New Works Now! festival will feature young talent in 8 plays
September 3, 2012
By Nini Edwards
In only two weeks students have auditioned, casted and rehearsed to create the New Works Now! festival.
“We had auditions the first week back to school,” said director, stage manager, actor and theater senior Maggie Howell. “We have been rehearsing since then.”
UK’s young talent is hosting a festival of new-age performances. For three days student artists are performing eight shows in the Guignol Theatre.
The rest of the plays to be performed this year are different from New Works Now! because they are classic or modern plays that are well known, said Nancy Jones, chair of the Department of Theatre.
“These shows are a lot shorter and more laid back,” actor and theater freshman Macreena Groody said.
The New Works Now! series of performances includes choreographed dancing.
“This gives students the opportunity to showcase their talent,” Jones said.
The entire production is directed and created by UK students with little outside help.
“This is different because everyone is teaching each other,” Groody said.
Jones said more than 50 students are involved in New Works Now! both onstage and backstage.
“We have enough talented people here to do the shows by ourselves,” Howell said.
“My favorite part is working with the student directors,” Groody said. “It is cool to see somebody my age make something awesome.”
The series will take place Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Guignol Theatre. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for the public at the Singletary Center Box Office.
