A Texas Romance by Ellsworth Schave, directed by Janette Oswald

It’s 1928 and Daisy Wilson has been a widow since her philandering husband was shot by his mistress (an action for which she has some sympathy). In her small Texas town, romance reenters Daisy’s life when she finds Garland Steinholden in the front yard awaiting permission to call on her, to her older sister’s chagrin. Daisy must balance her anger and fear with her need for intimacy and her determination to have a second chance while deciding if Garland is a worthy cause, as he politely but relentlessly pursues her. (romantic comedy)

Making God Laugh by Sean Grennan, directed by Glynda Welch

Ruthie and Bill's grown children - a priest, an aspiring actress, and a former football star - all return home for Thanksgiving in 1980, where we learn of their plans and dreams as they embark on their adult lives. The empty-nester parents contend with their own changes, too, as old family rituals are trotted out and ancient tensions flare up. As time passes, this typical American family discovers that, despite what we may have in mind, we often arrive at unexpected destinations. As Woody Allen once said, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans..." (dramedy)

Welfarewell by Cat Delaney, directed by Carol M. Rice

Esmeralda Quipp is an 80-year-old actress who can no longer find work. She's behind on her rent, she has no money for food, and her cat just died. When she’s arrested for attempting to bury him in her landlord's yard, she finds a sense of community, not to mention free room and board, within the prison system. But when her well-meaning public defender gets the charges dropped, Esmerelda buys a toy gun at the local dollar store and commits armed robbery. Even though she pleads guilty so she’s sure to be convicted, the system wants to forgive her because of her age and general health, but all she wants is to be imprisoned for life! (comedy)

Surviving Grace by Trish Vradenburg, directed by Sara Jones

Surviving Grace is a comedy about Alzheimer's. While comedy and Alzheimer's are two words that most people wouldn't think of pairing in the same sentence, this play shows us how, even in the saddest of circumstances and though it may not heal a physical illness, humor can heal the soul. At first glance, the Griswalds seem like a typical middle-class family coping with their mother's illness. Given the opportunity to try an experimental treatment for Alzheimer’s patients, Grace rallies in what at first promises a second chance, as she and her daughter confront old age with laughter and courage. (dramatic comedy)

One Day Only 33

Our thirty-third signature play festival: seven short plays, concept to curtain in JUST ONE DAY!

AT THE COURTYARD THEATRE!

The Mysterious Disappearance of Agatha Christie by Arthur M. Jolly, directed by Leigh Wyatt Moore

A murder mystery…without a murder! In 1926, Agatha Christie vanished for eleven days, launching the largest manhunt in UK history. 15,000 volunteers and over 1,000 police officers combed the countryside for her. They were even joined by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, and Dorothy L. Sayers, writer of the Lord Peter Whimsey mysteries. Three of the most celebrated writers of detective stories were caught up in a real-life mystery and here, fact and fiction are woven into a fanciful account of what might have happened, based on the day-by-day reporting of the case by the London Times. WORLD PREMIERE! (mystery)

10-Minute Comedies

It's back! Winners of our 10-minute comedy contest. Funny stuff from playwrights all over the world! Come vote for your favorite!

Lucky Me by Robert Caisley, directed by Laura Jennings

Sara's having a bad week. Really bad! The light bulbs in her apartment keep burning out; there's a leak in the roof; the aquarium is full of dead fish; the cat's gone AWOL, and her father -- who chased off her last beau -- is suspicious of Tom, their new neighbor who just brought Sara home from the emergency room on New Year's Eve with a fractured fifth metatarsal. As Tom's attraction to Sara increases, he learns of the bizarre streak of bad luck that's been haunting Sara for years - twenty-two years to be precise. These funny, charming, quirky characters just can't seem to get things right in love. Except when they do. (romantic comedy)

Theatre People, or The Angel Next Door by Paul Slade Smith, directed by Michael McMillan

Oliver Adams is on the brink of a major success. His novel The Angel Next Door is set to be published, and famous playwrights Charlotte and Arthur Sanders have already adapted it into what’s sure to be a huge Broadway hit starring Margot Bell, the very woman Oliver adores and about whom he has written his novel (though he hasn’t told her yet). When they all converge for a weekend in Newport, Rhode Island, the thin walls of the well-appointed mansion reveal that the angel may not be so angelic, and only the power of theatre can save the play, Oliver’s novel, and perhaps most importantly, his heart. Adapted from Ferenc Molnár’s Play at the Castle. (comedy)