Teen West 7 - Launches!

Teen West Project:  Year Seven

A Short in the Wire

(all information subject to changes)

About Theme:

In its seventh year collaborating with SouthWest StageWorks at Wilson High School, Playwrights West will mine the entire company, along with alum and previous writers of Teen West, to create an evening of short works inspired by the question:  how have you been shorted?  This question, intended to be wide ranging in how it’s perceived, will hopefully generate incredible dialogue within the Wilson student community - conversations around issues of disenfranchisement, outdated systems, archaic paradigms, and uncontrollable life factors that lead to one feeling unable to fully climb the social and economic ladders of our time.  A focus group meeting with Wilson students will be held in May of 2018 to launch the writing. 

About the Presentation:

For this offering, the show will be presented as a traveling, site specific piece.  This means that there will be 6 different venues and 12 short plays as part of a two act evening.  The show will be directed and scored by Playwrights West Founding Member Matthew B. Zrebski.

About the Show Structure:

The show will be assembled using the following concept and casting breakdown.  (m = male role, f = female role, ng = non-gendered role)  An acting company will be cast, with some actors doubling.  All roles will be teen characters.  We anticipate casting between 20 and 30 actors.  Numerous technicians will be needed.

PRE-SHOW

The audience will be divided into 4 groups, with no more than 20 per group.  These groups will be color-coded:  red, green, blue, yellow.  The color-coded wristbands will be used as tickets.  We will certainly keep families and groups of friends together as we can, but some will be separated if needed.

ACT ONE

Play A

Venue:  Auditorium Lobby

Cast:  2m, 2w, 1ng

Play B

Venue:  Drama Room

Cast:  1m, 1w

Play C

Venue:  Choir Room

Cast:  1m, 2w, 2ng

Play D

Venue:  A Classroom

Cast:  2m, 1w

For Plays A thru D, the audience, in their separate groups, will rotate from space to space, with each of the four plays performing 4 times in a row.  After the fourth rotation, the entire audience will go to experience the Act One Finale.

The Traveling Play: Part 1

Venue:  The path from venue to venue

Cast:  1ng

(note:  4 actors will be cast, each performing this piece as that actor guides their particular group from venue to venue)

Act One Finale

Venue:  The Library

Cast:  3ng

INTERMISSION

At intermission, the auditorium lobby, drama room, choir room, and classroom will undergo a scenic change to prepare for Act Two.

ACT TWO

Play E

Venue:  Auditorium Lobby

Cast: 2m, 2w, 3ng

Play F

Venue:  Drama Room

Cast:  2m, 2w

Play G

Venue:  Choir Room

Cast: 6 Singers - Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Soprano, Mezzo, Alto

Play H

Venue:  Classroom

Cast:  2ng

For Plays E thru H, the audience, in their separate groups, will rotate from space to space, with each of the four plays performing 4 times in a row.  After the fourth rotation, the entire audience will go to experience the Act Two Finale.

The Traveling Play: Part 2

Cast:  1ng

(note:  4 actors will be cast, each performing this piece as that actor guides their particular group from venue to venue)

Act Two Finale

The Auditorium

Cast:  Full Company with breakdown - 3m, 3w, 2ng, chorus

END OF SHOW

***A Short in the Wire will open February 14, 2019***