wyoming theater festival
TRANSCRIPT
Wyoming Theater FestivalMedia Kit
WTF is the Wyoming Theater Festival!Spend Two Days, See Four New Plays
• Two weeks of new play productions, workshops, discussions, lectures, readings, and backstage tours provide the excitement of Sheridan’s newest summer event, July 13-25.
• The Wyoming Theater Festival is establishing itself as a major force in the development of new works for the American theater.
• WTF focuses on aiding playwrights and musical theater teams in the creation of new work worthy of today’s audiences, and shepherding these works towards full productions on stages across the nation.
• WTF audiences get a sneak-peak of the “next big thing” on America’s stage as they test drive newly developed plays by major industry talents in preparation for these works’ world premier productions around the nation.
The Value of WTF Audience Members: A Full Immersion Experience for Theater Fans
• Because audience reactions often reveal which parts of an emerging play are successful and which need work, the audience is central to the development process. We can’t develop our plays without you watching them!
• WTF provides that live audience experience to its theater creators, and further serves audiences by offering a full-immersion experience into the world of the festival. WTF’s events include performances, back stage tours, discussions, workshops, lectures, readings & gatherings – a full program of attractions to engage, delight and stimulate theater fans.
Sheridan, WY – Rich in Natural Beauty, Rugged Landscapes and Home to a Booming Performing Arts
Culture! From Buffalo Bill Cody to A Farewell to Arms to Brokeback Mountain; from Broadway hit musicals Light in the Piazza to A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Sheridan has a rich and impressive history of creative culture. Thanks to the Ucross and Jentel Foundations (which provide many artist residencies each year) and a local community that values artistic innovation, performing artists of all stripes are attracted to the Sheridan area to take advantage of the creative inspiration inherent in this idyllic Western setting at the base of the Big Horn Mountains.
Sheridan – A Town Committed to the Arts • Sheridan is proud of its long tradition of
theater production. Since its inception in 1957, The Sheridan Civic Theater Guide has been producing continuously, making it one of the oldest theater companies in the American West.
• The newly-completed Mars Black Box Theater was constructed to compliment the historic WYO Theater, the oldest Vaudeville stage in the state.
• Coming soon to the Sheridan Performing Arts District downtown is a new dance studio, expanded theater offices, a technical theater laboratory and several rehearsal spaces. Additionally, construction has begun on a new 400+ seat recital hall and greatly expanded visual arts facilities which will be completed in the fall of 2016.
• The world famous Brinton Museum will be newly renovated and open for visitors this summer http://www.bbmandm.org/
ROMEO AND BERNADETTE by Mark Saltzman (7 time Emmy Award winner)
Romeo returns? Yes, to 1960 mob Brooklyn where he finds himself again torn between two feuding families – and this time they’re
Mafia. Paper Mill Playhouse in (appropriately) New Jersey presented the
original production of this comic romp which is currently being updated and
retooled for a New York production. Variety called the musical “A deliriously schmaltzy
pastiche. Proudly lowbrow, shamelessly cute, politically incorrect, retro-hip and
basically adorable.” The New York Times said Romeo & Bernadette is “hilariously perfect. Mr. Saltzman gets good comic
mileage out of the stranger-in-a-strange land conceit. It is a well-work gimmick and it is to Mr. Saltzman’s credit that he makes
it fresh.”
EDDIE PEZ REX by Gerry Hansen
A terrible curse has befallen the city of Feebs, a mecca for lovers of pastries and sweets. Eddie Pez, the Candy King, seeks the advice of the great oracle
Ono who foretells that the curse can only be lifted when the murder of the famous Pastry Czar Prius is solved.
King Eddie Pez dedicates himself to tracking down Prius’ murderer. When the Candy King’s blind taste tester,
Tyrannosis, foretells that it was Eddie Pez himself who killed Prius, and that Eddie Pez was destined to kill his
father and sleep with his mother, what is the Monarch of Sweets to do? Gouge out his eyes and go into a
self-imposed exile, away from his beloved sweets? Only the gods know!
UTAH by Sean Michael Welch
Behind the scenes of a large franchise bookstore, two former lovers, an American
man, Aidan, and an Ethiopian woman, Zera, confront each other over the
relationship’s demise while trying to keep the secret from their fellow employees and manager. But as the workplace rumor mill chugs, their boss demands one of them, Zera or Aidan, must transfer out of the store. All the while, the ex-lovers are
engulfed in the day-to-day New York retail store insanity of demanding customers
and employee in-fighting.
UNTOUCHED by D.L. Siegel
Set in an alternate present of an economic collapse, Untouched takes audience
members to The Pantheon: a once popular bookstore turned brothel in Astoria, New York. Here, Lady Lazarus and her “shop
girls” are forced to upturn profits by turning tricks. But in this world, even the
world’s oldest profession is getting old, and the sudden homecoming of Lady Lazarus’ young ward Kira only highlights the divide
between what once was and what now must be. As Kira struggles to learn the
rules and dangers of this new world of sex as the only commodity worth selling, she must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice in the name of love and family.
Java Jump Start Discussion 9:00-10:00 AM
Let’s Hear It Readings 10:00-12:00 PM
Theater 101 Workshops 10:00-12:00 PM
Green Show in the Park 12:00-2:00 PM
Feature Performance 2:00-4:30 PM
Backstage Tour 4:30-5:30 PM
Wine & Dine 5:30-7:00 PM
Feature Performance 7:00-9:30 PM
Cask with Cast 10:00-11:45 PM
The WTF schedule varies on a daily basis, so please be sure to check the official schedule for performance times and event details
here.
Schedule of Events
Come for the Festival, Stay for the Bighorns
As the Jewel of Wyoming, Sheridan is visited year-round and offers endless adventure in the rugged and scenic outdoorsman’s paradise.
Fabled western history and dramatic mountain vistas meet new west comfort and the serenity of wide-open spaces. Providing history with a view – from Main Street to the
magnificent backdrop of the Bighorn Mountains – Sheridan offers modern hospitality with old west charm.
Adventure Abounds in Sheridan, Wyoming
For those looking to extend their stay after the festival, there’s plenty to keep outdoor enthusiasts sticking around.
• Hiking and camping
• Mountain biking and rock climbing
• Fishing and hunting
• Golf at Hidden Bridge, The Powder Horn and Kendrick Golf Course
Bighorn National Forest has more than 190,000 acres of wilderness, more than 1,500 miles of hiking trails and over 30 campgrounds.
Hospitality and Lodging Partners The Wyoming Theater Festival works with Sheridan Travel & Tourism and the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce in providing information for visitors and those making hotel reservations during their stay in Sheridan.
For more information on available accommodations, restaurants and activities to do while in Sheridan, visit www.sheridanwyoming.org or www.sheridanwyomingchamber.org.
Getting Here:By Air: Sheridan County Airport offers a convenient location with charter services provided by Bighorn Airways.By Bus: Sheridan bus stop is located outside of Exxon-Red Eagle gas/convenience store on E. Brundage Lane. Jefferson Bus Lines offers service between Rapid City, SD and Billings, MT, with stops in Sheridan and at the Buffalo, WY station. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Buffalo station or by phone at the Rapid City terminal: 605.348.3300 or 800.451.5333.
Media Contacts Julie Peirano
Adventure Media News
973.714.5632
DannyLee Hodnett
Wyoming Theater Festival
307.674.6446, ext. 3001
www.wyomingtheaterfestival.com