Telluride Playwrights Festival announces summer program

14 Mar Telluride Playwrights Festival announces summer program

[click “Play” to listen to Susan’s conversation with Jennie Franks]

The Telluride Playwrights Festival spilled out of the pen of Telluride local Jennie Franks, founder of Sparky Productions. While writing one of her own plays, Jennie realized playwrights like herself need to hear their words spoken out loud during the evolving process of refining a script. The Telluride Playwrights Festival has little to do with splashy productions and everything to do with theatre basics: speaking words that tell a story. The event is, in effect, a laboratory setting for actors, playwrights and directors and a vehicle for exploring ideas, issues and our own humanity through theatre. Plays germinated at the Telluride Playwrights Festival are now blossoming all over the country in major markets with full productions.

Now in its fifth year, the Playwrights Festival continues to expand upon its collaborative mission, bringing a full production of a new dark comedy by William Missouri Downs. “Forgiving John Lennon” is part of the University of Wyoming’s Summer Theatre Program. This timely, shattering comedy explores a clash of cultures in a world where, as Lennon says “nothing to kill or die for” might not be so easily imagined. As with all Telluride Playwright Festival productions, feedback from the audience after the performance is a valued next step towards a polished finished project.

In addition to “Forgiving John Lennon,” scheduled for July 14 – July 17 at the historic Sheridan Opera House, the Telluride Playwrights Festival offers staged readings by established Colorado playwrights, all free to the public.

The Telluride Playwrights Festival is inclusive and welcomes community actors, playwrights and interns who want to learn from and work with professionals. Anyone interested in participating, call Jennie at 970-728-6290 for more information. OR, click on the “play” button and listen to her talk about what’s in store.