Wasatch Theatre to Host Page-to-Stage Festival, 6/16

Wasatch Theatre Company is pleased to present their Annual Page-to-Stage Festival, a showcase of works by local playwrights.

The Page-to-Stage Festival represents Wasatch's commitment to producing original theatrical work. The centerpiece of the festival has typically been the presentation of Short-Shorts. This year, that tradition is continued with the presentation of 'Still Lives.' Local photographers were asked to submit their art to serve as inspiration for a series of short plays. Five pictures were chosen and handed off to the five playwrights selected to write for this years' program. In addition to the photo, playwrights were given a group of actors to write for and spent months honing their work. Wasatch has invested in some variation of this process for 16 of its 18 years.

The results this year? Five stories that range from the serious to the absurd and that take the audience through a range of emotional experiences.

The plays include Ryan Noufer's WKS (directed by Alyssa Franks), which offers a look at the cruel games time plays on a man's family, his choices, and ultimately, his life. Dave Hansen's Faith and Fat Loss (directed by Shawna Brand) looks at the intersection between self-help and gender politics. Religious radicalism provides a claustrophobic, end-of-days feel to Nicholas Dunn's Fervor (with direction from Beth Bruner). Lindsey Hall's Think (directed by Amy Allred) shows us the differences between what we think and what we say - and how that impacts our relationships. And finally, One More Time (by Mandy Barfuss with direction from Megan Shenefelt) examines the delicate balance between health, happiness, and survival.

The cast of actors for the five short plays include Sallie Cooper, Joe Crnich, Camilla Edsberg, Stein Erickson, Ava Kostia, Jim Martin, Isabella Reeder, Jodi Reese, Cami Rozanas, Julie Simonich, and Daniel Torrence.

The production runs for one weekend only, with performances on Thursday, June 16th at 8:00 p.m., Friday, June 17th at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 18th at 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Rose Wagner Studio Theatre (138 West 300 South). Tickets are $20.00 and can be purchased at 801-355-2787 or www.arttix.org. Special events surrounding the festival include a reception following the Friday evening performance and a free staged reading of an original play by Beth Bruner (Keep A-Runnin') Saturday, June 18th at 4:00 p.m. in the Studio Theatre.