Interview: NEW VOICE PLAY FESTIVAL Will Debut New Work at Old Opera House

The New Voice Play Festival, opening on June 24 at the Old Opera House in Charles Town, WV, provides the opportunity for audiences to witness completely new and original plays from playwrights all across the nation and vote on which play is their favorite. The four plays chosen this year vary in topics from mysteries to the mystical and present various challenges to the actors and directors

The 16th Annual New Voice Play Festival seeks to showcase four new, original one act plays. Each show is a non-musical play, about 20-30 minutes in length. The four plays chosen this year are Bad Move by Vicki Koestler, Fast Fall by Carl Williams, First Do No Harm by Bara Swain and Grim Tidings by Dennis Jones.

"The idea that no one has ever played this character is pretty exciting. You get to be totally free to create the character without any pre-conceived notions about who that character is. There is nothing to compare it to" said Christine Brewer, who plays Susan Wayfield in Fast Fall.

Since the plays are all original works, the actors faced new challenges bringing the characters to life and working on separate shows at the same time.

"The fact that the play is a new play and we do not have anything to base our performance on is sometimes difficult" said Jeffry P. Hudkins, who plays Gerald Grimes in Fast Fall.

"With a new play, you're bringing to life something that's never been staged before, so that adds a level of depth to the creative process when compared to a play that has been staged many times" said Kit McGinnis, who plays Madam Zarkov in Grim Tidings.

"The Old Opera House selects four shows to be performed. That's four shows, with four sets of actors, four different directors, and four separate sets with lists of needs. We all are vying to use the stage. It is a juggling act for each show to get in enough rehearsal time, but in the end, we get the job done and put on three great nights of entertainment. The New Voice Play Festival gives new writers a chance to get their work performed in a local theater in front of a live, paying audience. It allows both directors and actors the chance to develop a show that has no prior history. That idea is both freeing and humbling at the same time" said Charlie Perkins, who plays Nigel in Grim Tidings.

The actors are eager to debut these new plays and to have the audience vote to select the winner of the New Voice Play Festival.

"It is a chance to see some plays that no one has ever seen. The audience gets to help choose the winner. That is pretty fun! And if you don't like a show, you only have to wait about 25 minutes because there will be a new one coming up!" said Brewer.

"If you are someone that gets excited as your start a new book, settle in to watch a new movie or something you are seeing for the first time, then this might be just the event for you. Four plays that we can guarantee you have not seen before and you see all four plays in the same evening. The audience gets to select the winner of the 16th Annual New Voice Play Festival" said Steven Brewer, who plays Mike in First Do No Harm.

"You get to see four different short plays all in one night. I think anyone who is interested in theater would love this smorgasbord event. They get to vote for which play they like best. It's a great way to involve the audience and give them a voice as well" said McGinnis.

In Bad Move, directed by Liz Ricketts, a young couple moves into an upper class neighborhood. While worrying they won't be accepted by the neighbors, two teenagers from a high school improv troupe show up and all hell breaks loose as the couple wonder if they made the right move! Bad Move features Carl Dunn as Peter, Meaghan Barry as Beth, Melissa LeBlanc as Ariana and Zachery Miller as Jason.

In Fast Fall, directed by Ed Conn, Dottie's brother falls off of a balcony and dies. As his family, friends and a detective gather after the tragedy, different theories, including suicide or murder, begin to arise in this film-noir styled mystery, also featuring Linda Romero as Dorothy (Dottie) Montgomery and Micheal George as Evan Sawyer.

First Do No Harm, directed by Tonja Hirst, features a stressed out, single mother, Ethel, played by Amy Hebb, who is suffering a nervous breakdown. At her worst moment, she meets general practitioner Mike, played by Steven Brewer, who shows her what happens when a doctor not only takes "The Oath", but actually lives it.

In Grim Tidings, directed by Rene Farabaugh, it is Christmas Day in 1885 when Edward Hastings happens upon the establishment of Madam Zarkov, a fortune teller. Now he must decide whether to accept his fate or try to change his fortune. Grim Tidings also features Lee Hebb as Edward Hastings, Bruce Olson as Portofoy and Kelly Pannill as Amanda Broom.

The New Voice Play Festival outcome is decided by the audience. Each audience will be asked to vote for their favorite play after each performance and the winner and runner-ups of the New Voice Play Festival will be announced after the matinee performance on June 26. Performances are June 24 and 25 at 8:00 PM and June 26 at 2:30 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students. For more information about the New Voice Play Festival or information regarding submissions for the 2017 New Voice Play Festival, please visit www.oldoperahouse.org.

Photo Credit: Old Opera House

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