The The John C. Edwards Undergraduate Prize Plays

The The John C. Edwards Undergraduate Prize Plays (UPP) are awarded to undergraduate students whose original works will be produced and performed in the final slot of our main stage season. This award is made possible through the generosity of writer and actor Mike O’Malley ’88, (“Diverting Devotion,” “Yes Dear” and “Glee”) who is also a former student of Professor Edwards.  Mr. O’Malley and Professor Edwards are included in the play selection committee that selects the winning works.

Congratulations to the 2013 John C. Edwards UPP winning playwrights, directors and designers!

Three original student productions will be featured in an evening of one-act plays, April 17-21 in the Hennessy Theatre.  The winning entries are:

“A Love Story” written by Jessica Miller ‘13 of Lee, NH.
When Amber, a young woman with an eating disorder, is placed into residential care, she is faced with the most difficult battle of her life.  Luckily her boyfriend, Ed, is by her side.  However, Amber and Ed begin to realize that their own idea of "support" and "recovery" are vastly different from one another, and thus they must also fight for their relationship.  The winning playwright, Jessica Miller, is a senior theatre and math education major from Lee, NH.  Jessica is currently an improviser in Dorks in Dungeons and is in rehearsals for the musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”  Her passion is acting and she hopes to move to Chicago to pursue an acting career. “A Love Story” is directed by Nina Lary ‘13 of Antrim, NH.

“Occupational Hazards” written by Dan Shine ‘14 of Shrewsbury, MA.
When Roy, an awkward would-be writer stuck in a dead-end job, arranges for a blind date online, he gets more than he bargained for. As dinner proceeds with Stephanie, a charming computer analyst, she reveals that she is there for a far more sinister reason. Both are forced to confront the dark reason for their seemingly random encounter, calling to question what sorts of things are better left unsaid.  The winning playwright, Dan Shine, is a junior English and theatre double major from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Dan is a member of Improv Anonymous comedy group and loves acting, writing, comics, and film. He hopes to pursue a career in writing and directing for stage. “Occupational Hazards” is directed by Nick Iannotti ‘13 of Alton, NH.

“Retreat to Will's House” written by Colton Huelle ’15.
After drunkenly breaking up with his girlfriend, Will Ward meets Jack, a stranger with a mysteriously thorough knowledge of Will's past. Led by Jack's prodding, Will revisits his adolescent love for the beautiful and unattainable Veera. Returning to his childhood hideaway, a dilapidated garden shed, Will must face his most painful and poignant memories in an attempt to reclaim the past from which he has never escaped. The winning playwright, Colton Huelle, grew up in Bedford, NH, where he began writing poetry and short fiction in high school. He has performed his poetry in many New England bars and coffee shops. He currently studies English literature and the University of New Hampshire. He is tremendously influenced by New England and Bob Dylan. "The Retreat to Will's House" is his first play and will be directed by Elise Williams ’13.

Other prize winners include student designers Alyssa LeBlanc ’13, a design and technology theatre major of Salem, NH, Sara Demos '13, a general theatre major of York, ME, and Danielle Pancoast ’13, a design and technology theatre major of Westford, MA.

The first annual John C. Edwards Undergraduate prize Plays run April 17-21 in the UNH Hennessy Theatre. Tickets are $14 for UNH students, ID holders and seniors and groups of 15 or more, and $16 for the general public and can be purchased through the PCAC Ticket Office located in the Johnson Theatre lobby of the Paul Creative Arts Center. This full-service ticket office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and one hour before curtain. Tickets purchased online will incur NO ADDITIONAL FEES. Call 603-862-7222 or visit UNHarts.com.  For more information about our season, our programs, to book a tour or to make field trip reservations for your school, visit unh.edu/theatre-dance or call 603.862.2150.

COMPETITION RULES:

• Plays may be submitted by any enrolled UNH undergraduate student.
• Plays must be ONE ACT in length.
• The deadline is January 1, 2013.
• The winner(s) will be announced February 1, 2013.
• Send submissions to: David Kaye (djk@unh.edu)

CONTACT US: Please e-mail David Kaye at djk@unh.edu for any additional information.