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17th Annual New American Playwrights Project

Presented by Utah Shakespearean Festival at Auditorium Theatre - Southern Utah University

August 13-August 28, 2009

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The Utah Shakespearean Festival opens its 17th annual New American Playwrights Project (NAPP) on Thursday, August 13, featuring works by Jim Lord and Fred C. Adams of Cedar City, UT. Staged readings of Lord's Big Dance and Adams' Nell Gwyn will be performed in the Auditorium Theatre. 'NAPP's main objective is to develop the Shakespeare's of the future by workshopping new scripts with actors and directors from the Festival's summer company,' said Chuck Metten, director of NAPP. 'The staged-readings are then performed for Festival patrons for their feedback, all done to help the playwrights improve their work. It's great fun and very exciting to have living playwrights share the rehearsal and performance process with us.' NAPP received over 150 submissions for the 2009 program. As submissions were received, they had all identifying information removed. Scripts were then sent to a panel of readers across the western United States who narrowed the field down to the final two. Panelists selected Lord's Big Dance, as well as Adams' Nell Gwyn submitted under the nom de plume Ashley Cruikshank. Nell Gwyn is set in 1660s London, after England's monarchy has been restored. Charles II is firmly ensconced on the throne; and London, after years of no public theatre under the reign of Cromwell, can once again embrace live performance. Into this frenzied world is thrust Nell Gwyn, a young, illegitimate Yorkshire washwoman. Under the tutelage of Charles Hart, one of the foremost actors of the day, she enters an acting world reserved strictly for men-and captures the attention and (finally) the hearts of all of London, including the dashing king himself. Nell Gwyn will be presented August 20, 21, 26, and 28. Big Dance tells the story of Twain, a lovely young woman with a slight physical deformity, who awaits the gallows. As she struggles to prepare for her own death, she is taunted mercilessly by the spirit of her murdered sister. As the play unfolds, we learn about the dark side of sibling rivalry and the nature of sin, punishment, and redemption. Big Dance will be presented August 13, 14, 25, and 27. Intended to encourage the development of new plays, the NAPP focuses on western playwrights, giving attention to western subjects, characters, experiences and themes. New plays featuring classical themes and subjects are occasionally chosen. The plays in this series are written for contemporary adult audiences and may occasionally contain themes and language not appropriate for children and that some may find offensive.