Ninth Annual Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival

Thank you for allowing us to put your imagination to work, visualizing these eight new ten-minute plays. Although we miss seeing you in person (and enjoying your infectious laughter), we’re all safer these days when keeping another kind of infection at a distance.

As you know, ticket prices do not cover the cost of theatre productions — even when the only stage is in your mind. So we encourage you to add a donation to help ensure Theatre Odyssey’s continued development of new works for the stage. And we encourage your support for our sponsors.

Click the titles below to learn about each play and its creative team.

BEST PLAY: Flying Solo With IBD

By Spencer Opal-Levine

A teen with an invisible disability flies unaccompanied to Washington, D.C.

Directed by Preston Boyd

Parent — Donna DeFant
Kid — Thomas Aposporos II
Passenger 1 — Jan Wallace
Passenger 2 —Tom Aposporos
Announcer — Michael Bille
Flight Attendant — Aden Russell
Pilot — Preston Boyd
Stage Manager — Donna DeFant
Technical Director — Ren Pearson

Donna DeFant has been involved with the Student Playwriting Festival since the very first one and is always excited to see the students’ work come to life. A Theatre Odyssey Board Member, Donna represents the Theatre Odyssey Student Playwriting Festival monthly with the Sarasota County Arts Education Partnership, a standing committee of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.

Thomas Aposporos II is a first-time Theatre Odyssey performer, excited to read the roles of Randy in Resonating Sound and the Kid in Flying Solo With IBD. He is pleased to read the words of these young playwrights, to work with these casts, to be directed by Preston Boyd, and to be sound edited by Ren Pearson. Thomas is a writer and editor and holds a degree in English Literature from the University of South Florida.

Aden Russell earned her SAG, AFTRA and Equity cards in the Metro-Detroit area many years ago. A little over a year ago, she returned to acting as the lead female in The Underpants at the Players. Aden performed on stage in last year’s 8^th Annual Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival and has since appeared in well over a dozen different Zoom performances. Additionally, performing as the ghostly wife in Next Wife for the Players’ New Play Festival in July & in Acting Distant’s first Showcase on YouTube. Aden has enjoyed every minute of this Radio Theater experience.

Tom Aposporos is privileged to be part of the first production of an already dual award-winning Spencer Emerson Opal-Levine play in Theatre Odyssey’s second radio theater festival. He is also pleased to be once again directed by the masterful Preston Boyd, with the sound editing skills of Ren Pearson, and to work with a stellar cast. Go, Spencer!

Jan Wallace, actress, teacher, director, playwright, trained at LAMDA, London and New York’s Playwrights Horizon’s Theater School. She has appeared extensively off-Broadway and in New York regional theatres. Favorite roles include: Shirley Valentine (Shirley), Noises Off (Dotty Otley/Mrs. Clacket), The Prime of Miss Jean Broadie (Jean Broadie), The Hollow (Lady Lucy Angetell), The Shadow Box (Maggie), California Suite (Diana), and many more. She originally created her role of Shirley Valentine at the Harold Clurman Theater in New York. In Sarasota she performed at Asolo Rep, Banyan Theater and the Players.

Michael Bille moved to Sarasota two years ago following a forty-year career in television news, production and syndication. He is a member of the Sarasota Area Playwrights Society, the Dramatist Guild and is currently President of the Board of Directors of Theatre Odyssey. His short play, The Card Game, was honored as “Best Play” in Theatre Odyssey’s 2018 Ten-Minute Play Festival.

Preston Boyd (Director) is a retired drama and music teacher who enjoys directing plays in the Sarasota/Manatee community, occasionally acting on stage and in commercials, and performing as a musician. He is a Director Emeritus with Theatre Odyssey and over the years has spearheaded both the Ten-Minute Play Festival and the Student Ten Minute Playwriting Festival, and has directed a number of winning and runner-up plays for both festivals. Congratulations to all the student playwrights who submitted scripts this year.

Spencer Emerson Opal-Levine (Playwright) is a senior at Pine View. His plays have been produced locally, nationally, and internationally. Loosely based on Spencer’s own experiences living with Crohn’s disease, “Flying Solo with IBD” won the Kennedy Center’s VSA Playwright Discovery award in 2020 but due to Covid -19, had its Washington, DC debut postponed. The play also won Florida Studio Theatre’s 2020 Young Playwrights Festival, but that performance was cancelled for safety reasons as well. Spencer is thrilled that Theatre Odyssey’s student ten-minute playwriting competition was switched to a radio format, and he greatly appreciates the theatre’s continued support.

RUNNER-UP: Fermata

By Elaina Bayard

A young pianist is worried she may not be able to play the piano because of a wrist injury.

Directed by Blake Walton

Beatrice —Sunny Smith
Sage — Ann Morrison
Stage Manager — Donna DeFant
Technical Director — Ren Pearson

Ann Morrison, last seen in Asolo Rep’s We Need A Little Christmas Concert, is a professional actor, writer and director for 40 years. She has starred in original roles on Broadway (Merrily We Roll Along, LoveMusik), on London’s West End (Peg), and off Broadway (Goblin Market), plus leading roles at regional theaters across the country. She is represented on more than a dozen recordings and is a recipient of the 2010 John Ringling Tower Award, Best Actress at United Solo Festival, 1981 Theatre World Award, Drama Desk Award. Ann is featured in the documentary Best Worst Thing That ever Could Have Happened.

Sunny D Smith is a Florida based actor, singer, model, director, teacher, and filmmaker. She has been seen in commercials both nationally and locally and in multiple independent films. She has performed at the La Jolla Playhouse, North Coast Repertory Theatre, New Village Arts, Ion Theatre, San Diego Lyric Opera and Sarasota Players Theatre. She received her MFA in Acting from the University of Florida in 2015. Sunny currently works as an actor in Sarasota while directing and teaching acting in the Visual and Performing Arts Department of Booker High School.

Blake Walton (Director) New York: Ann Morrison in Linda Lovely Goes To Broadway and Word Painting: Soliloquies Around An Easel (United Solo Festival); Hedy! The Life and Inventions Of Hedy Lamarr (Planet Connections Theatre Festivity), In The Moment (Variations Theater Group), The XXX Scholar (The Chain), and The Better Man (both The Chain and the Thespis Theater Festival). Chicago: Out Of My Mind (The Bailiwick) and The Charm (The Theater Building) Sarasota: Singin’ In The Rain, Big River, Babes In Arms, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, 42^nd Street, Marvin’s Room, Jest A Second.

Elaina Bayard (Playwright) is a sophomore at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School. She’s been interested in writing since she wrote a collection of bad poetry as a Christmas gift for her father in elementary school. When she isn’t busy with school work or daydreaming, she enjoys swimming, playing piano, and ranting about the latest book she’s read to anyone who will listen. She also finds joy in editing for the literary magazine Polyphony Lit.

Bloodline

By Olivia Raab

A psychiatric patient is visited by her older brother who wants to repair their relationship.

Directed by Blake Walton

Mari —Annabelle Weber
Leo — Ricky Bizzaro
Stage Manager — Donna DeFant
Technical Director — Ren Pearson

Annabelle Weber is a level three acting major in the Booker VPA department. She has been seen in one of their recent stage plays as Linda Summers in Rough Magic. She has also been in a couple productions with Spotlight Theatre Productions, like Once on this Island Jr, or Frozen Jr.. She is very excited to explore her art form through radio acting. “Thank you, Blake Walton, for the chance to make a script come back to life again!”

Ricky Bizzaro is an 11th grader enrolled in the Booker High School Visual Performing Arts program. He’s been performing in the Sarasota area since he was 10, appearing in community theatre productions at the Players Center as well as Manatee Performing Arts, in addition to school performances. This is his second time participating in the Theatre Odyssey event, having played a role in 2019’s winning play Family By Numbers. He also has a love for film, appearing in the Sarasota Film Festival in years prior. “Much love to Mom, John and Grammy! Thank you for all your constant love and support.”

Olivia Raab (Playwright) is a senior at River Ridge High School. She has been active in theater since her Freshman year. She has enjoyed being an ensemble player and playing a role in the fall play. She enjoys drawing, writing, and anchoring on the school news. She thanks her family and friends for their support.

A Change in Perspective

By Peter Balos

A debate for student body president becomes personal.

Directed by Kaity Cairo

Ben — Michael McQueeney
Jerry — Justin Rotolo
Mary —Annabelle Weber
Holly — Alex Haggard
Stage Manager — Donna DeFant
Technical Director — Ren Pearson

Michael McQueeney is a senior attending Booker High School who takes part in the Visual and Performing Arts program. Michael has performed in various theatres throughout the area such as Venice Theatre and The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. When not performing on the stage, Michael enjoys illustrating, painting, and fencing.

Justin Rotolo is a senior at Lemon Bay High School. His favorite previous theatre credits include Guys and Dolls, It’s a Wonderul Life: A Live Radio Play, Of Winners, Losers, and Games, and West Side Story; Upcoming Theatre: The Zoo Story. He also coordinates and acts in Virtual Readings through The Actors Quarantine Collective, and Weekend Play Readings. Credits include The Pillowman, and Dark Play or Stories for Boys. Upcoming virtual readings: The Lieutenant of Inishmore, and Rabbit Hole.

Alex Haggard is a level two at Booker High School’s VPA Theatre program. She was most recently seen in Booker High’s Phantasmic and as Anybodys in Rise Above’s West Side Story. Alex is excited to be working on another project with her fellow students as well as act at Asolo Repertory Theatre.

Kaity Cairo (Director) is currently a senior attending Booker High School’s Visual Performing Arts department as a theatre major. This is her second year with Theatre Odyssey, previously having been in “The Benjamin Franklin Act.” She has most recently been seen in a live reading of “Echo Nevada” for the annual Players Theatre’s new play festival.

Peter Balos (Playwright) is a senior at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School. “I have held main roles in the musicals ‘The Addams Family’ and ‘Footloose.’ I have a deep love for theater, and am grateful to my teacher Mrs. Elisha for exposing me to the beautiful world of Theater. As for next year, I will be attending Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania to not only major in Applied Economics and minor in Philosophy, but also to play baseball as a Collegiate Athlete as well as participate in the theater program there. I’m grateful to Mrs. Elisha for all her guidance, and for the opportunity to have my play selected for the Theatre Odyssey Student Play Festival!”

The Darkest Shade of Gray

By Tyson Duerr

A troubled student is befriended by a student with troubles of his own.

Directed by Jamie Lee Butrum

Grayson — Jason Ellis
Mom — Lynne Doyle
Sawyer — Justin Rotolo
Mr Ross — Daniel Greene
Stage Manager — Donna DeFant
Technical Director — Ren Pearson

Jason Ellis has performed locally for over a decade, most notably as Finch (How to Succeed…) at Venice Theatre, Musidorus (Head Over Heels) at The Players Centre for the Performing Arts, and Malcolm (The Full Monty) at Manatee Performing Arts Center. He is most notably the victim of alter ego “Swanky Valli” and can be found at anchor.fm/swankyvalli.

Lynne Doyle is happy to once again participate in Theatre Odyssey’s festival. She was last seen at The Players Backstage in Rabbit Hole and 12 Angry Jurors, as well as Good People at the Venice Theatre. She has been in many local productions since moving to Venice from Columbus, Ohio, 11 years ago.

Daniel Greene has been lucky to have been a part of this vibrant theatre community since the 1980’s. Notable roles include the Stage Manager for Our Town, Max Bialistock in The Producers and President Charles P. Smith in November. Daniel is pleased to get back to doing any bit of theatre again.

Jamie Lee Butrum (Director) is a true Jackie of all trades in theatre. She has worked in our local area both on and off stage for the past 20 years. She holds an associate degree in theater, a bachelor’s in English; and she is an established member of I.A.T.S.E. local 412 and the Broadview Theatre Troupe. She was last seen onstage in Metamorphosis, Kimberly Akimbo, Noises Off, and Rent. And is delighted to be directing for Theater Odyssey!

Tyson Duerr (Playwright) is a student in 11th grade at Braden River High School. Theater is his biggest passion whether it be acting, writing, or even helping backstage. Tyson has been in quite a few productions. The most known would be Pippin, The Little Mermaid, and It’s A Wonderful Life. Tyson has been writing for a few years and feels so incredibly blessed to have learned so much from his director, Mr. Robinson. He also thanks his mother, his sister, and most importantly God for all he has accomplished.

Masking

By Elizabeth Novotorova

A sensitive student at a new school is afraid to express her difficulties.

Directed by Carrie McQueen

Mia — Yvonne Clark
Mom — Joanie Anton
Carly — Audrey Yanevich
Stage Manager — Donna DeFant
Technical Director — Ren Pearson

Yvonne Clark is super excited to a first time performer with Theatre Odyssey. Her previous shows are with The Players Centre in Big Fish as The Witch/Josephine Bloom, Rabbit Hole as Izzy, and has been in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow as The Woman In White for the last four years.

Joanie Anton is an actor and playwright. She has performed in various plays in the Tampa/Sarasota Bay areas. Her favorite roles include Winifred in In the Restroom at Rosenblooms, Carol Reynolds in Last Romance and Ruth in Calendar Girls. When not performing she enjoys writing. Several of her plays have been performed in New York, California and Florida. She lives in Sarasota with her husband and two Golden Retrievers.

Audrey Yanevich is a Florida native, born and raised in the Sarasota-Bradenton area. She has three brothers and two loving Labrador retrievers. In her free time, she loves to learn new songs on guitar and strum away. She also enjoys doing puzzles and being outside. Someday, she would love to pursue a career in acting, singing, or songwriting.

Carrie McQueen (Director) trained at AMDA in NYC. She has performed Off-Broadway, in film, TV and radio. She is excited about her first show with Theatre Odyssey. Last seen in Twelve Angry Jurors at The Players in Sarasota, she has been busy with virtual play readings as AD of Acting Distant. www.thecarriemcqueen.com

Elizabeth Novotorova (Playwright) is a student attending State College of Florida Collegiate School in Bradenton, Florida. They are very thrilled to have their ten-minute play be judged, and even more thrilled that its positive, enlightening message, based from their own experiences, is being shared with others. Their teacher, who recommended that their play be entered into Theatre Odyssey, as well as their family and friends, would be proud to see how far they have gone with their creative prowess.

The Resonating Sound

By Jacqueline Harrison

A future where people’s mental health is displayed by colors on their chests.

Directed by Preston Boyd

Randy — Thomas Aposporos II
Luke — Ren Pearson
Madeline — Aden Russell
Stage Manager — Donna DeFant
Technical Director — Ren Pearson

Ren Person is an award-winning director, actor and filmmaker. Notable acting credits include Harold Hill in The Music Man, Bernard Kepler in The Vault of Souls, Edgar Evans in Terra Nova, Barry in The Boys Next Door, and The Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz.

Jacqueline Harrison (Playwright) “I was born and raised in Belgium until I was 13 years old, I currently live in Florida. I am now 15 years old and a sophomore at Saint Stephen’s. I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember, mainly because my mother and sister are both avid readers and writers. My sister has written a couple of her own short stories which inspired me to do the same, and now writing is now my ‘escape’ or ‘safe place’. It wasn’t only my sister who got me into writing, but also because I’ve seen what the world can do to a person both mentally and physically, so I use my writing as an escape into a better world, and I hope to share that world with others eventually.”

Time Warp

By Tatum Tellbuescher

A teenage boy travels back in time to see his father before he died.

Directed by Carrie McQueen

John — Scott Ehrenpreis
Steve — Craig Engle
Fred — David Meyersburg
Albert — Dan Higgs
Stage Manager — Donna DeFant
Technical Director — Ren Pearson

Scott Ehrenpreis has a B.F.A. in performance. This is Scott’s second affiliation with Theatre Odyssey. Scott performed in two ten-minute plays last year, one of them entitled “Family By Numbers,” which won Best Play. The excitement of doing radio theatre is a great avenue and venture to keep theatre alive until it makes its grand return.

Craig Engle is happy to have the opportunity to work with Theatre Odyssey. You might have previously seen him as Norm Petty in The Buddy Holly Story. Other favorite roles include Greenway (Elf), Maurice (Beauty and the Beast), Ziegfeld (Funny Girl), Herman (Sweet Charity), Throttle (Drood), Renaud (Follies) and Kemper (The Boys Next Door). With the current theater shutdown he is involved with Acting Distant.

David Meyersburg has appeared locally in several of Theatre Odyssey’s Ten-Minute Play Festivals and last season’s Theatre Odyssey One-Act Play Festival, as well as Annie Get Your Gun, Mammoth Bones, Beau Jest and The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow at The Players Performing Arts Center. He has also lent his voice to scores of play readings, and admits to being a performance junkie.

Dan Higgs has acted and directed in local theatres since relocating from Annapolis, Maryland 1995. He performed in Old Enough to Know Better at FST, Stupid Fucking Bird at Urbanite and for six seasons as a company member of the Asolo Repertory Theatre. He has worked in most theatres from Anna Maria Island to Sanibel Island. As a member of SAPS, Dan has written a number of short plays that have been produced. He proudly serves as a Director Emeritas for Theatre Odyssey. Dan and his extraordinary wife, Shigemi, reside in Sarasota County with their four-legged family member, Starlette.

Carrie McQueen (Director) trained at AMDA in NYC. She has performed Off-Broadway, in film, TV and radio. She is excited about her first show with Theatre Odyssey. Last seen in Twelve Angry Jurors”at The Players in Sarasota, she has been busy with virtual play readings as AD of Acting Distant. www.thecarriemcqueen.com

Tatum Tellbuescher (Playwright) “I am a sophomore at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal school. This is my second year taking theater, and I plan to take theater throughout all of high school. I play soccer and lacrosse, and I am a cheerleader at Saint Stephens. I enjoy spending my free time with my family and friends, and going to the beach. I am thrilled to be selected as a finalist for the 10 minute play competition!”

Donna DeFant (Stage Manager) is a Theatre Odyssey Board Member, has been involved with the Student Playwriting Festival since the very first one and is always excited to see the students’ work come to life. Donna represents the Theatre Odyssey Student Playwriting Festival monthly with the Sarasota County Arts Education Partnership, a standing committee of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.

Ren Person (Technical Director) is a Ringling graduate with a BFA in directing and editing for Film. Past technical work includes working with the premier Theatre Odyssey Ten Minute Radio Play Festival, and sound designer for various local short film/theatre projects.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER