Words Afire Festival 2012
2012 Words Afire!
Festival of New Plays
Jump to: Señora de la Pinta |Casualties of Dreams and Sand|Wrecking|Half Empty|An Evening of Screenplay Readings|The House That Che Built|Book Launch & Readings|
The University of New Mexico’s Department of Theatre and Dance is pleased to announce the line-up for the 12th Annual Words Afire Festival of New Plays: a series of new works written by the talented MFA students in UNM’s award winning Dramatic Writing Program. Festival audiences have a unique opportunity to participate in the creation of these extraordinary new works as they are brought to life by an outstanding team of directors, actors, designers, and technicians. The 12th Annual Words Afire Festival runs April 12 through 22, 2012, in The Experimental Theatre on UNM’s Main Campus.
Download the entire schedule here
Main Stage Production
Señora de la Pinta
by Law Chavez
directed by Daniel Banks
Does fate have power over freewill? Is freewill powerless against innate instincts to take control of our lives? A climatic drama, the play is based on Sophocles’ Oedipus the King with the Chicano emphasis of loyalty and honor as well as cultural complexities of sexual identity and gender expression. “Gringo” a Chicano ex-con, vows to find vigilante justice for a young man who is believed to have been killed in the New Mexico State Prison riot of 1980. The young man is the son of a woman that Gringo loves and needs to honor in spite of the fact that he is warned by a Curandera to abandon his search. As he comes closer to finding the assailant, he is forced to deal with truths that will destroy everyone in his life including himself.
Experimental Theatre
Thursday, April 12, 7:30pm
Friday, April 13, 7:30pm
Saturday, April 14, 7:30pm
Sunday, April 15, 6:00pm
Thursday, April 19, 7:30pm
Saturday, April 21, 4:30pm
Tickets $15 General, $12 Seniors and UNM Faculty, $10 UNM Staff and All Students, Available at UNM Ticket Offices, Call 925-5858 or 1-877-664-8661, or online at www.unmtickets.com
Directed Readings
Casualties of Dreams and Sand
by Christina Hjelm
directed by Valli Rivera
At a time when the U.S. economy is collapsing and American soldiers continue to die in the Middle East, Adriana’s home falls victim to the mortgage crisis while her soldier husband is away, fighting in Iraq. When this teenage wife decides to steal back her foreclosed home she finds herself face-to-face with an unexpected squatter that she will soon never forget.
Experimental TheatreThursday, April 12, 9:30pm
Friday, April 20, 9:30pmAdmission Free
Wrecking
by Kevin R. Elder
directed by Shepard Sobel
Three brothers return to their childhood home due to the death of Christopher, their youngest brother. Their arrival conjures memories of a broken childhood, abandonment, and a teenage pact that was long forgotten. The unexpected reunion forces the brothers to acknowledge Christopher's death, and their own part in the family's long suffering dysfunction.
Friday, April 13, 9:30pm
Saturday, April 21, 2:00pm Admission Free
Half Empty
by Zee Eskeets
directed by Paul Ford
Alley is young and reckless. After her father’s death, Alley fell head first into the world of late night partying and bad decision making. One night, Alley is noticed by a charming yet devious skeleton named Belvedere. He has fallen. Belvedere takes Alley into a different and dark dimension where he reigns. This is no escape. Alley begs to return home. Out of the kindness of his black little heart, Belvedere sets her on an impossible task, if she can find the secret to unconditional love, he will allow her to go home, permanently.
Experimental TheatreThursday, April 19, 9:30pm
Sunday, April 22, 6:00pm Admission Free
An Evening of Screenplay Readings
by Various Writers
directed by Matthew McDuffie
ARTS Lab
Tuesday, April 17, 7:30pm
Admission Free
The House That Che Built
by Barney Lopez
directed by Becca Holmes
A 17-year-old Manny finds himself homeless after his parents flee anti-immigration legislation. His classmate, Cynthia, lets him stay in a house her mom is trying to sell. A portrait of Che Guevara comes to life and educates Manny and Cynthia in social justice. With the help of an enthusiastic homeless population, Manny & Cynthia lead a revolution occupying foreclosed homes in a neighborhood near you.
Wednesday, April 18, 7:30pmSunday, April 22, 12pm
Admission Free
Book Launch & Readings
from
Jane Austen, Action Figure and other plays
by Elaine Avila and
Say Word! Voices from Hip Hop Theatre
edited with an introduction by Daniel Banks
UNM Bookstore
Tuesday April 17th, 2pm
All performances (unless otherwise noted) are in the Experimental Theatre, located on the lower level of the Center for the Arts on UNM’s Main Campus. Tickets for Señora de la Pinta are $15 General, $12 Seniors and UNM Faculty, $10 UNM Staff and All Students, Directed Readings and Screenplay Readings are free for all. Available at UNM Ticket Offices, Call 925-5858 or 1-877-664-8661, or online at www.unmtickets.com, more info at http://theatre.unm.edu/waf, or call 277-4332
Gallery:
Take a look at the pictures of Words Afire!