See Philadelphia's Emerging Theater Artists in EAR FUZZ, Beg. 11/18

EAR Fuzz is in an open rehearsal of theater, a chance to "peek behind the curtain" at fascinating artists at play. It is a relaxed, stress-free environment in which four exciting emerging artists, two playwrights and two actors, play with ideas inspired by their work in the Emerging Artists in Residence (EAR) program at Plays & Players. Each EAR Fuzz ends with a "communal ritual" with the audience in celebration of the growth and an arts and crafts inspiration board as an exciting and fresh way to respond to the work.

The aim of the EAR (Emerging Artists in Residence) Residency is to develop theater artists' work towards goals that they have articulated for themselves. The focus of this program is artist development, not the development of a specific performance or project. The residency provides activities designed to inspire, encourages experimentation, offers support and guidance from artistic leaders, and the structure and discipline to really focus on the journey and seek results. This 8-month residency is entering its fourth season for playwrights and second season for actors and runs from October to June. Artists selected to join are given an exclusive opportunity to work on artistic development at one of Philadelphia's oldest and most respected theaters.

The residents' work is separated into four sections, each two months long, based on a different prompt.

EAR Fuzz Prompts and dates:

- Play Another Part (playwrights become actors, actors become playwrights) - November 18 at 8pm

- Change Your Medium (try on another style, method, or art form you've never tried before) - January 20 at 8pm

- Fight Your Fear (face the thing that scares you most in your artistic journey) - March 17 at 8pm

- What Is Theater (attempt to figure out who is the theater artist you want to be) - May 19 at 8pm

Ear Fuzz tickets are $10 for the general public. Tickets may be purchased online at www.playsandplayers.org or by phone at 866-811-4111.

Actors-in-residence:

Andrew Carroll is filled to the brim with love and excitement to be a part of this residency. Plays & Players has served as Andrew's artistic home for over a year now. You may recognize him as the stoic butler Bennett from Travesties, and you'll see him again as a part of Greg Romero's beautiful and animal filled children's show in the Spring. A recent graduate of UArts and a native of Los Angeles, Andrew is thrilled to call Philadelphia his artistic home, and can't wait to get down to work with people he trusts and admires this year.

Sarah Schol is a Philadelphia-based actor and creator. She has worked locally with the Walnut Street Theatre, Brat Productions, EgoPo Classic Theater, Luna Theater Company, the Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium, PDC, Passage Theater Company, and the One Minute Play Festival at InterAct Theatre Company, as well as with independent artists in the Fringe Festival, including playwright Jackie Goldfinger and director David O'Connor, MJ/JT, and installation artist Mick Queer. In New York, Sarah studied under performance artist Roberto Sifuentes at La MaMa E.T.C and performed with artist activist Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Hamilton College in 2006. And for something completely different, you can also see her as Betsy Ross at the Betsy Ross House in Olde City. Sarah is thrilled to join the EAR Program at Plays & Players, and is excited to get started.

PDC Playwrights-in-residence (For more information on our playwright residency partner, PDC, go to www.pdc1.org):

Greg Nanni has recently graduated from the George Washington University with a dual bachelor's degree in English and Political Science with a focus in fiction. After graduation and a period of reflection, he decided to switch forms and to pursue playwriting. Raised in Bucks County, he has always had a deep relationship with the Philadelphia area, and has moved back after five years of residence in Washington, D.C. Since then, he has been focusing on the craft of playwriting while working as an administrative intern at the Azuka Theatre. Through Plays & Players, Greg looks to hone in on his craft for the stage, learn more of the intricacies of the theatre world, expand his network, and progress as an artist in both career and spirit. He is very grateful for this opportunity.

Charly Evon Simpson is a Philadelphia based writer who originally hails from New Jersey. Her plays include In the Beginningand or what she will, which debuted at the 2012 New York International Fringe Festival. She is both the writer and the actor in her latest project, The Women in Me, a one-woman show debuting in September 2013 as a part of FringeArts in Philadelphia. Her credits as an actor and director include work as an actor in the 2006 Hangar Theatre Lab Company, the director ofReferences to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot at Production Workshop, and the assistant director ofboom at the Brown/Trinity Playwright's Repertory. Charly received her B.A. in Theatre Arts and Literary Arts from Brown University and has a master's in Women's Studies from the University of Oxford, New College. For more information, visit her website: www.charlyevonsimpson.com.