Family Matters: A Playwright Festival Featuring 10-Minute Plays Presented by the LowellArts Players

The LowellArts Players presents a production of eight 10-minute plays written by playwrights with the theme "Family Matters." Two competing playwrights will be awarded a cash prize by a panel of judges, and the audience votes for their favorite play. Performances are: Friday, February 17th at 7pm, Saturday, February 18th at 7pm, and Sunday, February 19th at 2pm. Directed by Sue Bradford and Ken Parrish. Tickets are $12, and $10 for LowellArts Members. Tickets can be purchased at www.lowellartsmi.org, over the phone at 616-897-8545, or at the door. The LowellArts Theater is located at 223 W Main St, Lowell, MI 49331.

Family Matters: A Playwright Festival, includes eight 10-minute plays written by playwrights and performed by emerging and established actors. Original plays, that fit the theme "Family Matters," were submitted to the competition which was open to any playwright 18 years and older. Eight 10-minute plays were selected by a committee to be produced on stage. The plays will be performed at the new LowellArts Theater in downtown Lowell. Two cash prizes will be awarded - $300 to 1st place and $150 to 2nd place. The 1st and 2nd place winners will be selected by a panel of judges. A people's choice award will be voted on by attendees, and the winner will receive a non-cash award.

10-Minute Plays and Competing Playwrights Include:

• Recipes, by Kathey Batey, Grand Rapids, MI
• Words of Wisdom, by Kristin Andrea Hanratty, Grand Rapids, MI
• Mother-in-War, by Kay Phillips, Sierra Vista, AZ
• Don't tell the Kids, Grandma's Gay, by Daniel Potter, Alexandria, VA
• Someone to Talk To, by Randi Richardson, Lowell, MI
• The Golden Years, by Joe Starzyk, Troy, NY
• Dining with Ed, by Matthew Tawney, Lowell, MI
• Initiation, by Camille Wood, Ada, MI

Actors Include: Yvonne Alles (Byron Center), Brent Alles (Wyoming), Jill Casalina (Greenville), Rob Freund (Comstock Park), Mary Howing (Ada), Lori Jacobs (Grand Rapids), Dan Jones (Grand Rapids), Laurie Kuna (Lowell), Laura Leasure (Lowell), Mary Leasure (Lowell), Kelli Mayer (Lowell), Peggy Parrish (Lowell), Anna Reynolds (Lowell), Randi Richardson (Lowell), Chloe Schmidt (Lowell), Brody Swift (Lowell), Matt Tawney (Lowell), Sue Veenema (Grand Rapids), and Laura Warsaw (Grand Rapids).

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Revival of a Musical - Top 3

1. Ragtime

39.5% of votes

2. Chess

22% of votes

3. CATS: The Jellicle Ball

21.9% of votes

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