CURRENT NEWS & PRODUCTIONS
The 24 Hour Plays: Lancaster 2018
The 24 Hour Plays: Lancaster is a special night of experimental theater where six writers, six directors, twenty-four actors, and a production team come together to write, rehearse and produce six plays over the course of 24 hours!
This year the plays will be performed for the public at the end of the 24 hour creation process on Saturday, October 6 at 7pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) at the Green Room Theater on College Avenue at Franklin and Marshall College.
Please note that a Google Map search for the theater does not show its exact location. It is located just north of James Street across the street from the Lancaster Theological Seminary:
This year the plays will be performed for the public at the end of the 24 hour creation process on Saturday, October 6 at 7pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) at the Green Room Theater on College Avenue at Franklin and Marshall College.
Please note that a Google Map search for the theater does not show its exact location. It is located just north of James Street across the street from the Lancaster Theological Seminary:
Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite and are $15 per person, general admission, or $40 with Creative Works' signature "Awkward Threesome" deal.
PLEASE NOTE: TICKETS TO THE EVENT GET YOU VIEWING OF ALL 6 PLAYS - YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY MULTIPLE TICKETS.
PLEASE NOTE: TICKETS TO THE EVENT GET YOU VIEWING OF ALL 6 PLAYS - YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY MULTIPLE TICKETS.
Local Sketch Comedy Troupe Happy Time Explosion Show Returns
Creative Works of Lancaster is happy to present “Happy Time Explosion Show Goes Back to School” at the former James Street location of Zoetropolis Art House September 14th-16th, 2018.
“Happy Time Explosion Show Goes Back to School” kicks off the academic year with brand new sketches and hijinks galore as the troupe navigates life lessons both inside and outside of the classroom.
This show is BYOB and contains mature content. Tickets will be available for purchase on Eventbrite, or at the door starting 30 minutes before each performance. Tickets are $10 each or three for $25 with Creative Works of Lancaster’s signature “Awkward Threesome” special.
Performances will take place at 315 West James Street on Friday, September 14th at 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, September 15th at 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.; and Sunday, September 16th at 7:30 p.m.
“Happy Time Explosion Show Goes Back to School” kicks off the academic year with brand new sketches and hijinks galore as the troupe navigates life lessons both inside and outside of the classroom.
This show is BYOB and contains mature content. Tickets will be available for purchase on Eventbrite, or at the door starting 30 minutes before each performance. Tickets are $10 each or three for $25 with Creative Works of Lancaster’s signature “Awkward Threesome” special.
Performances will take place at 315 West James Street on Friday, September 14th at 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, September 15th at 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.; and Sunday, September 16th at 7:30 p.m.
Work(shop) in the Park
Hello, friends! Those of who have followed Creative Works over the past several years might recall that you're typically hearing more from us by this point in the summer about our annual Works in the Park production, so we thought we should give you an update.
For those of you who have only recently found us, our mission with the Works in the Park series has been to produce live theater events in parks throughout Lancaster City, free to the public and easily accessible to neighborhood residents. (You can see a photo archive below!) We began the series in 2011 and spent three years in Musser Park, followed by two years in Crystal Park and two years in Sixth Ward Park. In the past, we've produced traditional plays -- some published work and some by local playwrights Barry Kornhauser and Sandy Asher -- and we've simply invited audiences to attend the show and encouraged kids in the neighborhoods to participate in some educational outreach components leading up to the performances.
For those of you who have only recently found us, our mission with the Works in the Park series has been to produce live theater events in parks throughout Lancaster City, free to the public and easily accessible to neighborhood residents. (You can see a photo archive below!) We began the series in 2011 and spent three years in Musser Park, followed by two years in Crystal Park and two years in Sixth Ward Park. In the past, we've produced traditional plays -- some published work and some by local playwrights Barry Kornhauser and Sandy Asher -- and we've simply invited audiences to attend the show and encouraged kids in the neighborhoods to participate in some educational outreach components leading up to the performances.
This year, the project is taking a different form, and although it's a leap into some unknown territory for us, we're excited about the possibilities. After a couple of years of exploring ways to expand the project to be more collaborative and neighborhood-centered, we've embarked on a community-based project in the area surrounding Culliton (formerly Farnum) Park in Southwest Lancaster City. Our hope is that deeper engagement with residents will help to make the eventual performances more meaningful, more inclusive, and more impactful.
This spring and summer, we've begun to collect stories, research the history of the Southwest quadrant of the city, and interview people who live (or have lived) there. We've worked with Lancaster Public Art, The Lancaster Recreation Commission, Two Dudes Painting Company, and the SoWe Board to host arts activities and story circles. Our goal is to have residents collaborate with us to create a new work that reflects the community, but we're still in the beginning stages of a process that will continue to unfold for at least another year.
Next week, July 30th-August 3rd, we'll be in residency at Culliton Park (South Water Street, between Conestoga and Strawberry Streets). We'll be near the playground from 6-8 p.m. each evening with activities and food to share while we continue to collect neighbors' stories, drawings, memories, opinions, hopes, complaints, and wishes. We're calling it "Work(shop) in the Park," and the week will end with an informal performance on Friday evening based on material developed so far.
We'll keep you posted about the project as more details emerge, but for now, we hope that you will please spread the word to anyone you know with connections to Southwest Lancaster City and be in touch with any resources that might be useful or anyone in the community we should meet. As always, we also appreciate donations, large and small, to help fund this project and our other productions throughout the year.
Thanks so much for your continued support!
The Creative Works Board:
Joanna, Alex, Lydia, Lou, Libby, Steve, Kristin, & Chris
This spring and summer, we've begun to collect stories, research the history of the Southwest quadrant of the city, and interview people who live (or have lived) there. We've worked with Lancaster Public Art, The Lancaster Recreation Commission, Two Dudes Painting Company, and the SoWe Board to host arts activities and story circles. Our goal is to have residents collaborate with us to create a new work that reflects the community, but we're still in the beginning stages of a process that will continue to unfold for at least another year.
Next week, July 30th-August 3rd, we'll be in residency at Culliton Park (South Water Street, between Conestoga and Strawberry Streets). We'll be near the playground from 6-8 p.m. each evening with activities and food to share while we continue to collect neighbors' stories, drawings, memories, opinions, hopes, complaints, and wishes. We're calling it "Work(shop) in the Park," and the week will end with an informal performance on Friday evening based on material developed so far.
We'll keep you posted about the project as more details emerge, but for now, we hope that you will please spread the word to anyone you know with connections to Southwest Lancaster City and be in touch with any resources that might be useful or anyone in the community we should meet. As always, we also appreciate donations, large and small, to help fund this project and our other productions throughout the year.
Thanks so much for your continued support!
The Creative Works Board:
Joanna, Alex, Lydia, Lou, Libby, Steve, Kristin, & Chris
EPAC on the Edge Presents: Marjorie Prime
Creative Works of Lancaster teams up with Ephrata Performing Arts Center for the return of the EPAC on the Edge staged reading series with Jordan Harrison’s Marjorie Prime directed by Creative Works Board Vice Chair Alexander P. Bannon.
In a future where artificial intelligence is a regular part of society, 85 year old Marjorie is given a digital companion in the form of a young version of her deceased husband to provide comfort and companionship as her health declines. Marjorie Prime brings science fiction to the stage in an exploration of artificial intelligence, the mysteries of humanity, and the way memory shapes us.
Marjorie Prime will be presented for one night only on Friday, June 22, 2018 at 8pm at Ephrata Performing Arts Center’s Sharadin Bigler Theatre. Tickets are $15 General Admission or $5 for Students. Tickets can be purchased at www.ephrataperformingartscenter.com.
In a future where artificial intelligence is a regular part of society, 85 year old Marjorie is given a digital companion in the form of a young version of her deceased husband to provide comfort and companionship as her health declines. Marjorie Prime brings science fiction to the stage in an exploration of artificial intelligence, the mysteries of humanity, and the way memory shapes us.
Marjorie Prime will be presented for one night only on Friday, June 22, 2018 at 8pm at Ephrata Performing Arts Center’s Sharadin Bigler Theatre. Tickets are $15 General Admission or $5 for Students. Tickets can be purchased at www.ephrataperformingartscenter.com.
Play Grounds 2018
Up next: Play Grounds: Theater on Site is a series of three original plays set in different locations during Lancaster ArtWalk, May 5 and 6. Admission is free. These 10-15 minute plays have been specifically written for DogStar Books, the Mayor Janice C. Stork Corridor Park, & Meduseld Meadery.
All performances begin at DogStar Books, 401 W Lemon St. From there, the audience will be led by a traveling musician to the subsequent venues.
Performance times:
Saturday, May 5 at Noon & 2 pm
Sunday, May 6 at Noon & 2 pm
All performances begin at DogStar Books, 401 W Lemon St. From there, the audience will be led by a traveling musician to the subsequent venues.
Performance times:
Saturday, May 5 at Noon & 2 pm
Sunday, May 6 at Noon & 2 pm
"Tomorrow" by Joseph Eck
poster credit: Karl Heitmueller Jr.
"Tomorrow" by Joseph Eck, an original stage production that follows the creators of the beloved comic as they developed Superman - and the legal struggles that outlived them both. "Tomorrow" runs from Friday, April 13th through Sunday, April 15th. Tickets are $15 each or $40 for our Awkward Threesome, available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tomorrow-by-joseph-eck-tickets-44389451043.
Standing Up for a Child: the CASA Project
Creative Works of Lancaster is proud to partner with fellow Lancaster non-profit organization, CASA of Lancaster County, to present “The CASA Project: Stand Up for a Child”, a reader’s theater piece written by Sandy Asher. The performance will take place on Sunday, February 11th, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, 75 East James Street in Lancaster.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a national organization that supports advocacy for abused and neglected children, and Asher’s piece was originally commissioned by CASA of Southwest Missouri. In writing the piece, Asher compiled interviews that Drury University students conducted with CASA volunteers, lawyers, case workers, foster parents, and others. She also completed CASA of Southwest Missouri’s volunteer training program to ensure that her piece would represent the organization authentically. Asher notes that while the script follows college students through their learning process, the heart of the piece comes through the voices of the abused children represented through poems that were written by Casey Adams Smith, a survivor of abuse who spent time in foster care herself. The stories are heart-wrenching and sometimes funny, but most importantly, they are eye-opening.
Wanting to raise awareness of the work being done by CASA of Lancaster County, Asher worked with the local organization to adapt the script and enlisted Creative Works to produce the Lancaster version of the piece. Lydia Brubaker will direct, and the cast will include Brady & Sydney Norgaard, Mandee Kline, Stephen Gates, Lily Eder, Jenell Abram, Holly Andrew, Rich Barbour, Brandon Riehl, Cara Ditzler, Nelly Torres, Lisa Budwig, Colin DiLucido, Hayley Ryan, Brett Faulds, and Bonnie Northeimer.
The event is free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated. Proceeds from the play will be given to CASA of Lancaster in the hopes of growing the organization to advocate for every child in need. Representatives from CASA of Lancaster will also be onsite to answer any questions the audience may have.
CASA is central in fighting for and protecting a child’s right to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to flourish in a loving and permanent home. To learn more about CASA or “The CASA Project” please call (717) 208-3280, email casa@casalancaster.org, or visit www.casalancaster.org.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a national organization that supports advocacy for abused and neglected children, and Asher’s piece was originally commissioned by CASA of Southwest Missouri. In writing the piece, Asher compiled interviews that Drury University students conducted with CASA volunteers, lawyers, case workers, foster parents, and others. She also completed CASA of Southwest Missouri’s volunteer training program to ensure that her piece would represent the organization authentically. Asher notes that while the script follows college students through their learning process, the heart of the piece comes through the voices of the abused children represented through poems that were written by Casey Adams Smith, a survivor of abuse who spent time in foster care herself. The stories are heart-wrenching and sometimes funny, but most importantly, they are eye-opening.
Wanting to raise awareness of the work being done by CASA of Lancaster County, Asher worked with the local organization to adapt the script and enlisted Creative Works to produce the Lancaster version of the piece. Lydia Brubaker will direct, and the cast will include Brady & Sydney Norgaard, Mandee Kline, Stephen Gates, Lily Eder, Jenell Abram, Holly Andrew, Rich Barbour, Brandon Riehl, Cara Ditzler, Nelly Torres, Lisa Budwig, Colin DiLucido, Hayley Ryan, Brett Faulds, and Bonnie Northeimer.
The event is free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated. Proceeds from the play will be given to CASA of Lancaster in the hopes of growing the organization to advocate for every child in need. Representatives from CASA of Lancaster will also be onsite to answer any questions the audience may have.
CASA is central in fighting for and protecting a child’s right to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to flourish in a loving and permanent home. To learn more about CASA or “The CASA Project” please call (717) 208-3280, email casa@casalancaster.org, or visit www.casalancaster.org.
2018 Season Auditions
Creative Works of Lancaster is holding auditions for its spring 2018 productions, which include “Stand Up for a Child: The CASA Project” by Sandy Asher, “8 Months on the Ice” by Chris Silansky, and “Tomorrow” by Joseph Eck. Details about the plays can be found below. Rehearsals will take place mostly on weekday evenings and weekends. Actors may also be considered for additional future projects and for new play readings throughout the year with the Lancaster Dramatists’ Platform.
Auditions will be held on Wednesday, December 27th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 30th from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Franklin & Marshall's Philadelphia Alumni Writers House, 633 College Avenue in Lancaster. Auditions are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, visit https://calendly.com/cw2018/2018-season-auditions. Please prepare a two-minute monologue and bring a photo and resume along with a list of any rehearsal conflicts you have. Email joanna@creativelancaster.org with any questions about auditions, and visit the Creative Works of Lancaster Facebook page or www.creativelancaster.org to learn more about Creative Works.
Follow the links below for more information about our upcoming productions.
Stand Up for a Child: The CASA Project
A Reading in One Act by Sandy Asher
Sunday, February 11th at 4:00 p.m.
Congregation Shaarai Shomayim
8 Months on the Ice
By Chris Silansky
Mid-March
Tomorrow
By Joseph Eck
Early April
Auditions will be held on Wednesday, December 27th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 30th from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Franklin & Marshall's Philadelphia Alumni Writers House, 633 College Avenue in Lancaster. Auditions are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, visit https://calendly.com/cw2018/2018-season-auditions. Please prepare a two-minute monologue and bring a photo and resume along with a list of any rehearsal conflicts you have. Email joanna@creativelancaster.org with any questions about auditions, and visit the Creative Works of Lancaster Facebook page or www.creativelancaster.org to learn more about Creative Works.
Follow the links below for more information about our upcoming productions.
Stand Up for a Child: The CASA Project
A Reading in One Act by Sandy Asher
Sunday, February 11th at 4:00 p.m.
Congregation Shaarai Shomayim
8 Months on the Ice
By Chris Silansky
Mid-March
Tomorrow
By Joseph Eck
Early April
Two Days of New Plays
Creative Works of Lancaster and the Lancaster Dramatists' Platform will present “Two Days of New Plays,” a mini festival of new plays by local playwrights on November 18 & 19 at Fruition Collective, 24 West Walnut Street in Lancaster.
Two programs will feature different sets of original works written by members of the Lancaster Dramatists' Platform and performed as staged readings by local actors. Both programs will be performed twice during the weekend. Audiences are encouraged to see all of the plays by staying downtown for consecutive programs on either day or attending one program each day. Tickets are $10 for one program or $18 for two and can be purchased at https://cwtwodaysofnewplays.eventbrite.com/.
The schedule for the weekend is:
Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at 7:00 p.m.: “Look at Me” by Jenell Abram, “A Most Inconvenient Bunbury” by John Reshetar, “After Life” by Tyler Rossi, and “A Member Leaves the Company” by Chet Williamson
Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.: “Rock ‘N Roll” by Joshua Cohen, “NewComers” by Caleb Corkery, and “A Christmas Miracle” by John Rohrkemper
The Lancaster Dramatists' Platform was formed in 2005 and meets bi-weekly to read and discuss new works by its members. In 2010, the group started its affiliation with Creative Works, which has helped to develop several members’ plays into fully staged productions. For more information about the Lancaster Dramatists' Platform, please email lancasterdramatists@gmail.com or visit "Lancaster Dramatists' Platform" on Facebook.
Two programs will feature different sets of original works written by members of the Lancaster Dramatists' Platform and performed as staged readings by local actors. Both programs will be performed twice during the weekend. Audiences are encouraged to see all of the plays by staying downtown for consecutive programs on either day or attending one program each day. Tickets are $10 for one program or $18 for two and can be purchased at https://cwtwodaysofnewplays.eventbrite.com/.
The schedule for the weekend is:
Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at 7:00 p.m.: “Look at Me” by Jenell Abram, “A Most Inconvenient Bunbury” by John Reshetar, “After Life” by Tyler Rossi, and “A Member Leaves the Company” by Chet Williamson
Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.: “Rock ‘N Roll” by Joshua Cohen, “NewComers” by Caleb Corkery, and “A Christmas Miracle” by John Rohrkemper
The Lancaster Dramatists' Platform was formed in 2005 and meets bi-weekly to read and discuss new works by its members. In 2010, the group started its affiliation with Creative Works, which has helped to develop several members’ plays into fully staged productions. For more information about the Lancaster Dramatists' Platform, please email lancasterdramatists@gmail.com or visit "Lancaster Dramatists' Platform" on Facebook.
24 Hour Plays returns to Lancaster
The 24 Hour Plays: Lancaster is a special night of experimental theater where six writers, six directors, twenty-four actors, and a production team come together to write, rehearse and produce six plays over the course of 24 hours!
This year the plays will be performed for the public at the end of the 24 hour creation process on Saturday, October 7 at 7pm (doors open @ 6: 30 pm) at The Green Room Theater at Franklin and Marshall College.
Since their inception in New York City in 1995, 24 Hour Plays (www.24hourplays.com) have been performed for audiences throughout the United States and the world – attracting both professional and amateur theater artists. Talent involved in past 24 Hour Plays includes Jennifer Aniston, Rosie Perez, Kevin Spacey, Vince Vaughn and Elijah Wood.
This will be the 6th annual 24 Hour Plays event in Lancaster. The first was a sold out performance at The Candy Factory in November 2011 and subsequent years have sold out as well. Get your tickets here: https://lancaster242017.eventbrite.com
See you at the show!
The 24 Hour Plays: Lancaster is a special night of experimental theater where six writers, six directors, twenty-four actors, and a production team come together to write, rehearse and produce six plays over the course of 24 hours!
This year the plays will be performed for the public at the end of the 24 hour creation process on Saturday, October 7 at 7pm (doors open @ 6: 30 pm) at The Green Room Theater at Franklin and Marshall College.
Since their inception in New York City in 1995, 24 Hour Plays (www.24hourplays.com) have been performed for audiences throughout the United States and the world – attracting both professional and amateur theater artists. Talent involved in past 24 Hour Plays includes Jennifer Aniston, Rosie Perez, Kevin Spacey, Vince Vaughn and Elijah Wood.
This will be the 6th annual 24 Hour Plays event in Lancaster. The first was a sold out performance at The Candy Factory in November 2011 and subsequent years have sold out as well. Get your tickets here: https://lancaster242017.eventbrite.com
See you at the show!
EPAC on the Edge: The Whale
Loss. Belonging. Addiction. Mortality. Religion.
The Whale, by Samuel D. Hunter, tells the tale of the sad last days of Charlie, a middle aged man whose life has slowly become merely an existence within the confines of his single bedroom apartment in Idaho. Morbidly obese and in failing health, Charlie has cut himself off from most of the world outside of his door. We see Charlie, a looming mass of human flesh, surrounded by his trails of empty fast food containers, eating his way towards an early death. His daily routine consists of occupying the cement block, reinforced sofa of his living room, and speaking into a headset to his online students, a job that allows him to reach out to others, while keeping his grotesque physique out of sight from his audience of pupils.
Charlie's last remaining human contact comes from Liz, a nurse who has vowed to help Charlie, but only finds herself enabling him to further his descent into morbid obesity by sustaining him with buckets of fried chicken and meatball sandwiches. The physical and metaphoric walls that Charlie has built around himself, slowly begin to crumble, first with the unexpected visit from a hope-filled visiting Mormon Missionary, and later by his estranged and angst ridden teenaged daughter.
EPAC Artistic Director Edward R Fernandez will be featured in the role of Charlie. Supporting roles are played by Holly Andrew, Gabrielle Dina, Alexander P Bannon, and Cynthia Charles.
The Whale will be read on August 11, 2017 at 8 PM. General admission tickets are $15 and can be purchased at ephrataperformingartscenter.com or by calling the box office at 717-733-7966.
The Whale, by Samuel D. Hunter, tells the tale of the sad last days of Charlie, a middle aged man whose life has slowly become merely an existence within the confines of his single bedroom apartment in Idaho. Morbidly obese and in failing health, Charlie has cut himself off from most of the world outside of his door. We see Charlie, a looming mass of human flesh, surrounded by his trails of empty fast food containers, eating his way towards an early death. His daily routine consists of occupying the cement block, reinforced sofa of his living room, and speaking into a headset to his online students, a job that allows him to reach out to others, while keeping his grotesque physique out of sight from his audience of pupils.
Charlie's last remaining human contact comes from Liz, a nurse who has vowed to help Charlie, but only finds herself enabling him to further his descent into morbid obesity by sustaining him with buckets of fried chicken and meatball sandwiches. The physical and metaphoric walls that Charlie has built around himself, slowly begin to crumble, first with the unexpected visit from a hope-filled visiting Mormon Missionary, and later by his estranged and angst ridden teenaged daughter.
EPAC Artistic Director Edward R Fernandez will be featured in the role of Charlie. Supporting roles are played by Holly Andrew, Gabrielle Dina, Alexander P Bannon, and Cynthia Charles.
The Whale will be read on August 11, 2017 at 8 PM. General admission tickets are $15 and can be purchased at ephrataperformingartscenter.com or by calling the box office at 717-733-7966.
Works in the Park 2017: "Stuff!"
Stuff!, by local playwright Sandy Asher, is a fantastical story exploring the power of creation and storytelling, following five young people called into an imaginary world that helps them move past the things they are burdened with and understand each other in a new way. The play is directed by Erin Brubaker and features actors Penny Wrenn, Holly Andrew, Melina Statigos, Rachel Opendaker, Francisco Ortiz, Miranda Waldvogel, and Abigail Golden.
This FAMILY FRIENDLY show is suitable for children and FREE to the public. Performances will be at 7pm on July 27th, 28th, and 29th in the Sixth Ward Park, located on Hamilton Street between Reservoir and Ross Streets. Patrons are advised that the park is located on a residential, unmetered street, however parking may be limited.
This FAMILY FRIENDLY show is suitable for children and FREE to the public. Performances will be at 7pm on July 27th, 28th, and 29th in the Sixth Ward Park, located on Hamilton Street between Reservoir and Ross Streets. Patrons are advised that the park is located on a residential, unmetered street, however parking may be limited.
Creative Works Presents: Happy Time Explosion Show!
Creative Works of Lancaster is happy to present Happy Time Explosion Show's "Game of Chairs" at Zoetropolis Art House and Theater from June 1st to June 4th, 2017.
"Game of Chairs" features the zany antics of sketch comedy troupe Happy Time Explosion Show as they feud for leadership of the troupe and all the benefits that come with it! This production is full of brand-new original sketches. Happy Time Explosion show is happy to be celebrating its 10th year of creating comedy for Lancaster!
Audiences should be advised that this production contains mature content. Tickets for the show cost $10 each, or $25 for 3 via Creative Works' classic "Awkward Threesome" special.
Show times are June 1st at 9pm, June 2nd at 7pm, June 3rd at 9pm, and June 4th at 7pm eastern. For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.
"Game of Chairs" features the zany antics of sketch comedy troupe Happy Time Explosion Show as they feud for leadership of the troupe and all the benefits that come with it! This production is full of brand-new original sketches. Happy Time Explosion show is happy to be celebrating its 10th year of creating comedy for Lancaster!
Audiences should be advised that this production contains mature content. Tickets for the show cost $10 each, or $25 for 3 via Creative Works' classic "Awkward Threesome" special.
Show times are June 1st at 9pm, June 2nd at 7pm, June 3rd at 9pm, and June 4th at 7pm eastern. For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.
Play Grounds: Theater on Site - May 6 & 7
Play Grounds: Theater on Site is a series of three original plays set in different locations during ArtWalk, May 6 and 7. Admission is free.
All performances begin at Salon Fin, 602 N. Mary Street (Map). From there, the audience will be led by a traveling musician to the subsequent venues. Each play is 10-15 minutes long.
Showtimes (Meet at Salon Fin at these times)
Saturday, May 6 at 11 am & 2 pm
Sunday, May 7 at 2 pm
The Plays
The Alien by Katarzyna Jakubiak
Salon Fin, 602 N Mary Street (Corner of Mary and Frederick)
Director: Jesse Murphy Actors: Margaret Jackson, Nelly Torres
Brooklyn Reborn by Caleb Corkery
The Arts Hotel
Director: Kelsey Pollard Actors: Libby Casey, Chris Fogel, Alyse Hurd, Matt Johnson, Chris Silansky
The Glass is Half Empty by John Reshetar
The Fridge
Director: Alexander P Bannon Actors: Jedidiah Franklin, Starleisha Michelle Gingrich, R. Matthew Good, Darren Wagner
This is the fifth year that Play Grounds has been a part of ArtWalk Weekend. Previous venues have included Lemon Street Market, The Shreiner-Concord Cemetery, Fulton Elementary School, Binns Park, St. James Episcopal Church Cemetery, Central Market, Stevens School Apartments Parking Lot, Wolf Museum of Art and Music.
All performances begin at Salon Fin, 602 N. Mary Street (Map). From there, the audience will be led by a traveling musician to the subsequent venues. Each play is 10-15 minutes long.
Showtimes (Meet at Salon Fin at these times)
Saturday, May 6 at 11 am & 2 pm
Sunday, May 7 at 2 pm
The Plays
The Alien by Katarzyna Jakubiak
Salon Fin, 602 N Mary Street (Corner of Mary and Frederick)
Director: Jesse Murphy Actors: Margaret Jackson, Nelly Torres
Brooklyn Reborn by Caleb Corkery
The Arts Hotel
Director: Kelsey Pollard Actors: Libby Casey, Chris Fogel, Alyse Hurd, Matt Johnson, Chris Silansky
The Glass is Half Empty by John Reshetar
The Fridge
Director: Alexander P Bannon Actors: Jedidiah Franklin, Starleisha Michelle Gingrich, R. Matthew Good, Darren Wagner
This is the fifth year that Play Grounds has been a part of ArtWalk Weekend. Previous venues have included Lemon Street Market, The Shreiner-Concord Cemetery, Fulton Elementary School, Binns Park, St. James Episcopal Church Cemetery, Central Market, Stevens School Apartments Parking Lot, Wolf Museum of Art and Music.
Meet the Cast of Appropriate
EPAC & Creative Works present Appropriate
Creative Works of Lancaster is pleased to be partnering with the Ephrata Performing Arts Center this month, for one in a series of readings.
In this event, family secrets and lies haunt a Southern home as three estranged siblings reunite to settle their late father’s estate. Written by playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Appropriate is directed by Lydia Brubaker. Local actors Tricia Corcoran, Ken Seigh, and Chris Silansky play siblings Toni, Bo, and Franz. The cast also includes Joanna Underhill, Margaret Jackson, Jimmy Damore, Sydney Norgaard, and Brady Norgaard.
Toni, the eldest daughter and recently divorced mother of a troubled teen, finds herself struggling with the overwhelming burden of being executor of the estate while also trying to connect with her son. She takes her frustrations out in verbal confrontations with her brothers, including free-spirited Franz, who has just resurfaced after a long absence from familial responsibilities, and middle brother, Bo, who has arrived from New York with his wife and children. Franz wants to make amends and introduce his new fiancée. Bo, concerned about the finances of the estate, is poised to take over and clean up the mess he thinks Toni has made of the family’s assets. The three could not be any more different from one another, and their interactions become increasingly strained when a mysterious photo album is discovered among the belongings of the patriarch about whom they are discovering that, perhaps, they knew very little. Questions and doubts arise, creating a tumultuous scenario played out over the weekend.
Fueled by jealousy and dishonesty, the sibling rivalry deepens as the family’s past becomes more apparent, and everyone must confront a reality they are not quite willing to accept. Even if they do accept where their family heritage lies and face the truths that have been buried for so long, how will they move on with their lives?
EPAC on the Edge is a new cooperative of staged readings co-produced with Creative Works of Lancaster, and Theater of the Seventh Sister. The series will consist of a trio of readings, each presented one night only on the stage at Ephrata Performing Arts Center. Appropriate is the first show of the series. Appropriate plays March 31, 2017, at 8 PM. Tickets are $15, general admission and can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 717-733-7966.
This performance was supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
In this event, family secrets and lies haunt a Southern home as three estranged siblings reunite to settle their late father’s estate. Written by playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Appropriate is directed by Lydia Brubaker. Local actors Tricia Corcoran, Ken Seigh, and Chris Silansky play siblings Toni, Bo, and Franz. The cast also includes Joanna Underhill, Margaret Jackson, Jimmy Damore, Sydney Norgaard, and Brady Norgaard.
Toni, the eldest daughter and recently divorced mother of a troubled teen, finds herself struggling with the overwhelming burden of being executor of the estate while also trying to connect with her son. She takes her frustrations out in verbal confrontations with her brothers, including free-spirited Franz, who has just resurfaced after a long absence from familial responsibilities, and middle brother, Bo, who has arrived from New York with his wife and children. Franz wants to make amends and introduce his new fiancée. Bo, concerned about the finances of the estate, is poised to take over and clean up the mess he thinks Toni has made of the family’s assets. The three could not be any more different from one another, and their interactions become increasingly strained when a mysterious photo album is discovered among the belongings of the patriarch about whom they are discovering that, perhaps, they knew very little. Questions and doubts arise, creating a tumultuous scenario played out over the weekend.
Fueled by jealousy and dishonesty, the sibling rivalry deepens as the family’s past becomes more apparent, and everyone must confront a reality they are not quite willing to accept. Even if they do accept where their family heritage lies and face the truths that have been buried for so long, how will they move on with their lives?
EPAC on the Edge is a new cooperative of staged readings co-produced with Creative Works of Lancaster, and Theater of the Seventh Sister. The series will consist of a trio of readings, each presented one night only on the stage at Ephrata Performing Arts Center. Appropriate is the first show of the series. Appropriate plays March 31, 2017, at 8 PM. Tickets are $15, general admission and can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 717-733-7966.
This performance was supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Creative Works 2017 Season
Creative Works of Lancaster is excited to announce our full 2017 season! This year, we’re excited to partner with more local theater groups, bring you more sock puppets in more ways, and continue advancing our mission of bringing new work to new audiences and new places. Please check back for more information as we finalize performance details and announce auditions - signing up for our newsletter is a great way to stay in touch!
Late February
All The President’s Socks
Sock puppetry gets a little political in this original adaptation of the Woodward/Bernstein classic. Written by Lancaster Improv Players founder Bill Dewan and directed by local filmmaker Max Phillips, All The President’s Socks is Creative Works’ first sock puppet film. With the production immortalized on video, you can relive sock puppet madness all year round!
March 31
Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Produced in conjunction with the Ephrata Performing Arts Center, and the premier work for the brand new EPAC on the Edge series, this staged reading follows a group of estranged family members as they work through the estate of their recently deceased patriarch and unearth artifacts of a troubling past.
Tickets available here.
May 6 & 7
Play Grounds
Look for Creative Works at the 2017 Spring Artwalk as we take to the streets - and lawns, alleys, parking lots, and street corners - to present original plays outside of the confines of a traditional theater space.
June 1 - 4
Happy Time Explosion Show
The local troupe returns with hilarious sketch comedy for adult audiences!
July 27 - 29
Works in the Park
The 7th installment of Creative Works’ annual, free, outdoor theater series will be held at the Sixth Ward Park in northeastern Lancaster City.
August 11
The Whale by Samuel D. Hunter
Produced in conjunction with the Ephrata Performing Arts Center, as the second entry in the EPAC on the Edge staged reading series, this play takes a look at the life of an obese, housebound man struggling to reconnect with his teenage daughter as he faces his impending mortality.
Tickets available here.
October 7
24 Hour Plays
At this annual classic, a group of writers, directors, and actors will once again bring multiple new works from idea to full production in only 24 hours!
November
New Work Reading Festival
Creative Works brings more new works to the town in November with this reading festival produced in conjunction with the Lancaster Dramatists’ platform.
December
Sock Puppet Show
They’re back, live for the holidays!
Late February
All The President’s Socks
Sock puppetry gets a little political in this original adaptation of the Woodward/Bernstein classic. Written by Lancaster Improv Players founder Bill Dewan and directed by local filmmaker Max Phillips, All The President’s Socks is Creative Works’ first sock puppet film. With the production immortalized on video, you can relive sock puppet madness all year round!
March 31
Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Produced in conjunction with the Ephrata Performing Arts Center, and the premier work for the brand new EPAC on the Edge series, this staged reading follows a group of estranged family members as they work through the estate of their recently deceased patriarch and unearth artifacts of a troubling past.
Tickets available here.
May 6 & 7
Play Grounds
Look for Creative Works at the 2017 Spring Artwalk as we take to the streets - and lawns, alleys, parking lots, and street corners - to present original plays outside of the confines of a traditional theater space.
June 1 - 4
Happy Time Explosion Show
The local troupe returns with hilarious sketch comedy for adult audiences!
July 27 - 29
Works in the Park
The 7th installment of Creative Works’ annual, free, outdoor theater series will be held at the Sixth Ward Park in northeastern Lancaster City.
August 11
The Whale by Samuel D. Hunter
Produced in conjunction with the Ephrata Performing Arts Center, as the second entry in the EPAC on the Edge staged reading series, this play takes a look at the life of an obese, housebound man struggling to reconnect with his teenage daughter as he faces his impending mortality.
Tickets available here.
October 7
24 Hour Plays
At this annual classic, a group of writers, directors, and actors will once again bring multiple new works from idea to full production in only 24 hours!
November
New Work Reading Festival
Creative Works brings more new works to the town in November with this reading festival produced in conjunction with the Lancaster Dramatists’ platform.
December
Sock Puppet Show
They’re back, live for the holidays!
It's audition time!
Creative Works is collaborating with Ephrata Performing Arts Center to produce a new cooperative staged reading series, EPAC on the Edge.
The first play in the series with be Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins on 3/31. Auditions for Appropriate will be on Saturday, February 11, 12pm-2pm at the Philadelphia Alumni Writers House at Franklin & Marshall College, 633 College Ave, Lancaster, 17603 and Wednesday, February 15, 6:30pm-8:30pm at the Ephrata Performing Arts Center at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre, 320 Cocalico Street in Ephrata Community Park, Ephrata, 17522.
Contact Lydia Brubaker at lydia@creativelancaster.org to schedule an audition time.
Please bring a resume and headshot if you have them.
You will be given scenes from the play to read.
About the play:
The estranged members of the Lafayette family have returned to Arkansas and their crumbling old plantation home to settle the accounts of their recently deceased patriarch. As they sort through a lifetime of hoarded mementos and junk, the discovery of a gruesome relic and a surprise visitor send the family into a spiral of crackling confrontations, repressed histories, and regret. Please note: Appropriate contains strong language, partial nudity and adult situations. May not be suitable for children under 16.
Character breakdown:
Antoinette "Toni" Lafayette: oldest sibling, white, late 40s/early 50s
Rhys Thurston: her son, white, late teens
Beauregard "Bo" Lafayette: middle sibling, white, late 40s/early 50s
Rachael Kramer-Lafayette: his wife, white, late 40s
Cassidy "Cassie" Kramer-Lafayette: their oldest child, white, early teens
Ainsley Kramer-Lafayette: their younger child, white, a child
Francois "Franz/Frank" Lafayette: the youngest sibling, white, late 30s/early 40s
River Rayner: his fiancee, white, early 20s but looks younger
The first play in the series with be Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins on 3/31. Auditions for Appropriate will be on Saturday, February 11, 12pm-2pm at the Philadelphia Alumni Writers House at Franklin & Marshall College, 633 College Ave, Lancaster, 17603 and Wednesday, February 15, 6:30pm-8:30pm at the Ephrata Performing Arts Center at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre, 320 Cocalico Street in Ephrata Community Park, Ephrata, 17522.
Contact Lydia Brubaker at lydia@creativelancaster.org to schedule an audition time.
Please bring a resume and headshot if you have them.
You will be given scenes from the play to read.
About the play:
The estranged members of the Lafayette family have returned to Arkansas and their crumbling old plantation home to settle the accounts of their recently deceased patriarch. As they sort through a lifetime of hoarded mementos and junk, the discovery of a gruesome relic and a surprise visitor send the family into a spiral of crackling confrontations, repressed histories, and regret. Please note: Appropriate contains strong language, partial nudity and adult situations. May not be suitable for children under 16.
Character breakdown:
Antoinette "Toni" Lafayette: oldest sibling, white, late 40s/early 50s
Rhys Thurston: her son, white, late teens
Beauregard "Bo" Lafayette: middle sibling, white, late 40s/early 50s
Rachael Kramer-Lafayette: his wife, white, late 40s
Cassidy "Cassie" Kramer-Lafayette: their oldest child, white, early teens
Ainsley Kramer-Lafayette: their younger child, white, a child
Francois "Franz/Frank" Lafayette: the youngest sibling, white, late 30s/early 40s
River Rayner: his fiancee, white, early 20s but looks younger
Welcome to the new creativelancaster.org!
As part of Creative Works' continued commitment to bringing new works, artists, and playwrights to Lancaster, we have recently undergone a website update. Our new site is easier to use on-the-go and is designed to help us continue to advance our mission within the community.
Please have a look around and leave us any feedback, comments, or questions via the "contact" link you will find at the bottom of each page!
Please have a look around and leave us any feedback, comments, or questions via the "contact" link you will find at the bottom of each page!
Meet the cast: We Make Things
We Make Things Opens 2017 Season
We are pleased to announce that the 2017 season will open with the world premiere of “We Make Things,” an evening of interactive theater by Lancaster playwright David Nice, running January 5th-8th. Hosted by a team of actors, audiences will embark on a company tour, during which they will observe several vignettes focused on the experiences of manufacturing workers as they navigate ethical dilemmas, accidents, and relationships on the job.
“In popular culture - movies and TV shows - when we see factories at all, they are usually places of dull repetition with disinterested, uneducated workers,” said Nice. The playwright uses vivid and eloquent interactions between characters to strip away these generalizations and misconceptions about the American workforce. Coinciding with conversations on the national level about the “forgotten” working class, the evening provides a timely exploration of blue-collar life.
“(These workers) interact with and often lead teams of people who spend the majority of their days solving difficult technical problems and meeting demanding schedules. Those workers are dressed in protective gear and technology, often functioning in a constant state of alertness and tension, making sure they stay safe and physically whole,” said Nice. “(Human) workers are still at the heart of making things and producing the technology we depend on.”
“We Make Things” opens at the Hotel Lancaster, 26 E Chestnut Street in Lancaster, on January 5th and runs through January 8th. Performances will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. on Friday, 2:00, 7:00, and 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Because of the experiential elements of this production, audiences will be limited to 30 people per performance, so advance ticket purchase is recommended.
Tickets are available on eventbrite! Check it out here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/we-make-things-an-evening-of-interactive-theater-tickets-30227719924?aff=efbevent
24 Hour Plays returns to Lancaster
The 24 Hour Plays: Lancaster is a special night of experimental theater where six writers, six directors, twenty-four actors, and a production team come together to write, rehearse and produce six plays over the course of 24 hours!
This year the plays will be performed for the public at the end of the 24 hour creation process on Saturday, October 1 at 7pm (doors open @ 6: 30 pm) at the Masonic Hall at the Visitor Center, 38 Penn Square, Lancaster, PA.
Since their inception in New York City in 1995, 24 Hour Plays (www.24hourplays.com) have been performed for audiences throughout the United States and the world – attracting both professional and amateur theater artists. Talent involved in past 24 Hour Plays includes Jennifer Aniston, Rosie Perez, Kevin Spacey, Vince Vaughn and Elijah Wood.
This will be the 6th annual 24 Hour Plays event in Lancaster. The first was a sold out performance at The Candy Factory in November 2011 and we are anticipating a sold out house again this year. Get your tickets here: https://lancaster24.eventbrite.com
See you at the show!
This year the plays will be performed for the public at the end of the 24 hour creation process on Saturday, October 1 at 7pm (doors open @ 6: 30 pm) at the Masonic Hall at the Visitor Center, 38 Penn Square, Lancaster, PA.
Since their inception in New York City in 1995, 24 Hour Plays (www.24hourplays.com) have been performed for audiences throughout the United States and the world – attracting both professional and amateur theater artists. Talent involved in past 24 Hour Plays includes Jennifer Aniston, Rosie Perez, Kevin Spacey, Vince Vaughn and Elijah Wood.
This will be the 6th annual 24 Hour Plays event in Lancaster. The first was a sold out performance at The Candy Factory in November 2011 and we are anticipating a sold out house again this year. Get your tickets here: https://lancaster24.eventbrite.com
See you at the show!
¡Bocón! live in the 6th Ward Park
Creative Works & Paloma Players in LNP
Creative Works of Lancaster and The Paloma Players have been profiled by Lancaster Newspapers! Check it out here.
¡Bocón! opens Thursday, August 11
¡Bocón!, meaning “big mouth,” follows young Miguel as he flees a repressive Central American military regime and travels to Los Angeles. His chatty “bocón” nature is challenged along his journey as he meets mythological traveling companions and brings out his inner courage to complete his trip and come into his own.
The cast includes Katherine Carrillo, Toni Cruz, Stephen Gates, Zury Jaramillo, Zuleika Miranda, Jose Guillermo Rodriguez Plaza, Katherine Rodriguez, Angelica Santiago, Harito Torres, Christopher Underhill, and Elena Vega-Rivera. Support for the production is provided by Andrew Takoch, Kelsey Bomba, Alexandria Flynn, and Bob Ulrich.
¡Bocón! is a family production suitable for all audiences. Seating for the performances will be in the open, and patrons are encouraged to bring blankets and/or lawn chairs. The play, free to the public, will begin at 6:00 pm and is appropriate for all ages. The Sixth Ward Park is located on the corner of Hamilton and Ross streets, one block north of New Holland Avenue on the northeastern side of Lancaster City, PA.
The cast includes Katherine Carrillo, Toni Cruz, Stephen Gates, Zury Jaramillo, Zuleika Miranda, Jose Guillermo Rodriguez Plaza, Katherine Rodriguez, Angelica Santiago, Harito Torres, Christopher Underhill, and Elena Vega-Rivera. Support for the production is provided by Andrew Takoch, Kelsey Bomba, Alexandria Flynn, and Bob Ulrich.
¡Bocón! is a family production suitable for all audiences. Seating for the performances will be in the open, and patrons are encouraged to bring blankets and/or lawn chairs. The play, free to the public, will begin at 6:00 pm and is appropriate for all ages. The Sixth Ward Park is located on the corner of Hamilton and Ross streets, one block north of New Holland Avenue on the northeastern side of Lancaster City, PA.
Works in the Park Returns!
Creative Works of Lancaster is happy to be producing ¡Bocón!, performed by the Paloma Players this August 11-13. With this show, Creative Works is continuing its tradition of hosting “Works in the Park” each year.
The play follows 12-year-old Miguel as he flees Central America for Los Angeles, meeting amazing characters along the way who help give him confidence to reach his destination as he learns more about himself in the process. Suitable for kids and adults alike, ¡Bocón!Will be a wonderful outing for the whole family. Stay tuned for more information and the reveal of our 2016 location!
The play follows 12-year-old Miguel as he flees Central America for Los Angeles, meeting amazing characters along the way who help give him confidence to reach his destination as he learns more about himself in the process. Suitable for kids and adults alike, ¡Bocón!Will be a wonderful outing for the whole family. Stay tuned for more information and the reveal of our 2016 location!
