Student-Written Plays To Premiere At Catholic University

The Catholic University of America Department of Drama is presenting two original plays by M.F.A. playwriting candidates in February: River Like Sin by Lindsay Adams and The Knot by Liz Maestri. The playwrights' creativity will be brought to life in full-scale productions featuring student actors and professional directors from the Washington, D.C. area.

Written by Lindsay Adams and directed by Shanara Gabrielle and Lee Cromwell, River Like Sin tells the harrowing tale of a struggling farming community being kept alive by a strong, flowing river. A young woman named Wren Walker crosses the river to discover that its source is the tears of the ghost of an elderly woman. After Wren continues to visit the ghost, she stops crying, causing the river to dry up and the remaining livelihood of the town to die. Angry, the townspeople look for someone, or something, to blame. River Like Sin is a haunting and dramatic story that may become your next favorite dark fantasy. River Like Sin will be performed in Callan Theater at Catholic University on Feb. 16, 22, and 24, at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 17 and 25, at 2 p.m.

The Knot, written by Liz Maestri and directed by Kristin Clippard, gives the audience a glimpse into lives of perfect couple Khymi and T.J., their perfect engagement, and what is expected to be the perfect wedding. However, planning for the event reveals that things are not always as they seem. Khymi and T.J. soon learn what their marriage really means beyond all the flowers, rings, cakes, and presents. Reflecting the crazy world of modern American wedding planning, The Knot is expected to wow audiences with a range of emotions, including humor, sadness, love, and heartbreak. The Knot will be performed in Callan Theater on Feb. 17, 21, and 23, at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 18 and 24, at 2 p.m.

Tickets to performances can be purchased at drama.cua.edu or by email at hartkeboxoffice@gmail.com. Ticket prices range from $5 to $15. The Catholic University of America is the national university of the Catholic Church and the only higher education institution founded by the U.S. bishops. Established in 1887 as a papally chartered graduate and research center, the University comprises 12 schools and 26 research facilities and is home to 3,241 undergraduate and 2,835 graduate students.