Theatres have committed to new plays in a big way in Salt Lake City. In the months ahead, I’ll visit various theatres in the area to give you an overview of the work being done. Recently, I visited Pioneer Theatre Company (PTC), the professional, LORT B theatre at the University of Utah, to discuss their New Plays Initiative with Elizabeth Williamson, hired a year ago as the Literary Manager and Assistant to the Artistic Director at PTC. A 2007 NEA Fellow in Literary Translation, Elizabeth has worked around the country at theatres including Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Steppenwolf, and Court Theatre.
PTC will produce the world premiere of Bess Wohl’s Touch(ed), directed by Charles Morey, January 8-23, 2010, as the first in a series supported by the New Plays Initiative. It’s a story of a sister’s attempt to re-connect with a beloved older sister, who has been hospitalized with mental illness and suicidal tendencies over the years, on a 30th birthday celebration in a cabin in the woods. Elizabeth suggests that it’s a serious play of ideas, and yet it’s witty. It raises questions about what it means to live your own life and explores the idea of “functioning” in society. “Bess has such skill with language,” says Elizabeth. “I felt this play was ready to go when I read it. It had had workshops and readings, but no production. This is the first of other productions that will follow.”
The New Plays Initiative reflects PTC’s commitment to new plays. There’s no quota of new plays per season, but the company supports readings, workshops, and commissions. Elizabeth describes the way the company works with a new play they’re interested in: “We ask, ‘Where is it?’ and ‘What does it need?’” The end goal of the project is to produce new work. Elizabeth receives submissions from agents only. She continues, “We’re here to read plays, to build the new play program, to make new relationships with playwrights, and to produce good work.” In January, Elizabeth will also direct Brooke Berman’s Out of the Water, the first in a series of new play readings that the Initiative will host this season.
Because I’m particularly interested in connecting students with new work, I asked about the challenge of ticket prices. A student can see a movie for around ten dollars here, but tickets at a professional theatre are well beyond what most students can afford. As a student in England one summer, I remember seeing 98 plays because of the affordable student ticket prices. PTC addresses this issue through a variety of programs. Following a ten dollar annual activation fee, University of Utah students can receive up to two tickets for: 1) a free Thursday preview, 2) fifty percent off tickets Monday-Thursday, or 3) five-dollar student-rush tickets on the night of the performance. Students from other area colleges are eligible for ten dollar rush tickets. In addition, PTC provides up to 2,000 free tickets to Salt Lake County high schools and middle schools for each production. High school students may purchase half-price tickets on Monday and Tuesday nights. The theatre also plans to include University of Utah students in discussions of plays and new play readings.
Salt Lake City
Theatres have committed to new plays in a big way in Salt Lake City. In the months ahead, I’ll visit various theatres in the area to give you an overview of the work being done. Recently, I visited Pioneer Theatre Company (PTC), the professional, LORT B theatre at the University of Utah, to discuss their New Plays Initiative with Elizabeth Williamson, hired a year ago as the Literary Manager and Assistant to the Artistic Director at PTC. A 2007 NEA Fellow in Literary Translation, Elizabeth has worked around the country at theatres including Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Steppenwolf, and Court Theatre.
PTC will produce the world premiere of Bess Wohl’s Touch(ed), directed by Charles Morey, January 8-23, 2010, as the first in a series supported by the New Plays Initiative. It’s a story of a sister’s attempt to re-connect with a beloved older sister, who has been hospitalized with mental illness and suicidal tendencies over the years, on a 30th birthday celebration in a cabin in the woods. Elizabeth suggests that it’s a serious play of ideas, and yet it’s witty. It raises questions about what it means to live your own life and explores the idea of “functioning” in society. “Bess has such skill with language,” says Elizabeth. “I felt this play was ready to go when I read it. It had had workshops and readings, but no production. This is the first of other productions that will follow.”
The New Plays Initiative reflects PTC’s commitment to new plays. There’s no quota of new plays per season, but the company supports readings, workshops, and commissions. Elizabeth describes the way the company works with a new play they’re interested in: “We ask, ‘Where is it?’ and ‘What does it need?’” The end goal of the project is to produce new work. Elizabeth receives submissions from agents only. She continues, “We’re here to read plays, to build the new play program, to make new relationships with playwrights, and to produce good work.” In January, Elizabeth will also direct Brooke Berman’s Out of the Water, the first in a series of new play readings that the Initiative will host this season.
Because I’m particularly interested in connecting students with new work, I asked about the challenge of ticket prices. A student can see a movie for around ten dollars here, but tickets at a professional theatre are well beyond what most students can afford. As a student in England one summer, I remember seeing 98 plays because of the affordable student ticket prices. PTC addresses this issue through a variety of programs. Following a ten dollar annual activation fee, University of Utah students can receive up to two tickets for: 1) a free Thursday preview, 2) fifty percent off tickets Monday-Thursday, or 3) five-dollar student-rush tickets on the night of the performance. Students from other area colleges are eligible for ten dollar rush tickets. In addition, PTC provides up to 2,000 free tickets to Salt Lake County high schools and middle schools for each production. High school students may purchase half-price tickets on Monday and Tuesday nights. The theatre also plans to include University of Utah students in discussions of plays and new play readings.
Char Nelson
cnelson@dramatistsguild.com