In 2017, Wichita State University celebrates the 44th year of their playwriting competition. Each year, hopeful playwrights around the country send in their original scripts for a chance to be produced onstage by the WSU School of Performing Arts program. The winning playwright is awarded travel and lodging, as well as a chance to participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, along with submission of the script in playwriting categories.
The winner of last year's competition, Liz Maestri, will see her script, House Beautiful, produced February 15th to the 19th at Welsbacher Theatre at the Metroplex, WSU describes House Beautiful as “a love letter... celebrating the life that exists in the tiniest of houses and smallest of rooms.”
Meanwhile, January 19th marked an important moment for the theatre community when professional, community, college, and high school theatres in every state joined forces for the Ghostlight Project. The Ghostlight Project was created by the theatre world to show its support for “inclusion, participation, and compassion for all, regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, disability, age, gender identity, or sexual orientation.” The name comes from the tradition of leaving a “ghost light” on in the darkened theatre. Participating Kansas theatres were Emporia State University Theatre, Kansas State University Theatre Organization in Manhattan, The Percolator Art Space in Lawrence, The Barn Players in Mission, and the William Inge Center for the Arts in Independence.
