Seven Devils Playwrights Conference Comes to McCall, 6/11-23

id Theater returns to McCall, Idaho for the 12th Seven Devils Playwrights Conference, June 11-23, sponsored by the Alpine Playhouse. Playwrights, actors and directors from around the country will travel to McCall and, working with local artists and students, develop ten new plays that will be presented to the public free of charge. Since 2001, the Conference has developed more than 100 new plays by some of the most exciting voices in American Theater.

The Conference will feature the work of 2012 Guest Artist, and award-winning playwright, Kara Lee Corthron whose new play Listen for the Light will be developed and presented as a staged reading at the Conference on Friday, June 15th. Ms. Corthron will also host a free playwriting workshop on Saturday, June 16th. The recipient of the 2008 Princess Grace Award, The Vineyard Theatre’s Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, the Helen Merrill Award and three Lincoln Center’s Lecomte du Nouy Prize; Ms. Corthron is an accomplished writer whose credits include both television and stage with work developed and produced at theaters throughout the country.

Five writers, whose plays were selected from more than 470 open submissions from all over the country will have their work developed and presented at the Conference. Samuel Brett Williams (Revelation), Tira Palmquist (Ten Mile Lake) and Brian Quirk (Warren) will have their plays presented as fully staged readings; and Brian Watkins (General Store) and Thomas Newby (Kingdoms of Rot) will have their work presented as seated readings. Four plays by students at McCall-Donnelly High School will also be presented as staged readings at the Conference.

Plays developed at Seven Devils have gone on to productions at venues around the country including the Humana Festival at Actors Theater of Louisville, Roundabout Theater Underground, Trinity Rep, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Barrington Stage Company, Chicago’s Gift Theater, Kitchen Theater, Montana Rep and Boise Contemporary Theater among others; have garnered awards such as the The John Gassner Playwriting Award (Faith by James McLindon), The Woodward/Newman Drama Award (Lemonade by Mark Krause), and the ACTF/Kennedy Center National Student Playwriting Award (In the Sawtooths by Dano Madden); and are published by Samuel French, Smith & Kraus, Applause, Original Works and Indie Theater Now which offers a collection of 11 plays developed through the Conference.

All conference events are free and open to the public at all times. All events start at 7:30pm unless otherwise noted. More information about schedules, events and travel can be found at: www.idtheater.org/7devils. To reserve a space in the free playwriting workshop email: jeni@idtheater.org.

Thursday, June 14th – PLAYS FROM McCALL-DONNELLY HIGH SCHOOL

Friday, June 15th - LISTEN FOR THE LIGHT by Kara Lee Corthron

The word of God has been revealed to Joseph Smith, making him a prophet to some and a lightning rod to others. In Nauvoo, Illinois in 1844, two of Joseph’s flock await their own revelations: Eli, a free man tormented by a tragic past and Lula, a precocious young woman newly – and reluctantly – betrothed to the prophet. With Joseph facing mounting pressure within the community and within the church, Lula receives a revelation that will change her life and challenge Eli’s faith to its very core.

Saturday, June 16th - WARREN by Brian Quirk

Rose is determined to live out her remaining days at home even if it means hiring someone to help her shovel the snow, mow the lawn and make sure she’s dead before the ambulance is called. Dano needs a job, and a friend. Can this fiercely independent grandmother and this unemployed ichthyologist with Aspergers Syndrome help each other get what they need?

Wednesday, June 20th - GENERAL STORE by Brian Watkins