Local playwriting festival “Pen to Paper to Performance” takes the stage

Original stories written by local playwrights will come to life on stage as Hesston College presents its local playwriting showcase, “Pen to Paper to Performance,” May 1 and 2 at 7 p.m. in Keim Center Black Box Theater. Ten 10-minute plays were selected from dozens of submissions to be produced and performed by Hesston College Theatre Department.

After receiving more submissions than ever before, the following plays were selected to move from page to stage:

• “6 Down” by Mitch Stutzman, Hesston, Kan.
• ​“The Visit” by Caitlin Waits, Derby, Kan.
• “December 1, 1990” by David Wiebe, Newton, Kan.
• “Psycho Killers” by Mia Krebs, North Newton, Kan.
• “To Be or Not To Be Lynched” by Lois Preheim, Newton, Kan.
• “Fascist Times at Ridgemont High” by Travis Duerksen, North Newton, Kan.
• “Rush” by Patricia Middleton, Newton, Kan.
• “3 Guys Walk Into a Bar” by Johann Reimer, Hesston, Kan.
• “Full Stop” by Cassie Balzer, Wichita, Kan.
• “If I Were Peter” by Chad Frey, Newton, Kan.

With 10 different playwrights, including four first-timers, these short plays offer a wide variety of genres like drama, comedy and historical events, as well as equally diverse tones and subject matter. There’s something for everyone to enjoy. If you’re like Rachel Jantzi, director of theater at Hesston College and creator of Pen to Paper to Performance, you’ll find something special about each one, making it hard to pick a favorite.

“I may love how the dialogue flows in one, and be really excited about the staging potential of another, and then I may be fascinated with what a different script has taught me,” Jantzi shares.

Another unique aspect of these performances is the talk backs with playwrights following the show. Jantzi believes it’s one of the best parts of the experience.

“Learning what the playwright's motivation was for writing their story and then what possessed them to actually hand it over to us — that's always eye opening,” she explains.

An ensemble of 22 actors will portray various roles in the performances. This includes Hesston College students Brody Hutto, Bel Aire, Kan.; Rey Tipton, Hesston, Kan.; Sam Setiawan, Goshen, Ind.; Angel Sinnett, McPherson, Kan.; Alyssa Coonce, Hutchinson, Kan.; Chloe Robinson, Moore, Okla.; Jaden Watson, Clayton, Del.; Cindy Smith, Park City, Kan.; Ashleigh Williams, Eaton, Colo.; Evelyn Gaertner, Newton, Kan.; Sebastian Pavlovich, Lindsborg, Kan.; Nolan Gorman, Redmond, Ore.; Adam Wonser, Goessel, Kan.; Abby Hamm, Coldwater, Kan.; Dominic De La Rosa, Adairsville, Ga.; Anja Martinez, Topeka, Kan.; and Ava Huyhn, Lam Dong, Vietnam. The cast also features community members Mitch Stutzman of Hesston; Angela Tipton of Hesston and Kelly Smith of Newton, along with HC employees Johann Reimer of Newton and Josh Fleming of Hesston. Crew members are students Constance Feldt, Wichita, Kan., and Arlynn Smith, Newcastle, Okla.

Join Hesston College at this festival celebrating local storytelling and experience brand-new works brought to life on stage. Admission is $5 for students and $10 for adults and seniors with each playwright receiving a portion of the box office earnings. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door. The production is appropriate for ages 10 and up, but some topics may be heavier. Seating is limited, so early arrival is encouraged. Learn more at hesston.edu/theatre.