The MFA in Dramatic Writing Playwrights Workshop

April 11 – 27, 2008 * Massman Theatre

Presented over three successive weekends, this workshop features the exciting and diverse new works by School of Theatre second-year MFA in Dramatic Writing students.

In Photo: (L. to R.) Julie Taiwo Oni, Forrest Hartl, Alexis Roblan

Alexander the Greatest - April 11 & 12 at 7 p.m.; April 13 at 2:30 p.m.
By Forrest Hartl - Directed by Michael Keenan

Loosely based on William Shakespeare's Richard III, Alexander the Greatest follows Alexander, a self-centered aspiring actor who frequents the online communities of MySpace and Facebook. In a futile attempt to acquire representation, Alexander vows revenge on an anonymous agent who mocked him in a self-addressed stamped postcard. This quest for justice leads Alexander, and his blind ally DW, onto fame and power in Hollywood, leaving several people dead in his wake.

Genesis - April 18 & 19 at 7 p.m.; April 20 at 2:30 p.m.
By Alexis Roblan - Directed by Robert Bailey

The Fall is over. Original sin has taken its toll. Born into a world post-Eden, but still new and largely unexplored, Cain must discover how to define his own role as a human, in relation to God as well as his fellow Man.

nat&EM - April 25 & 26 at 7 p.m.; April 27 at 2:30 p.m.
By Julie Taiwo Oni - Directed by Luis Alfaro

A tragic story of deception, nat&EM concerns two people who build a love so strong that they create a wall between themselves and the rest of the world, both literally and figuratively. All is well until Edythe, a woman from Nat's past, returns and makes it her goal to separate the two and take Em's place. Edythe will stop at nothing to win Nat's heart, using both Nat and Em as objects in her game.

Under Construction: The Master of Fine Arts Play Project

 May 27 – 31, 2008 * Scene Dock Theatre

A festival of plays by the three graduating playwrights of the MFA in Dramatic Writing program. The readings, which will each have two public performances, will be presented concert style with professional actors and directors.

In Photo: (L. to R.) Mayank Keshaviah, Brian Jones and Donald Jolly.

Rangoon - Tuesday, May 27 & Friday, May 30 at 8 p.m.
By Mayank Keshaviah

Rangoon revisits Miller’s take on the American Dream, updating it for the new millennium and its unique challenges. The play looks at the Patels, a Gujarati family whose patriarch, Dhiraj, is desperately trying to succeed in America to offset both personal and familial shortcomings from his past. He owns three 7-Elevens in Northern Georgia and is quite comfortable economically. However in Dhiraj’s mind, success has still eluded him. He must come to terms with raising a family in America, balancing tradition with economic freedom, and preserving his heritage while keeping his family together, all while being unknowingly targeted by a government sting operation.

Artist Exchange Program - Wednesday, May 28 at 8 p.m. & Saturday, May 31 at 2:30 p.m.
By Brian Jones

Artist Exchange Program tells the story of a young man struggling to find himself as an artist and human being. As a coming of age trial, he is taken from the comfortable, creative confines of Artist Land and thrust into the cold, harsh Real World. In order to make it back home (and realize his destiny as an artist), he must produce a piece of art in the Real World’s oppressive and sterile environment … one which praises pragmatism and realism over the ideals of Artist Land – idealism and dreaming.

Baby Eyes - Thursday, May 29 at 8 p.m. & Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m.
By Donald Jolly

Inspired by the Ancient Greek tale of Zeus and Ganymede, this play, set in 1955 Baltimore, explores myth and taboo as it follows Gio, a 14-year-old Jewish/Italian-American boy, who runs away from his abusive father and cleaves to Tremaine, a 30-year old Black man.

Admission is free and will be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, please call 213.740.2167 or visit www.usc.edu/spectrum.