Seven Devils Playwrights Conference Announces 2014 Playwrights, 6/9-21

By: May. 25, 2014
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id Theater returns to McCall, Idaho for the 14th Seven Devils Playwrights Conference, June 9-21, sponsored by the Alpine Playhouse. Playwrights, actors and directors from across the country will travel to McCall to develop and present 6 new plays from all over the country, along with an evening of new works by McCall-Donnelly High School students and two workshops that will be open to the community. As always, all events will be offered to the public free-of-charge.

The six writers, selected from hundreds of submissions, who will have their work developed and presented are: Barbara Hammond (Visible from Four States), Hansol Jung (No More Sad Things), Heidi Kraay (Heathens), Greg Paul (Wetiko), Jennifer Rumberger (The Skinwalkers), and Christopher G. Ulloth (First Snow).

"This year we're recognizing the creativity and generosity of the community by naming McCall itself as the 2014 Featured Artist," says Conference Artistic Director Jeni Mahoney. "After more than a decade of bringing in renowned artists from all over the country, we felt like it was time to honor and invest in the incredible talent and passion that's already right here. This year, we want to give everyone the opportunity to be a theater-maker!"

The Conference will offer two free workshops this year celebrating the idea of theater "Featuring You." Insta-Play! on Monday, June 16th offers attendees guidance in writing a short play on the spot, and then having that play presented by a company of actors that same evening. On Saturday, June 21st, Dwayne Blackaller, Education Director of Boise Contemporary Theater, will offer a free workshop focused on creating new work in conjunction with BCT and Idaho First Bank.

Another new twist this year will be the presentation of one evening of short plays devised and performed by students from McCall-Donnelly High School. "We made this shift to accommodate some changes in the process the students used to create their work this year," explains id co-Artistic Director Sheila McDevitt. "Essentially, we're following their lead; which is tremendously exciting. We'll be able to work with even more students; we'll just be doing it all in one week instead of two."

Since 2001, the Conference has developed more than 100 new plays by some of the most exciting voices in American Theater, including Robert Schenkkan and Eric Coble, who both opened plays on Broadway this year (Coble's play The Velocity of Autumn had its first reading at the Conference), and Kimber Lee whose play brownsville song (b-side for tray) was presented at the Humana Festival at Actors Theater of Louisville.

All Conference events are free and open to the public at all times. More information about schedules, events and travel can be found at: www.idtheater.org/this-years-conference.html.

2014 Seven Devils Playwrights Conference Schedule of Events

All events are free and start at 7:30pm unless otherwise noted

Thursday, June 12th - PLAYS BY McCALL-DONNELLY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Friday, June 13th - NO MORE SAD THINGS by Hansol Jung

A girl catches a last-minute flight to Maui. A boy finds a girl on the shores of Ka'anapali. Something strange and something familiar pulls them closer. They spend the week together. Maybe they fall in love. And maybe love changes things. But not everything.

Saturday, June 14th - WETIKO by Greg Paul

Russ, an ex-marine, decides to adopt "Jack", a pit-fighting dog, putting his already shaky transition to civilian life to the test. But when Bead, the animal's owner, shows up with a plan of his own, Russ is forced to face the truth of Jack's violent past. Will his determination to rehabilitate Jack salvage his broken life, or destroy it?

Monday, June 16 - INSTA-PLAY: A WRITING & PERFORMING WORKSHOP

Join us at 6:00 - to write your own new play (no experience necessary!) Or... Join us at 7:30 - watch fabulous plays written just moments earlier, and presented by a team of intrepid Conference and Community performers!

Wednesday, June 18 - FIRST SNOW by Christopher G. Ulloth

In the first snow of winter, two young lovers venture into an abandoned and fire-ravaged mining town. Eager for escape and dreaming of their yet unrealized futures, they brave the mysterious and desolate place where the burning earth meets the frozen sky, only to discover that the escape they seek may be the very thing that tears them apart.

Thursday, June 19 - HEATHENS by Heidi Kraay

Lost in a blizzard, Brian stumbles upon Michael's warm and welcoming cabin. Lost and longing to please God, Michael's chance for salvation stumbles in from the cold. One disciple is a good beginning...but Michael has his eye on disciple number two. With Brian's help, she'll join them soon--the key to the New World, she can save us all.

Friday, June 20 - THE SKINWALKERS by Jennifer Rumberger

Violet always knew she'd return to save her sister Lily from the clutches of their unrelenting and controlling mother Crystal one day. But when Lily calls her just days before her eighteenth birthday, claiming to have seen a strange man in her bedroom, Violet knows that time is now. But Crystal has other plans for Lily, and she's not about to let anyone -- not even her own daughter -- stand in her way.

Saturday, June 21 - VISIBLE FROM FOUR STATES by Barbara Hammond

Mason County, U.S.A. is home to a spectacular hilltop, a death row inmate, a Pastor with a vision for a cross that that will be visible from four states, and two old friends who find themselves caught at the intersection of faith, justice, preservation and reinvention. Faced with choices that challenge them to the core, the inhabitants of one small town struggle to balance their way of life with the ever-increasing demands of a modern world.

Saturday, June 21 (11am - 2pm) - FREE WORKSHOP: CREATING NEW WORK

Join us for this free workshop with actor, playwright and theater creator, Dwayne Blackaller, hosted in conjunction with Boise Contemporary Theater and Idaho First Bank. No experience necessary!

Pictured: The 2014 Seven Devils Playwrights Conference Playwrights are (clockwise from top left): Barbara Hammond, Hansol Jung, Heidi Kraay, Christopher G. Ulloth, Jennifer Rumberger, and Greg Paul.



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