By Jeff Murphy,
March 23, 2021
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 A weekend of live entertainment is planned as University of Central
Missouri Theatre and Dance presents its first presentation of the New Play Series
at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27 at James L. Highlander Theatre.
While the series is performed on stage, and admission is free, presentations also
will be available via livestream for those who would like to experience the series
remotely. This weekend, the series will feature 11 new works written by current UCM
students.
Friday night will be a presentation of 10-Minute and One-Act plays including 鈥淒ead
Men鈥 by Thomas Clark and directed by Danny Gage, 鈥淥ffice Slice鈥 written by Thomas
Clark and directed by Riley Givens, 鈥淢emento Mori鈥 written by Chris Schnurbusch and
directed by Thomas Clark, 鈥淪pitfire鈥 written by Ashlyn Reece and directed by Danny
Gage, 鈥淒ark鈥 written by Riley Givens and directed by Thomas Clark, 鈥淭he Weekend鈥 written
by Anthony Johnson Jr. and directed by Anna Braman, and 鈥淟isten鈥 written by Anna Braman
and directed by Riley Givens.
Saturday night will feature a presentation of 鈥淭he Lil鈥 Shakespeare Collection鈥 written
by Luke Habjan and Anthony Kiger, and directed by Carlos Gomez. Other plays to be
presented include鈥 Romeo and Juliet: A Kickball Love Story,鈥 鈥淭itus Andronicus鈥 Arts
and Crafts,鈥 鈥淣aptime for Othello,鈥 鈥淛C: The Line Leader,鈥 and 鈥淎 Jungle Gym鈥檚 Night
Dream.鈥
Production Advisor Aaron Scully stated about the New Play Series, 鈥淧laywrights write
plays to see them performed and a lot of new plays end up living as just literature.
It鈥檚 really exciting that our UCM Theatre and Dance playwrights will get to see their
work performed for an audience. Additionally, it鈥檚 great that our audiences will get
to hear the creative voices of our students.鈥
The production team for the New Play Series includes Katie Marshall as the production
manager/stage manager; Dr. Aaron Scully as production advisor, Ken George as technical
director, and Kelsi Richardson as lighting designer.
Actors featured in the New Play Series include: Danny Gage, Isabella Salerno, Logan
Mathes, Zachary Craft, Nancy Stover, Ryan Haywood, Luke Habjan, Stephanie Heathcock,
Luke Englert, Lacy Goettling, Ethan Shaffer, Gracie Heath, Jace Nielsen, Demetrius
Hampton, Eleanor Panico, Keyvon Lewis, Carlos Gomez, and Riley Givens.
Admission to the New Play Series is free. Livestream links will be provided on the
UCM homepage in the Facebook events for audience members who would like to watch remotely.
To promote a safe environment, social distancing and face coverings/masks will be
required in the Highlander Theatre.
To keep up with all the latest UCM Theatre and Dance news, events and production information,
please like . Anyone who has questions about the production season is encouraged to contact Aaron
Scully at ascully@ucmo.edu.