Northwestern playwrights present original one-acts

Northwestern College students will present 12 new plays during the 23rd annual World Premiere Festival May 2. The first play will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. in the England 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.

“Can’t Go On,” by junior Sara Trease, explores the different ways family members grieve a tragedy. The play will be directed by sophomore Joy McCaffrey.

Junior Becky Ochoa will direct senior Kasi Amos’s play “Sheep and Wolves,” about the real selves that are revealed—for better or worse—in intimate relationships.

In “Thirds,” written by junior Alexander Lowry and directed by freshman Ashley Olson, Lowry recounts a story from his family’s history, set during the Dust Bowl.

Junior Shannon Teske wrote “Calling,” a father-son memory drama about the excuses we make for failing to repair a broken relationship. Trease will direct.

“Newsboy” features a timid waitress and an awkward delivery boy on a romantic collision course. Sophomore Emily Linneweber will direct the play, which was written by junior Hannah Wamhoff.

Junior Corrie Hayes will direct “From the Sea” by sophomore Lucas Sander. The 1750s drama is set in maritime Boston.

“Hearth,” by sophomore Zach Wilson, imagines a session between a traumatologist and a patient. The drama will be directed by Teske.

Freshman Ryan Altman will direct Ochoa’s “Road Trip” about attention deficits and traffic delays.

“With This Ring,” by junior Randyl Lynn Getz, explores crime and commitment. It will be directed by Lowry.

Getz will direct Hayes’ play “The Inescapable Memory,” about relationship regret.

“Fried Eggs,” written by senior Tetta Askeland and directed by Sander, is about the interplay of stability and spice in a relationship.

Junior Blake Mulder wrote “Getaway Driver,” about an imaginative jewelry heist that leads to a marriage proposal. Senior Clayton Ehlers will direct.