the Westminster Kennel Club final show night.
SOME NEW VOICES 22 STATISTICS
SUBMISSIONS:
41 Scripts were submitted [plays, monologues, or other]— down 6 from last year’s 47. NV 19 was the record breaker with 61; the norm is 45 so we must work very hard to get all of you who just didn’t get around to submitting into the mix for NV 23, okay?
The scripts represented
27 voices—6 less than last year [33]
12 female playwrights submitted same as last year
16 male playwrights submitted 5 down from last year [21]
so go girls!!!!!!!!!
1 submission was co-written, same as last year and it was co-written by men— same as last year
Scenic designs were truly extraordinary and NV 22 would look great on any of them
4 Submitted 2 down from last year [6]
3 male designers 1 down from last year
1 female designer 1 down from last year
I want Masque to work very hard next year, Kelly and Adam, to get people to organize and submit their work. So many folks came to me to say they meant to submit but forgot, or they didn’t think they had a chance, or blah blah blah MORE THE MERRIER, NEXT YEAR, OKAY? Quantity doesn’t equal quality, but I always want you all to push the limits of your creativity.
All 41 plays and 4 scenic design, btw, we excellent. This is not about those brave souls who faced the empty page and the empty stage.
Themes and styles of plays submitted were VERY interesting. The most prominent themes and references were talking to yourself in the mirror, money, campus buildings, money, the fourth wall, money, flight announcements, money, the name Eric, and money. Fewer death and relationships than ever: yeah.. Two plays had the same title, neither got in. There was no pornography this year—well none to speak of. NO Morgan play. And here’s an interesting observation: the play that came in and was numbered 22 got in, and every play that was 22 pages long got in—2 of them.
And 2 playwrights each have 2 plays in the festival!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All work was taken seriously, I can assure you, although our deliberations must remain confidential. Our sincere gratitude to every playwright and designer who submitted work for the Festival.
To face the blank page and to fill it takes courage, commitment, hard work, inspiration, talent, and a certain je ne sais quoi!!!
By the end of the very long evening, we had chosen a great scenic design, and we had selected:
11 [eleven] fantastic plays for NV 22, 3 down from last year [14].
A total of 8 playwrights will be represented in NV22—down 4 from last year.
1 scenic designer will be represented in NV 22.
4 playwrights make their New Voices debut [4 down from last year’s 8]
5 playwrights are students at WPI
2 playwrights teach at WPI [down 1]
3 playwrights are WPI Alumni [up 1]
8 plays have male playwrights [ 1 down from last year]
2 plays have female playwrights [3 down from last year]
no play was co-written
3 plays have a one word title each with a different number of syllables
286 pages of scripts will be produced, up 17 from last year's 269 pages
This will produce a well padded estimated 7.5 performing hours, with each play getting 2 showings we need 15 performing hours during Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday 5 p.m. matinee, Friday night, and Saturday night. Huzzah. We can do New Voices 22 !!!
longest play 75 pages but it really moves
shortest play 1 pages
Roles written for:
[and this is very approximate and based upon character descriptions]
25 women, 36 men, and 6 either -- plus extras
Total roles, 65 plus extras : Very happily, this means that we can keep our long and wonderful tradition of assuring a role for everyone who auditions.
Largest cast is about 13, smallest 1, and everything in between—many
roles are not huge but most speaking roles are of substance.
The Scenic design is imaginative and provides a cool new perspective to and feeling in this cavernous room we sometimes call a theatre.
And finally: this festival will mark a milestone. A playwright will replace Tom Russell as the playwright with the most plays ever produced by NV, and one playwright will see a 13th play produced in New Voices. Congrats and the names will follow.
This information will be posted on the New Voices 22 web site, I hope as soon as possible. I know that the Executive Producer has planned weekend events to read plays, etc., which will be announced at the end of this meeting.
AND Beginning Monday, scripts will be on the main H & A table.
The poster design, 11 plays [in no particular order], and 1 scenic design are:
NEW VOICES 22 POSTER
Palindrome
Ben Sandofsky, WPI Class of 2004
PLAYS
1. We’ve Got Soul
David Hartman, WPI Class of 2004
Dramaturg: Eric Mill
The gripping story of an aging shoe, and his realization of his place in a
world dominated by a "newer is better" philosophy. You'll laugh, you'll
cry, you'll hold your breath until the smell is gone.
2. “It’s Not Identity Theft If You Pay the Bills On Time”
Cat Darensbourg [Catherine Darensbourg], Alumni
Dramaturg: Jeremy Hamond
After discovering an elderly recluse who has lain dead in her kitchen for
two years without neighbors suspecting, a desperate homeless family poses
as distant relatives to take her house. This is Catherine’s 13th play in New Voices.
3. You’re Never Alone…
Ben Sandofsky, WPI Class of 2004
Dramaturg: Sarah Pavis
A monologue about friendship.
4. Entropy
Ben Sandofsky
Dramaturg: Chris Cenotti
A play about priorities, coincidences, and connections.
5. Among Friends…
Peter James Miller, Alumni, WPI ECE 2000
Dramaturg: Tara Ellsworth
"How could things get any worse?" One of those questions that you ask, hoping not to get an answer. Come visit Brandon, Rich, Ryan and Jen and all the craziness that happens one a few of the parents come to visit.
6. Captions
Michael J. Ciaraldi, Professor of Practice WPI Dept. of Computer Science
Dramaturg: Tara Ellsworth
The eternal triangle: a boy, a girl, a computer.
7. Two Graves
Michael J. Ciaraldi, Professor of Practice WPI Dept. of Computer Science
Dramaturg: Eric Mill
From the Weblogs of Summer Cum Laude, College Detective.
8. It’s noon. Do you know where your gun is?
Nick Barnes, WPI Class of 2004
Dramaturg: Jamie Stern-Gottfried
This is the tale of two friends who we find in a duel, old-west style. Sometimes nothing reminds you why you're friends with someone like a battle to the death!
9. a Viking walks by
Karen Singh, WPI Class of 2006
Dramaturg: Jeremy Hamond
A discontented viewer searches hopelessly, oblivious to six actors who are
entrapped by his boredom and becoming weary of their torturous fate.
Hilarity ensues.
10. Anomaly
Dean O’Donnell, Instructor, Administrator, Alum
Dramaturg: Jamie Stern-Gottfried
Bob and Ray sort mail at the post office, but Ray always sorts a little faster-- Bob figures it has something with Ben Franklin, the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the Knights Templar, pi, and a time vortex. Bob figures if he plays his cards (and letters) right, he could live forever. This will be Dean’s 16th New Voices play, passing Tom Russell for the greatest number of plays in NV by a single playwright.
11. A Slice of Grief (a short play in 5 stages)
Chris Cenotti, WPI Alumni BS/CS 2002 BS/HU 2004
Dramaturg: Sarah Pavis
When you're the little brother, sometimes things are not easier said...
SCENIC DESIGN
Liquid
Dave Eger, WPI Class of 2004
Dramaturg: Chris Cenotti
The model speaks for the design.