Northwestern College playwrights present original one-acts

Northwestern College students will present 11 new plays during the 21st annual World Premiere Festival March 19. The first play will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. in the Allen Theatre of the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center. Community members are invited to attend the free event.

The plays, which are around 10 minutes in length, were written last semester by students in Professor Jeff Barker’s playwriting class.

“Daniel’s Game,” by junior Julia VanDyk, celebrates the invincible bond between siblings. The play will be directed by junior Kristen Samek.

Senior Justine Johnson will direct junior AJ Stoscher’s play “These are the Countries,” about experiencing belonging at a geography bee.

In “Meet My Parents,” written by junior Caroline Trewet and directed by senior Abby McCubbin, Katie meets her “super” in-laws for the first time.

Sophomore Warren Duncan wrote “Plot for Teacher,” about school pranks and no-joke friendships. Trewet will direct.

“The Mysterious Neighbor” features three nosy actors who muse about their strange neighbor’s titanic construction project. Duncan will direct the play written by senior Caitlin Porter and selected for presentation at January’s Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in the Twin Cities.

Stoscher will direct “Expecting” by senior Amanda Hays. The drama explores the disorienting impact of having children—or not having them—on a marriage.

“No Complaints,” by junior Carolyn Hopkins, is about the outsized influence of the vocal minority. The drama will be directed by VanDyk.

VanDyk will also direct Samek’s “The Doctor is In” about the psychology of mistaken identity.

“Sincerely, Mom,” by junior Abigail Bliss, explores the loving lies parents sometimes tell. It will be directed by senior Hana Spangler.

Hopkins will direct Johnson’s comedy “Roommates,” about living with one’s grandfather.

“What’s Mine Isn’t Yours,” written by senior Logan Wright and directed by sophomore Mikayla Dehnke, is about what a treasure it is to be forgiven by someone you love.

For further information, including approximate start times of the one-acts, contact Jennifer Sabo, DeWitt Theatre Arts Center manager, 712-707-7341 or jennifer.sabo@nwciowa.edu.