The Herberger College of Fine Arts Department of Theatre at ASU announces the third biennial Arizona Playwrights Contest 2002, a statewide contest for playwrights to have their original, unpublished and unproduced work recognized. The deadline is Aug. 31, 2002.

Guillermo Reyes, professor of theatre and head of ASU’s playwriting program, began the contest in 1998 as a way of creating a link between Arizona playwrights. The Department of Theatre, now in its 40 season, continues to produce theatre for a growing community in the Valley and promotes the development of new plays in its MFA Playwriting Program. The department features an annual New Plays Marathon. Download Full Image

The winner of this year’s contest will have his/her work featured in the New Plays Marathon 2003 and will also receive a $500 honorarium. (Please note: the prize money is pending state budgetary issues; regardless, the contest will be held with or without it .)

In 2000, Elaine Romero won for her work, Before Death Comes for the Archbishop. In 1998, Toni Press-Coffman won the contest with her play Touch.

Scripts must be full-length (over 60 minutes). Previous staged readings and university workshops are acceptable. Only one script per playwright. Playwrights entering the contest must be current residents of Arizona. They must not be currently enrolled at Arizona State University and must not be current faculty or staff of ASU.

For more information or a full set of the rules, please see page two of this release or call Guillermo Reyes at 480-965-0519. 

The Third Biennial ARIZONA PLAYWRIGHTS CONTEST 2002
Deadline: August 31, 2002

Prize:

1. Winner will be included in ASU's annual New Plays Festival as a staged reading.
2. A $500 honorarum will be awarded to winning playwright. (Prize money is pending on state budgetary issues, nonetheless contest will be held with or without it.)

Adjudication:

1. Finalists and the eventual winner will be selected by a team comprised of the faculty and selected graduate students of the Theatre Department.
2. The decision of the adjudicators is final. ASU Theatre Department reserves the right to select no winner.

Guidelines:

1. Scripts must be original, unpublished, and unproduced. Previous staged readings and non-Equity productions would be acceptable. 
2. Scripts must be full-length (over 60 minutes), with minimal set changes. (No musicals accepted.) Any style, genre, or cast number allowed.
3. Only one script per playwright is allowed.
4. The previous winner of the contest may not enter this year’s contest, but will be eligible for future contests.
5. Scripts must be typed and bound. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the script's return (or please state in cover letter that you do not want the script returned.) A stamped, self-addressed postcard may also be included for notification of receipt of submission.
6. Playwrights entering the contest must be current residents of the state of Arizona. They must not be currently enrolled, full-time or "at large" students at Arizona State University and must not be current staff or faculty of ASU. 
7. ASU does not assume responsibility for loss, damage or return of the scripts. All reasonable care will be taken.
8. Deadline for entry is a postmark of August 31, 2002. Earlier submission is encouraged. The winner will be announced in December 2002.
9. Please mail submissions to:
   
   Arizona State University
   Attn: Arizona Playwrights Competition
   Department of Theatre
   Box 872002
   Tempe AZ 85287-2002
   
   

   Media Contact:
   Megan Krause
   480-965-8795
   megan.krause@asu.edu

On April 7-8, an exceptional dance concert will mark the culmination of a significant and extraordinary community partnership in Arizona.

The partners are building collaborative and creative relationships that bridge and strengthen community ties. How? Download Full Image

They provide Valley youth the opportunity to learn and experience the joy of dance – and learn leadership and problem-solving skills, develop a sense of community and provide a mechanism for self-expression.

Now, they come together to present “Gathering Voices – An Evening of Dance,” a free concert that highlights the hard work of these very special students, dancers and choreographers. They shine in this refreshing display of collaboration.

The partnerships
For six years, Dance Arizona Repertory Theatre (DART), the student dance company and the community partnership arm of the Department of Dance in the Herberger College of Fine Arts at ASU, has joined forces with the Silvestre Herrera School for the Arts in South Phoenix, bringing dance and movement classes to its 7th- and 8th-graders.

An ASU/Motorola grant awarded $34,000 to DART in 2001, which enabled the ASU student dancers to expand the program to include the Thomas J. Pappas School for the Homeless and the Boys and Girls Club of Gilbert.

Claudia Murphey, chair of the Department of Dance, believes the language of movement allows for communication on the most visceral level. “This enables students to acquire the skills of leadership, collaboration and problem-solving, as well as develop respect for each person’s individuality,” she says. “This partnership provides opportunities to engage these teens and their families in realizing their capacity to create a great community.”

Susan Bendix, dance coordinator at the Herrera School, says, “This partnership has given my students an opportunity to experience the powerful communication process inherent in the art form of dance. Dance is a cultural statement. It is a social statement. But, ultimately dance is a human statement. This collaborative experience has provided an opportunity for our children to express and explore themselves through movement.”

Two evenings of great dance
The first concert, on April 7, 2002, will feature choreography set on DART by nationally renowned and local guest artists, including Deborah Hay, Peter Pucci, David Titchnell and Susan Bendix. On this evening, the company also will be joined by two of Arizona’s professional dance companies, Semaphor (Phoenix-based), New Articulations (Tucson-based) and Street Jam.

The April 8 concert will feature collaborative works by DART and its community partners – the Herrera School for the Arts, the Boys and Girls Club of Gilbert and the Thomas J. Pappas School for the Homeless. African drummer and dancer, Keith Johnson, will also perform in this program.

About DART
ASU Dance faculty Mary Fitzgerald and Jennifer Tsukayama direct DART, which was founded in 1984. Community interaction has always been an important goal. DART provides training in community dance methodologies for ASU dance students while developing collaborative and creative partnerships with culturally diverse area schools and after-school programs, enriching the cultural life of the campus, community and region. The troupe continues to work with diverse groups in the area, integrating campus 
and community life. This community concert is an exciting high point for all involved.

In a nutshell
WHAT: “Gathering Voices – An Evening of Dance,” the third annual community dance showcase presented by Dance Arizona Repertory Theatre (DART), the student dance company and the community partnership arm of the Herberger College of Fine Arts Department of Dance at ASU.

The dance concert highlights the choreographic and performance talent of dance and community groups from all over the Valley, including DART, the Thomas J. Pappas School for the Homeless, the Silvestre Herrera School for the Arts, the Boys and Girls Club of Gilbert, New Articulations, Sempahor Dance Company, Keith Johnson and Street Jam.

Both concerts will present an interesting range of styles including contemporary dance, body percussion and African, and highlight the talents of a diverse group of professional dancers, musicians and students.

WHEN: April 7-8, 2002, at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Third Street Theatre in Phoenix, 1202 N. Third St. in the Phoenix Center for Community Arts Building.
TICKETS: Free
INFORMATION: The public may call 480-965-1891 for more information.

Partial funding is provided by the Department of Dance and through grants from ASU/Motorola Great Communities and the Phoenix Arts Commission through appropriations from the Phoenix City Council.

Media Contact:
Megan Krause
480-965-8795
megan.krause@asu.edu

WHAT: The Herberger College of Fine Arts Department of Theatre at ASU presents “Tomato Plant Girl,” a play for all audiences. Written by Wesley Middleton and directed by Emily Petkewich, this is a wonderful tale of friendship, empowerment and self-confidence that appeals to children and adults alike. “Tomato Plant Girl” tells the touching story of the trials of friendship between young girls.

Little Girl is a newcomer to Heretown, just arrived from Thereville. Little Girl loves books and tomato plants, but her Bossy Best Friend loves Barbies and clothes, and she gets to make the rules when they play together in their tomato garden every day at 5 p.m. SHARP! Little Girl figures it's better to play by her only friend's unfair rules than to play alone. But when Bossy Best Friend goes on vacation, Little Girl meets a new strange girl who appears from the soil of the garden – Tomato Plant Girl! Tomato Plant Girl dresses upside down, eats dirt and plays with sticks instead of Barbies. She befriends Little Girl, teaches her how to play by her own rules, and helps empower Little Girl to tell Bossy Best Friend she would rather play alone than endure her bullying. Download Full Image

WHO: Appropriate for ages 5 to 105!
WHEN: April 16-17, 2002, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Rehearsal Hall, Room 133, in the Nelson Fine Arts Center, 51 E. 10th St. on the ASU campus in Tempe. 
HOW MUCH: FREE.
CALL: For additional information, the public may call 480-965-9837.

Media Contact:
Megan Krause
480-965-8795
megan.krause@asu.edu

WHAT: The Herberger College’s Department of Theatre at ASU announces the sixth annual New Plays Marathon, a series of staged readings written by ASU graduate student playwrights and presented free to the public.

The New Plays Marathon is a celebration of the process of developing exciting new works for the theatre. Guillermo Reyes, ASU professor of theatre and head of the playwriting program, heads up this ambitious project in play development. Download Full Image

In addition, the marathon features a guest artist panel on and by Arizona playwrights, including Elaine Romero, Terry Earp, Ben Tyler and Toni Press-Coffman, entitled: “Arizona Playwrights: The Craft, the Profession, and Putting It All Together.”

WHEN: March 28 through April 6, 2002, times vary.

WHERE: Barbara Salisbury Wills Child Drama Studio, Nelson Fine Arts Center 131, 51 E. 10th St. on the ASU campus in Tempe.

HOW MUCH: Free.

CALL: For additional information, the public may call 480-965-5337.

ASU NEW PLAYS MARATHON 2002 SCHEDULE:

• March 28, 5:30 p.m. Passion Fruit by Laurelann Porter, directed by Christopher Danowski
  This is a story of passion, loss and a bisexual love triangle. Passion Fruit is a lyrical, poetic solo performance written and performed by Laurelann Porter, with original songs by Porter.
  
• March 28, 7:30 p.m. The Final Shot of the Artful Dodge Shakespeare by Christopher Miller, directed by Rob Taylor. 
  
• March 29, 2:30 p.m. ©Sullivan by Luke Krueger, directed by Lisa Mitchell
  A dark comedy about war hero Eric Sullivan’s return to his five-year high school reunion where, out of a class of 99 people, no one remembers him. Eric has interesting news: he copyrighted the town’s name, Sullivan. He demands the city rebuild the school library in order to keep the name. The city refuses and decides there’s only one solution to this dilemma: “Kill G.I. Joe.” Not Appropriate for Children.
  
  
• March 29, 5:30 p.m. Guest Artist Panel – “Arizona Playwrights: The Craft, the Profession, and Putting It All Together.” Panelists include Elaine Romero, Terry Earp, Ben Tyler and Toni Press-Coffman. 
  
• March 29, 7:30 p.m. Oy! It’s a Boy by Amy Dominy, directed by Janet Arnold. She’s Jewish; he’s not. It didn’t matter – until they find out, it’s a boy! Now Lacey and Wade must decide if they should circumcise their baby and, at the same time, deal with their meddlesome parents.
  
• March 30, 3:30 p.m. The College Try by Mark Zeller, directed by Kathy Krzys. Can a college freshman lose his virginity and his manhood in the same night? Well, yes, but Hunter is going to get his manhood back it kills him! Come see this determined young man, locked in a battle of wits with a jealous roommate, try to find redemption! 
  
• March 30, 5:30 p.m. Conversations by Cary DeBerry, directed by Jen Kulick. Enter a world where each character is plagued with his or her own set of neuroses, ideals and expectations. Sound like anyone you know? Structurally based upon La Ronde by Arthur Schnitzler, this play explores the inner recesses of the human condition.
  
  
• April 5, 7:30 p.m. Sullivan by Luke Krueger
  
• April 6, 3 p.m. Passion Fruit by Laurelann Porter
  
• April 6, 5 p.m. Oy! It’s a Boy by Amy Dominy
  
• April 7, 1 p.m. Conversations by Cary DeBerry
  
  
• April 7, 3:30 p.m. The Final Shot of the Artful Dodge Shakespeare by Christopher Miller
  
  
• April 7, 5:30 p.m. The College Try by Mark Zeller

Media Contact:
Megan Krause
480-965-8795
megan.krause@asu.edu