Theatre Odyssey

Bringing plays to life

2023 Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival

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Elaina Bayard wins Verna Safran Prize

Festival Production Manager Preston Boyd commented that the work by students this year made the competition, judged by Dr. Valerie Barnes Lipscomb, Benny Sato Ambush, and David Covach, particularly challenging. And he noted that for the first time, Theatre Odyssey retained dramaturgy services from award-winning playwright Jason Cannon for each of the eight finalists. “This strengthened the plays,” he said, “and what a great experience for students to have this attention paid to their work.” Cannon’s involvement was funded by a generous gift from Melliss Kenworthy Swenson, honoring her late husband Curt.

“Our full house audiences were treated to something special,” said Theatre Odyssey President Michael Bille, himself an award-winning playwright. “The live theater experience was enhanced by fine direction and excellent acting performances.”

Eric Henry and Shawn Genther in A MATTER OF TIME, this year's winning student play by Elaina Bayard.
Eric Henry and Shawn Genther in A MATTER OF TIME, this year's winning student play by Elaina Bayard.

A Matter of Time

An inventor learns that the success of his time travel experiments may not result in the outcome he had hoped for.

A MATTER OF TIME — Glenn Schudel, Eric Henry, playwright Elaina Bayard, director Leona Collesano, and Shawn Genther.
A MATTER OF TIME — Glenn Schudel, Eric Henry, playwright Elaina Bayard, director Leona Collesano, and Shawn Genther.

Elaina Bayard is a senior at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School. This is her third year as a finalist in the competition. Elaina has been reading and writing since she was young and plans to keep doing so for the rest of her life. Beyond her own work, Elaina tries to stay involved in the writing and theater community by editing for the literary magazine Polyphony Lit and interning with Florida Cultural Group.

RUNNER-UP: THE GAME OF GIFTS

THE GAME OF GIFTS—Director Blake Walton, William Ashburn, playwright Seamus Kehoe, Donna DeFant, and Lucinda Schlotterback.
THE GAME OF GIFTS—Director Blake Walton, William Ashburn, playwright Seamus Kehoe, Donna DeFant, and Lucinda Schlotterback.

Seamus Kehoe is mad for Mythology. Becoming enamored with myths at an early age, he has torn through anything about World Mythology he can get his hands on. You can find him in a tree, reading a book or weaving new worlds, or bunny wrangling (with four rescue bunnies and a big dog who think she’s a bunny). He loves traveling and studying languages. Seamus has been homeschooled since first grade and is in the equivalent of ninth grade. Seamus is training in Aikido for his brown belt and assists his Sensei as a Senpai. He has been in Venice Theatre acting classes since age 7, and writing plays is a new endeavor.

William Ashburn, Lucinda Schlotterback, and Donna DeFant in THE GAME OF GIFTS by Seamus Kehoe.
William Ashburn, Lucinda Schlotterback, and Donna DeFant in THE GAME OF GIFTS by Seamus Kehoe. Photo by Kim Coffman.

The Game of Gifts

Two mythological deities, Athena and Poseidon, compete to become Patron of the kingdom of Attica by offering the ruler their unique gifts.

For details on plays, playwrights, and adjudicators, see the playbill.

BLOOD AND TEA–Julee Breehne, Director Leona Collesano, Andrea Keddell, playwright Eve Hare, Lindsey Nickel, Glenn Schudel, and Ruth Shaulis.
BLOOD AND TEA–Julee Breehne, Director Leona Collesano, Andrea Keddell, playwright Eve Hare, Lindsey Nickel, Glenn Schudel, and Ruth Shaulis.
CHANGING FORTUNES–Dylan Jones, director Bob Trisolini, Madeline Barrett, Kennedy Cole, Steve Dawson, Atticus Pratt, and playwright Patrick van Eyck.
CHANGING FORTUNES–Dylan Jones, director Bob Trisolini, Madeline Barrett, Kennedy Cole, Steve Dawson, Atticus Pratt, and playwright Patrick van Eyck.
FATHER’S FINAL GIFT—Dylan Jones, William Ashburn, playwright Jaylen Benony, director Bob Trisolini, Vanessa Russo, and Mark Shoemaker.
FATHER’S FINAL GIFT—Dylan Jones, William Ashburn, playwright Jaylen Benony, director Bob Trisolini, Vanessa Russo, and Mark Shoemaker.
SEEDLING SPRITE—Director Ann Morrison, Nick Schroeder, Claire Timney, playwright Kayla Moran, Amy Goldman, and Joseph Smith.
SEEDLING SPRITE—Director Ann Morrison, Nick Schroeder, Claire Timney, playwright Kayla Moran, Amy Goldman, and Joseph Smith.
THE DEADLINE—Director Blake Walton, Lucinda Schlotterback, playwright Damion Clifford, Amy Goldman, Joseph Smith, and Anuj Naidu.
THE DEADLINE—Director Blake Walton, Lucinda Schlotterback, playwright Damion Clifford, Amy Goldman, Joseph Smith, and Anuj Naidu.
THE DEVOUT SPINSTER—Director Ann Morrison, Annabelle Dorsett, playwright Sawyer Girgis, Peg Harvey, and Charlie Agurcia.
THE DEVOUT SPINSTER—Director Ann Morrison, Annabelle Dorsett, playwright Sawyer Girgis, Peg Harvey, and Charlie Agurcia.

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