Debutante Ball

The event debuts our first-year playwrights and their work with 10-minute plays. Following the readings, we will announce the winners of the TTS Dramaturgy Prize, the Ephraim Prize, the Dean's Prize, the Raven Theatre Residency Award, and the Lawrence Bundschu and Warren Snoddy Endowed Playwriting Prize. These awards highlight our fourth-year students' contributions and hard work during their time at The Theatre School. (This is a formal dress-up event!)

Featured Readings:

Spare Change by Olayinka Bart-Williams

Summary: Rene wakes up with no prior collection of who she was, and only the people in front of her to rely upon when it comes to a judgement of her character— Mara, her judge for the final decision of what afterlife she’ll lead, and her two assistants Quentin and Petey. After a back and forth from an unfortunate piece of her life being chosen to display who she is, Rene ends up with the decision of hell and no chance for appeal. Mara’s newest assistant, Quentin has noticed some inconsistencies between her file and the memory that was shown and asks for a quick review, which Mara grants. Finding out she was wrongly charged with the memory shown, Quentin requests to bring her back which Mara explains won’t be possible due to the amount of applications they have coming in, and lends him advice for his future working with her. After she leaves, Quentin goes directly against the advice and reviews Rene’s file more in order to avoid further mishaps.

Folk Histories and Other Nonsense by Greta Hanson

Summary: Folk Histories and Other Nonsense is a short play about American history and legacy told by folk music icons.

The Last Birthday by Ian Lafrenz

Summary: Beau, Lyla, and Camille have been best friends from the beginning. They've shared everything and done everything together all their lives. But on the eve of their collective eighteenth birthday, old resentments and frustrations arise. As adulthood looms, will they overcome their faults and grow together? Or is it time to say goodbye?

CONTENT WARNING: Language

Two White Women of Different Persuasions Having Brunch in the Year of Our Lord Twenty-Twenty-Five by Josiah Taylor

Summary: Two white women, a liberal New Englander and a conservative Texan, discuss their lives and the hot topics of the day over brunch, realizing suddenly that more connects them than separates them.