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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Forum Festival Shows Off Writing Talents

A festival of new plays is remarkable enough anywhere, much less in cities the size of Spokane.

Yet the Spokane Civic Theatre’s Playwrights Forum Festival, which begins tonight, has been thriving for years because the focus has stayed tight: Concentrate on the writing and forget the frills.

Sets and costumes are minimal. The word is what is important; the spectacle is secondary.

Yet these are not mere staged readings, either.

“We are one of the few festivals that do a full, mounted production,” said Civic executive director John G. Phillips.

Playwrights get the rare and valuable experience of seeing their shows come alive on stage. They get to see the show come together in rehearsal, and then they get to gauge audience reaction. For the Civic, this is a service to the art of theater; it does not have to be a moneymaker.

“We look to break even every year,” said Phillips. “We keep the overhead low.”

A total of 42 one-acts from around the country were submitted to the festival this spring. A committee narrowed the list to five winners, which will be staged over the next two weeks, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week. Each play is 30 minutes or less and will be presented on a rotating basis so a playgoer can see all five by attending on any two successive nights.

A number of plays came from playwrights as far away as New York, but, as it turned out, the winning playwrights are all from the Northwest, including two from Spokane.

Here are the plays, a brief synopsis and their performance dates:

“Six Too Many” by W.L. Wellsley of Seattle. The board of directors of an accounting firm meets to discuss eliminating jobs after a downturn in business. One of them suggests looking at their own jobs. Runs tonight, Saturday and June 14.

“The Dress” by Kealy DeWitt of Seattle. A poor Midwestern family learns to become more tolerant as it tries to survive the Depression. Runs tonight, Saturday and June 14.

“Sucker” by Bruce Hutton of Spokane. A police detective guards an informer in a safe house. Runs Friday and June 13 and 15.

“Boxing the Big Jolly Guy” by John Carr of Tacoma. Set in a boxing ring, a rising young executive tries to score points on the champion, the company’s CEO. Runs Friday and June 13 and 15.

“Missing Pieces” by Laura Spradley of Spokane. A modern comedy about a family that doesn’t get along at Thanksgiving dinner. Runs Friday and June 13 and 15.

All performances are at 8 p.m., and admission is $5 each night. Call 325-2507 for reservations. The performances will be in the Firth Chew Studio Theatre, in the basement of the Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard. A discussion will be held after each performance, with the playwrights in attendance, if possible.

Three adjudicators - Sara Edlin-Marlowe, Nick Heil and Jerry Kraft - will pick an overall winner, which will be announced after the final performance and granted a $100 prize.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: THEATER The Spokane Civic Theatre’s Playwrights Forum Festival begins tonight at the Firth Chew Studio Theatre, 1020 N. Howard. Admission is $5 nightly.

This sidebar appeared with the story: THEATER The Spokane Civic Theatre’s Playwrights Forum Festival begins tonight at the Firth Chew Studio Theatre, 1020 N. Howard. Admission is $5 nightly.