UNM playwrights are once again at the epicenter of local theater.
The Words Afire festival opened its fifth year last night at Theatre X with "Admissions," written by Lou Clark. "Admissions" is one of 16 world premieres featured during the festival, which will continue through Nov. 21.
All the works in Words Afire are written, directed, acted and assembled by students in UNM's dramatic writing program.
Although the playwrights are all UNM students, the event extends beyond the walls of the Center for the Arts. Works can also be seen at the Vortex Theatre, the Tricklock Performance Space and the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
Jim Linnell is a professor of dramatic writing at UNM and the co-artistic director of Words Afire with fellow professor Digby Wolfe.
Linnell helped start the MFA in dramatic writing program in 2000. He said he thinks the festival is a great place for new playwrights to test their chops with real actors, directors and an audience.
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"It helps them get over the fear of getting their work seen," Linnell said.
Clark is a student in the master's program and the associate producer of Words Afire. Although her play "Admissions" is on its first run, Clark's work has been produced before at the Seattle Repertory Theatre and in Albuquerque.
Clark describes her play as "the illusion that blinds us when we love for the first time." It is one of two full-length plays showcased during the festival.
Kimberly Liphardt's "Dead Chihuahuas" is the other full-length and will open at Theatre X on Wednesday.
Liphardt is not new to Words Afire, but this is the first year her work will be produced. In addition to "Dead Chihuahuas," Liphardt's 10-minute play "The Game" will be one of many pieces in Out of Bounds, an evening of provocative and perverse shorts at the Tricklock Performance Space.
Liphardt said the experience of seeing her work on stage is terrifying, but she loves her cast and the director.
A few things are new to Words Afire this year. A new late-night performance will appeal to the more adventurous, Linnell said. "Bringing in the Sheep: A Political Burlesque" at the Vortex Theater or "Burb Outbreak" at the Tricklock are more risquÇ than the festival's other fare.
Another addition is the revival of "Dionysus," a comic review of the entire festival.
When the Words Afire festival began more than 12 years ago, it went by the name Dionysus and was only held in Theatre X. It later progressed into a comic review written by a group of students led by Wolfe. After a few years without it, Wolfe is bringing "Dionysus: The Sequel" to the Vortex. This review will give theatergoers a little bit of everything.
For more information call 277-7331.
Words Afire schedule
"Admissions"
Theatre X
Through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
$8 General, $6 Students and Seniors
"Dionysus: The Sequel"
Vortex Theater
Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
Sunday at 6 p.m.
$8 General, $6 Students and Seniors
Saturday Staged Reading Series
Our World is a Cracked Bell that Fails to Sound
Vortex Theater
Saturday at 11 a.m.
Free
Mac Wellman
in person at a reading of his latest play, "October Suprise"
Theatre X
Saturday at 2 p.m.
Free
