BEST PLAY: THE REAL WORLD

The first Verna Safran Prize ($1,000) was awarded to Jake Pettingell, a Sarasotan who attends Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School, for his play THE REAL WORLD, set in a post-nuclear war era about a family of four living together in a military bunker. Pettingell’s play was one of eight finalists in the Tenth Annual Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival, Feb. 5-6, at the Jane B. Cook Theatre in Sarasota. Directed by Blake Walton, the play was performed at the festival by actors Owen DeMaio, Jude DeMaio, Ann Morrison (who, with a day’s notice, replaced an actor who became ill), and Tony Boothby.

RUNNER-UP: THE LAST COLONY

Patrick van Eyck’s play, THE LAST COLONY, centers on a religious group of hopeless colonists on Mars trying to overcome a moral and social dilemma to save their chance at life. Directed by Tahlia Chinault, the acting team was Katherine Carnes, Michael Mendez, Tony Boothby, David Meyersburg, and Tom Aposporos. Patrick, a student at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School, received a $500 prize for his Runner-up play.

“We thank the acting company and crew for its work and Dr. John Stinespring for his bassoon solos, and our judges Alan Brasington, Kathryn Chesley, and Bob Trisolini. The ‘show must go on’ award goes to Tahlia Chinault and Ann Morrison for quickly stepping into two roles as a result of an original cast member’s illness,” said Michael Bille, Theatre Odyssey’s President.

Theatre Odyssey’s Season Presenter is CAN Community Health, and its Executive Producer is Paragon Art Events. Manatee Performing Arts Center has been providing advertising support for Theatre Odyssey’s 17th season. 

Check the Playbill for complete Festival details.