Stage Crafts
Upcoming Plays Center on Female Protagonists
The PORT CITY PLAYWRIGHTS’ PROJECT is a community of playwrights and screenwriters in the Wilmington area, representing those from all experience levels.
“Our community of writers are all very supportive of one another,” says the group’s executive director SUSAN STEADMAN. “We bring plays and screen plays to meetings, read them, and then discuss afterwards.”
Port City Playwrights’ members also hear from guest speakers, share opportunities for submissions, and host readings and productions of their works.
In May, the group is producing Resilience: 3 Plays About Women. Each original, one-act play is written by a local playwright, features a memorable female protagonist, and has a majority female cast. Steadman is directing.
The idea for the production was born at a recent Playwrights’ meeting. The group decided to hone in on scripts (and the subsequent staged production) that focus on women.
“Women face many adversities and uncertainties (in life), yet they can overcome them,” Steadman says.
Thus, Resilience was born. The Port City Playwrights’ Project also decided to host a playwriting competition for it. The Resilience contest was open to female writers in Southeastern North Carolina, and the winning script would be included in the upcoming production.
WESLEIGH NEVILLE was the winner of the contest with her script Troop 1627. Neville is a student at University of North Carolina Wilmington, set to graduate in May with a double major in theater and psychology.
Troop 1627 is about a traumatic incident that occurs when a group of teenage girls is camping together as well as their plight to overcome grudges and emotions that resurface years later.
In addition to Neville’s play, two works by Port City Playwrights’ Project members will also be featured. The Real Judith by RICHARD M. TRASK is centered around Judith, a young widow in ancient Israel, who comes up with a plan in concert with her handmaiden to resist the invading Assyrians.
Angels for the Innocent by ELIZABETH GORDON is centered around a college student who decides to take her activism to the next level and photograph animal cruelty at a factory farm. There will be a bit of comedy, some political drama, moments of adversity – and a lot of resilience.
“We hope to stimulate conversation,” Steadman says. “When you reflect back to ancient or neo-classical theater, it appeals to the audiences thought and emotion … and these plays definitely do as well.”
RESILIENCE:
3 PLAYS ABOUT WOMEN MAY 3-20 | CAPE FEAR PLAYHOUSE | 613 CASTLE STREET
TICKETS: Thursday performances are $12; all other performances are $18 for general admission, $16 for seniors, full-time students, and military; group rate tickets (12 or more) are $14. Tickets available at brownpapertickets.com
INFO: 274-2556 or portcityplaywrights.wordpress.com
To view more of photographer Michael Cline’s work, go to www.michaelclinephoto.com.
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