Enter Stage Left Theater’s Second Annual Summer Shorts One Act Play Showcase will take place at the Hopedale High School (25 Adin Street) on August 18 at 2:00 p.m. The showcase features plays that were the three top winners of the ESL playwriting contest this past spring, and will determine which playwrights will receive first, second and third place in the competition. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, students and Stage Door Members, and are available on the ESL website.
All three plays were written by local college students. Tragedy, a Comedy, was written by Tommy Karner of Hopkinton, a film and theater student at Fitchburg State University entering his junior year this fall. The play is directed by Paul Champlin (Hopkinton), and features Dan Cote (Blackstone), Alexandra Kangis (Hopedale), Erin Anderson (Uxbridge), Kyle Gazoorian (Upton), Kyle Porter (Uxbridge) and Delancey McDonald (Uxbridge). The drama I-35 is written by Stephanie Coyle (Milford), who is entering her senior year at Roger Williams University. Her play is co-directed by Dawn Anderson and Kyle Porter, both of Uxbridge, and features Jack McAuliffe (Hopkinton), Erin Anderson, Scott Day (Millis) and Paul Champlin. Friends with Benefits was written and directed by Erin Anderson of Uxbridge, who is entering her third year of college at Framingham State University, and features Paul Champlin and Kyle Porter. Porter is a junior theater student at Dean College.
“When people think of theater, they often forget the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make a play successful. Playwrights are perhaps the most crucial part of this community, because without them the artist has no voice,” said Kelly Grill, executive director of the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. “We are fortunate to have some very talented young playwrights here, and we’re proud to be able to stage their remarkable works.”