With
the Festival of Short Plays nearly upon us again, it’s a good time to write
about how all this began.
It’s
not that Hamilton-Gibson had never had an original play contest or had never
produced original local plays before 2007. Indeed that has been going on for
some time; in addition to the many original scripts written by Thomas Putnam, the works of other local playwrights
were featured in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. But these were weren’t
necessarily10-minute plays, nor were they staged as an evening of all-original
plays.
The
playwriting workshop presented in 2004 by Canadian author Sheldon Currie put
the thought in my head. “We could do that,” I said to myself. But the real
impetus came two years later.
Following
the success of the 2006 “Taste of Tioga” springtime food celebration on the
Green, I proposed to H-G that for 2007 we piggyback on the idea of “taste” and
offer visitors an evening of original plays about Tioga County. It would be an
occasion to
showcase
the talents of regional writers alongside other special products and services
that give Tioga its unique “taste.”
So,
with further incentive from Kasey Cox
and Kevin Coolidge, H-G announced a Taste of Tioga Playwriting Contest with
prize money for the first place winner provided by Kasey and Kevin’s From My
Shelf Books, along with the guarantee that the winner’s play would be produced.
Seeing
a need to introduce beginning playwrights to the art and craft of preparing
manuscripts, I conducted four playwriting workshops for H-G between November
2006 and February 2007. There was an excellent turnout at all four sessions. It
was great to see so many creative people inspired by each other. And, later,
when they came together to hear their plays read aloud and critiqued by fellow
writers, the progress was amazing. As a result, a total of thirteen scripts met
the March 1st deadline and were forwarded to a panel of independent
judges in the American Association of Community Theatres. In late March
auditions were held for six plays selected for production, one of which was the
contest’s prize-winning play, although which of the six was not revealed until
opening night.
When
the springtime food celebration was discontinued, we decided to change the name
of our contest and festival from “Taste of Tioga” to “Tales of Tioga.” However, the plays produced clearly provide
audiences with a taste of life—real or imagined—in our county. Only minor changes
have occurred in the contest or the festival since the first year.
The
winning play of that first year was “The Dancing Fool,” by Christine Heiny. The other five were “Ruth and Izzie,”
by Natalie Quinn; “The Immigrant,” by David Milano;
“I’ll Be Home for Your Birthday,” by Pamela
and Rob Kathcart; “It’s a Dog’s Life,” by Natalie
Kennedy; and “When Joan Came to Town,” by William A. Kovalcik.
In
2008 the winning play was “The Search,” by Natalie
Kennedy. The others were “The Break-In,” by Alex Borzok; “Grist for the Mill,” by Melva Calaman;
“Three Sisters in the Back Seat,” by Katherine
Mattoon; “Burnin’ Signs,” by Noyes
Lawton; and “Reconstructing Honor,” by Alan
Goodhue. The sponsor in 2008 was again From My Shelf Books.
The
winning play in 2009 was “The Cart,” by
Bob Borzok. The others were “Affected By The Moon,” by Dolores Anthony;
“Striking Differences,” by Natalie Kennedy;
“No Mirrors,” by Patricia Ritter; “It’s About Time!” by Natalie Quinn; and “The Ghost Of North Hall,” by Andrew Clark. The 2009 sponsor was Nickerson
Construction.
The
six plays being produced this year (in order of production) are “A Tree to Be
Desired,” by Dolores Anthony; “Awaiting
Romance,” by Clare Marie Ritter; “Barracuda,” by Samuel O’Brien; “Love
And Robbery On The Tioga Express,” by Steve Bickham; “Nessmuk Revisited,” by
Audrey Patterson; “The Devil Wore
Flannel,” by Natalie Kennedy.
The 2010 sponsor, Laurel Health System, will make the award at the conclusion
of the performance on opening night, May 14.
During
the first three years of the festival, the plays were performed on a simple
stage in 100 Main, the former Davis Furniture Store. This year we are fortunate
to mount them in the Warehouse Theatre, also a simple stage, but more
importantly, a comfortable and efficient venue. For those of you reading this
before the run is over, please check H-G’s home page to learn the dates, times,
and admission details!
LARRY
BIDDISON, twelve years into retirement after a 35-year career teaching
English, has acted and directed off and on since college days, including a
summer with Mansfield Festival Theatre and, in recent years, with
Hamilton-Gibson Productions. Since 2000, he has coordinated H-G’s two annual
Canadian theatre excursions, the playwriting contest, the short play festival
and, with wife Barbara, the Acting Up! program. In 2009 he had minor roles
in OUR TOWN and THE LARAMIE PROJECT. Larry serves on the H-G Board of Directors
as Secretary.