CURRENT NEWS & PRODUCTIONS
Call for Artists! The 24 Hour Plays: Lancaster
The 24 Hr. Plays: Lancaster return for 2019
The 24 Hour Plays: Lancaster returns Saturday, October 5, 2019, at 7:00 PM. The venue has yet to be announced. Creative Works of Lancaster is looking for folks to write, act, direct, and volunteer for this year's installment of The 24 Hour Plays: Lancaster - a project that features six short plays that are written, rehearsed and performed within a 24 hour period. There is one public performance of the set of six.
Call for artists is now open, submissions will be accepted through August 14.
Learn more and apply to participate!
The 24 Hour Plays: Lancaster returns Saturday, October 5, 2019, at 7:00 PM. The venue has yet to be announced. Creative Works of Lancaster is looking for folks to write, act, direct, and volunteer for this year's installment of The 24 Hour Plays: Lancaster - a project that features six short plays that are written, rehearsed and performed within a 24 hour period. There is one public performance of the set of six.
Call for artists is now open, submissions will be accepted through August 14.
Learn more and apply to participate!
Creative Works Needs You!
Dear friends,
Creative Works has just entered its 9th year of presenting theater in the Lancaster community, and we invite YOU to join us as we plan for the future! Creative Works is currently run by a seven-person volunteer Board Of Directors, which means that we organize, produce, act, direct, design, build, market, fundraise, etc. in addition to working full-time jobs. We do it because we’re passionate about the arts in Lancaster, and we want to find more people who share our enthusiasm so we can grow and make even more cool things happen around town.
Here are some ways to get involved:
We’re currently looking for more Board Members. In particular, we need a Treasurer, but we’re looking for people with various interests and with all levels of experience. You don’t even need to have theater experience as long as you’re excited about the kinds of projects Creative Works does! Our current board includes a retail manager, an IT specialist, a teacher, and an HR representative; everyone brings a unique perspective and set of skills. We’re looking for people who will embrace our mission and commitment to nomadic theater to help make strategic decisions as we move forward. Being a Board Member is important and takes many hours, but it is also fun and rewarding. Please let us know if you are interested, and we'd be happy to have a conversation about what's involved and answer any questions you have.
Another important role, with a lesser time commitment, is serving as a member of a committee. We have a whole range of committees, including production, marketing, budget, and development, as well as project specific committees that form for specific shows, initiatives, or events. If any of that sounds up your alley, let us know, and we can talk more.
We have plenty of one-time volunteer opportunities too if that's more your speed. Just give us a shout!
We are also looking for possible performance, rehearsal, and storage spaces. As an organization, we have come to embrace Creative Works’ nomadic identity. Sitting in a traditional theater and watching a show is how most of us were introduced to live theater, but we want to create experiences that show people that theater can happen ANYWHERE in our city - even if you’re not looking for it. Producing shows in “found spaces” like parks, bars, alleys, hotels, and barns over the past 9 years has proven to be very freeing, but being nomadic also comes with a unique set of challenges. Not having a traditional theater means that we spend a lot of time visiting possible performance spots, negotiating contracts, and bringing in equipment to transform locations into theatrical venues. We don’t have a consistent rehearsal space for our actors and production teams to comfortably workshop new projects, practice, and prepare for shows. We also have minimum storage space; our sock puppet theater and newly obtained stage flats take up a lot of space already, and we’re hoping to purchase our own sound system and some larger marketing materials to enhance our future projects. We’re looking for anyone who has or knows of spaces that could accommodate us in any way. Have any leads? Please reach out!
Finally, we want to thank every exquisite audience member, artist, fan, and looky loo who has made these first 9 years incredible . We hope you’ll join us for many more to come.
The Creative Works Board of Directors
board@creativelancaster.org
Creative Works has just entered its 9th year of presenting theater in the Lancaster community, and we invite YOU to join us as we plan for the future! Creative Works is currently run by a seven-person volunteer Board Of Directors, which means that we organize, produce, act, direct, design, build, market, fundraise, etc. in addition to working full-time jobs. We do it because we’re passionate about the arts in Lancaster, and we want to find more people who share our enthusiasm so we can grow and make even more cool things happen around town.
Here are some ways to get involved:
We’re currently looking for more Board Members. In particular, we need a Treasurer, but we’re looking for people with various interests and with all levels of experience. You don’t even need to have theater experience as long as you’re excited about the kinds of projects Creative Works does! Our current board includes a retail manager, an IT specialist, a teacher, and an HR representative; everyone brings a unique perspective and set of skills. We’re looking for people who will embrace our mission and commitment to nomadic theater to help make strategic decisions as we move forward. Being a Board Member is important and takes many hours, but it is also fun and rewarding. Please let us know if you are interested, and we'd be happy to have a conversation about what's involved and answer any questions you have.
Another important role, with a lesser time commitment, is serving as a member of a committee. We have a whole range of committees, including production, marketing, budget, and development, as well as project specific committees that form for specific shows, initiatives, or events. If any of that sounds up your alley, let us know, and we can talk more.
We have plenty of one-time volunteer opportunities too if that's more your speed. Just give us a shout!
We are also looking for possible performance, rehearsal, and storage spaces. As an organization, we have come to embrace Creative Works’ nomadic identity. Sitting in a traditional theater and watching a show is how most of us were introduced to live theater, but we want to create experiences that show people that theater can happen ANYWHERE in our city - even if you’re not looking for it. Producing shows in “found spaces” like parks, bars, alleys, hotels, and barns over the past 9 years has proven to be very freeing, but being nomadic also comes with a unique set of challenges. Not having a traditional theater means that we spend a lot of time visiting possible performance spots, negotiating contracts, and bringing in equipment to transform locations into theatrical venues. We don’t have a consistent rehearsal space for our actors and production teams to comfortably workshop new projects, practice, and prepare for shows. We also have minimum storage space; our sock puppet theater and newly obtained stage flats take up a lot of space already, and we’re hoping to purchase our own sound system and some larger marketing materials to enhance our future projects. We’re looking for anyone who has or knows of spaces that could accommodate us in any way. Have any leads? Please reach out!
Finally, we want to thank every exquisite audience member, artist, fan, and looky loo who has made these first 9 years incredible . We hope you’ll join us for many more to come.
The Creative Works Board of Directors
board@creativelancaster.org
Open Streets Lancaster and SoWe Story Circle
Creative Works is working to develop a theatrical piece in collaboration with residents in the Southwest neighborhoods around Farnum/Culliton Park. The heart of a neighborhood is the people who live in it. Our goal is to listen to your experiences and your stories and work with you to present a free public performance that bring neighbors together and help share what’s special about Southwest Lancaster City with the surrounding community. We started interviewing people and gathering stories last spring and summer, and our resident playwright has begun to explore some common themes that emerged. Now, we want to focus on those themes while gathering more thoughts and reflections.
If you want to learn more about our project, stop by and see us at Open Streets Lancaster on Sunday, May 19th from 11AM-3PM. We'll be set up at the park near the corner of S. Water and W. Farnum Streets.
If you want to learn more about our project, stop by and see us at Open Streets Lancaster on Sunday, May 19th from 11AM-3PM. We'll be set up at the park near the corner of S. Water and W. Farnum Streets.
If you live near the park, please join us for a Story Circle at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 20th.
Immediately following the SoWe Board meeting, we'll meet in the SoWe Office at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 440 St. Joseph Street. A story circle is a group of people sitting in a circle sharing stories about their experience on a given topic or theme. Below is a brief description of our theme and some examples of the kinds of questions we might pose to get the conversations started.
Description:
You can’t help but be physically close to your neighbors on a city block, but that doesn’t make it easy. The play will explore what it means to live in close quarters where private space often isn’t so private, imposition is often accidental or unintentional, and relationships are forged whether we want them or not.
Questions:
Immediately following the SoWe Board meeting, we'll meet in the SoWe Office at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 440 St. Joseph Street. A story circle is a group of people sitting in a circle sharing stories about their experience on a given topic or theme. Below is a brief description of our theme and some examples of the kinds of questions we might pose to get the conversations started.
Description:
You can’t help but be physically close to your neighbors on a city block, but that doesn’t make it easy. The play will explore what it means to live in close quarters where private space often isn’t so private, imposition is often accidental or unintentional, and relationships are forged whether we want them or not.
Questions:
- What is the favorite game of the kids in the neighborhood?
- What is your neighbor’s favorite “something”? (Food, drink, sports team, etc)
- What is your neighbor’s least favorite “something”? (Food, drink, sports team, etc)
- When a loud noise wakes you up in the middle of the night, what is your first thought of what it might be?
- What gives you anxiety about your neighborhood?
- What gives you hope about your neighborhood?
- What do you talk to your neighbors about the most?
- Why did you or your family move to this neighborhood? (Even if it was generations ago)
- Why do you stay in this neighborhood?
Play Grounds: Theater on Site - May 4th & 5th, 2019
This year marks the seventh time that Play Grounds is a part of Lancaster ArtWalk! The event features three short plays written specifically for Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, Realm And Reason Shop, and McDonald's.
Performances are free and open to the public and will begin at Zoetropolis, 112 North Water Street at 12 Noon and 2 PM on both Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th. The audience will be led by a traveling musician to the subsequent sites.
This year's plays are:
"The Guy With a Thousand Faces"
Written by Caleb Corkery
Directed by Nelly Torres
at Zoetropolis
"The Long Awaited Acceptance Speech of Megan Brubaker"
Written by Bruce Walsh
Directed by Matthew Good
at Realm And Reason
"Golden Arches"
Written by Adam Kissinger
Directed by Seth Duncan
at McDonald's
Performances are free and open to the public and will begin at Zoetropolis, 112 North Water Street at 12 Noon and 2 PM on both Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th. The audience will be led by a traveling musician to the subsequent sites.
This year's plays are:
"The Guy With a Thousand Faces"
Written by Caleb Corkery
Directed by Nelly Torres
at Zoetropolis
"The Long Awaited Acceptance Speech of Megan Brubaker"
Written by Bruce Walsh
Directed by Matthew Good
at Realm And Reason
"Golden Arches"
Written by Adam Kissinger
Directed by Seth Duncan
at McDonald's
Auditions for Play Grounds: Theater on Site and Other Future Projects
Creative Works of Lancaster is holding auditions for 2019’s “Play Grounds: Theater On Site," which consists of three original plays by local playwrights that are written specifically for the locations in which they are performed. The plays will be performed as part of ArtWalk, a self-guided tour of the downtown galleries in Lancaster City, presented by Lancaster City Art Galleries, on Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th, 2019.
Rehearsals will take place mostly on weekday evenings and weekends. Actors will also be considered for future Creative Works projects and for new play readings throughout the year with the Lancaster Dramatists’ Platform.
Creative Works is also seeking directors for future projects. Anyone interested in directing should send a resume with a note of interest and, if possible, schedule an appointment during auditions to meet with members of the Creative Works Board of Directors.
Auditions will be held on Saturday, March 30th & Sunday March 31st from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. at Franklin & Marshall's Philadelphia Alumni Writers House, 633 College Avenue, in Lancaster.
Actors, please prepare a two-minute monologue and bring a photo and resume along with a list of any rehearsal conflicts you have.
Auditions and director meetings are by appointment only. Email joanna@creativelancaster.org to schedule an appointment or with any questions, and visit the Creative Works of Lancaster Facebook page or www.creativelancaster.org to learn more about Creative Works.
Rehearsals will take place mostly on weekday evenings and weekends. Actors will also be considered for future Creative Works projects and for new play readings throughout the year with the Lancaster Dramatists’ Platform.
Creative Works is also seeking directors for future projects. Anyone interested in directing should send a resume with a note of interest and, if possible, schedule an appointment during auditions to meet with members of the Creative Works Board of Directors.
Auditions will be held on Saturday, March 30th & Sunday March 31st from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. at Franklin & Marshall's Philadelphia Alumni Writers House, 633 College Avenue, in Lancaster.
Actors, please prepare a two-minute monologue and bring a photo and resume along with a list of any rehearsal conflicts you have.
Auditions and director meetings are by appointment only. Email joanna@creativelancaster.org to schedule an appointment or with any questions, and visit the Creative Works of Lancaster Facebook page or www.creativelancaster.org to learn more about Creative Works.
Call for Plays to be performed for Play Grounds: Theater on Site
photos by Sherin Niven Photography from the 2018 Play Grounds plays at Dogstar Books, Janice P. Stork Linear Park, and Meduseld Meadery
Play Grounds: Theater on Site is an outdoor theater project consisting of three short plays. Each play takes place in a different location, and the plays are written specifically for the space in which they are performed. The locations are featured stops during Lancaster ArtWalk.
This year's performances will be May 4 & 5, 2019, and several potential locations for plays have been made available to writers. These are Zoetropolis, Realm and Reason, McDonald’s, and Levengoods of Lancaster. All are on Water or West King streets. Writers should submit work that naturally takes place in the chosen location. The setting need not directly inform the work (i.e., doesn’t need to be about the particular meal at McDonald’s), but the play must be a natural extension of the space. The location is what it is: a patio outside a restaurant/movie theater, a retail art space, a fast-food restaurant, or a cidery.
After selection (see below), directors and casts will be chosen and the rehearsal process will begin. Writers are invited to be a part of this process. Most rehearsals will take place off-site, but during the last week, casts have typically rehearsed in their location.
The set of three plays will be performed four times over the weekend (see below). After the plays have been chosen, the order of performance will be determined. Media and publicity materials will include each of the plays and indicate the starting location. The audience will meet at this spot, enjoy the play, and be led by a musician to the second location and then the third. In the past, performances have drawn anywhere from 20 to 35 patrons.
Performance Times (Tentative)
Saturday, May 4 12 and 2 pm
Sunday, May 5 12 and 2 pm
Notes on the Plays and Locations
As you develop your work, please consider location. We encourage you to write a piece specifically for the spot you have chosen. Over the six years of Plays Grounds, the strongest works have been closely related to the places in which they have taken place. Please follow this link to find more information about the locations.
Submission and Selection
The submission deadline is March 15, 2019. Please share a complete draft of your work with steve@creativelancaster.org. Be aware that should your play be selected, adjustments could be made during the rehearsal process with your permission. Writers of the selected works will be involved in the development and rehearsal process with directors and actors, and any changes will happen through consultation during that process.
Once your play has been submitted, it will be read by a panel and selections will be made as soon as possible in order to begin casting and rehearsals.
If you have any questions, please contact Steve Carlson at steve@creativelancaster.org or 717 279-1878.
Writers Walking Tour of Downtown Lancaster
Creative Works of Lancaster seeks writers for the 7th annual Play Grounds: Theater on Site, which will be featured as part of Lancaster ArtWalk. On Saturday, February 16th at 1:00 p.m., Creative Works will be hosting a walking tour of potential businesses and public spaces to use for the 2019 edition of its site-specific play series. Each year, Play Grounds: Theater on Site includes three original plays by local playwrights that are written specifically for the locations in which they are performed. Past venues have included Tellus360, St James Cemetery, Dogstar Books, Wolf Museum of Music and Art garden, and various street corners and public lots.
After the tour, writers will be invited to submit plays, and three will be selected for production in the May event. The writers of the selected works will be involved in development and rehearsal process with directors and actors. The plays will be performed as part of ArtWalk, a self-guided tour of the downtown galleries in Lancaster City, presented by Lancaster City Art Galleries, on Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th, 2019. Audiences will be guided to each Play Grounds site by a traveling musician. The event will be open to the public with admission by donation.
The tour is free and open to all artists interested. It will begin at Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, 112 North Water Street, at 1:00 pm. If you have any questions, or if you’re an artist interested in writing but unable to attend the tour, please write to Creative Works Board Member Steve Carlson, steve@creativelancaster.org.
After the tour, writers will be invited to submit plays, and three will be selected for production in the May event. The writers of the selected works will be involved in development and rehearsal process with directors and actors. The plays will be performed as part of ArtWalk, a self-guided tour of the downtown galleries in Lancaster City, presented by Lancaster City Art Galleries, on Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th, 2019. Audiences will be guided to each Play Grounds site by a traveling musician. The event will be open to the public with admission by donation.
The tour is free and open to all artists interested. It will begin at Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, 112 North Water Street, at 1:00 pm. If you have any questions, or if you’re an artist interested in writing but unable to attend the tour, please write to Creative Works Board Member Steve Carlson, steve@creativelancaster.org.
Join an Antarctic Rescue Team as Part of Lancaster's First Theatrical Escape Room Experience
In the fall of 1990, a small team from a New England university departed for Palmer Station, Antarctica, on a year-long expedition. Using a custom drill designed specifically for their research, the team hoped to extract ice core samples that would reveal secrets about Earth’s atmosphere in ancient times. Nobody knows what they discovered since the team mysteriously disappeared after losing contact with the rest of the world eight months into their assignment.
This February, Creative Works of Lancaster hopes to cast you as a member of the rescue party sent to Antarctica to find out what became of this ill-fated fictional expedition in 8 Months on the Ice, Lancaster’s first theatrical escape room experience. Cue up some grunge music and bundle up as Creative Works of Lancaster transports audiences back to May, 1991, Palmer Station, Antarctica.
8 Months on the Ice is written by Chris Silansky and co-directed by Alexander Bannon and Lydia Brubaker. The show will run February 1st through February 10th, with performances taking place at 7:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays and 6:30 PM on Sundays. Tickets are $25 each, with group rates and full-show buyouts available. Audiences will be limited to 18 people per performance, so advance ticket purchase is highly recommended. Tickets can be purchased at https://CWLanc8Months.eventbrite.com.
Audiences will need to check in for performances at the box office, which will be located at the Conestoga Restaurant, 1501 East King Street in Lancaster. The box office will open two hours prior to each performance, and check in at least 15 minutes before start time is recommended as participants will receive further instruction at that time to begin the experience. Late arrivals will be admitted at the discretion of the box office staff. The Conestoga Restaurant will offer audience members 10% off food orders before and after each performance with proof of ticket purchase. Reservations are recommended if you plan to eat dinner before a performance.
Please read the FAQs on the event page for more information, and email info@creativelancaster.org with any questions.
This February, Creative Works of Lancaster hopes to cast you as a member of the rescue party sent to Antarctica to find out what became of this ill-fated fictional expedition in 8 Months on the Ice, Lancaster’s first theatrical escape room experience. Cue up some grunge music and bundle up as Creative Works of Lancaster transports audiences back to May, 1991, Palmer Station, Antarctica.
8 Months on the Ice is written by Chris Silansky and co-directed by Alexander Bannon and Lydia Brubaker. The show will run February 1st through February 10th, with performances taking place at 7:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays and 6:30 PM on Sundays. Tickets are $25 each, with group rates and full-show buyouts available. Audiences will be limited to 18 people per performance, so advance ticket purchase is highly recommended. Tickets can be purchased at https://CWLanc8Months.eventbrite.com.
Audiences will need to check in for performances at the box office, which will be located at the Conestoga Restaurant, 1501 East King Street in Lancaster. The box office will open two hours prior to each performance, and check in at least 15 minutes before start time is recommended as participants will receive further instruction at that time to begin the experience. Late arrivals will be admitted at the discretion of the box office staff. The Conestoga Restaurant will offer audience members 10% off food orders before and after each performance with proof of ticket purchase. Reservations are recommended if you plan to eat dinner before a performance.
Please read the FAQs on the event page for more information, and email info@creativelancaster.org with any questions.
Sock Puppet Star Wars: The Skywalker Socka
Creative Works of Lancaster returns to the Lancaster Dispensing Company with Sock Puppet Star Wars: The Skywalker Socka, the newest in their repertoire of sock puppet adaptations. We’ve been waiting for you, sock puppet lovers. After a two year hiatus, we meet again, at last.
The Skywalker Socka brings your favorite Star Wars characters together in an exciting, slightly off kilter musical romp through the Star Wars universe. The force is strong with this one as we find out just what happens when the iconic story of a boy, a girl, and a universe is reimagined in sock puppet form. Previous sock puppet offerings from Creative Works of Lancaster include A Christmas Carrie, Sock Puppet Psycho, The Sockfather, Silence of the Socks, and Jaws to the World.
The Skywalker Socka is written by Erich Goldstein with musical direction by Josh Schwartz. The show will be performed on Sunday December 16th and Sunday December 30th at 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm.
There is a $5 cover charge at the door, with food and drinks available for purchase from the Lancaster Dispensing Company. This show is not recommended for children 12 and under.
The Skywalker Socka brings your favorite Star Wars characters together in an exciting, slightly off kilter musical romp through the Star Wars universe. The force is strong with this one as we find out just what happens when the iconic story of a boy, a girl, and a universe is reimagined in sock puppet form. Previous sock puppet offerings from Creative Works of Lancaster include A Christmas Carrie, Sock Puppet Psycho, The Sockfather, Silence of the Socks, and Jaws to the World.
The Skywalker Socka is written by Erich Goldstein with musical direction by Josh Schwartz. The show will be performed on Sunday December 16th and Sunday December 30th at 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm.
There is a $5 cover charge at the door, with food and drinks available for purchase from the Lancaster Dispensing Company. This show is not recommended for children 12 and under.
The Galactic Tourism Bureau: A Sock Puppet Star Wars Experience During the 2018 Extraordinary Give
Looking for a fun place to celebrate the Extraordinary Give? There's Obi Wan place to go!
Party with the Creative Works gang as we transform Modern Art into The Galactic Tourism Bureau: A Sock Puppet Star Wars Experience.
The Galactic Tourism Bureau is celebrating its grand opening and wants to help you plan your next trip to a galaxy far, far away. Enjoy a glass of blue milk, the music of Figrin D'an & the Modal Nodes, and take photos in some of your favorite exotic destinations all while raising money for your favorite nomadic Lancaster theater company.
This drop-in party will feature an assortment of free food and drink (both adult and all-ages kinds), a free-to-enter raffle, and the chance to hear about some great travel spots from Alderaan to Yavin-4. You won't have to Endor a bad vacation ever again!
This is a free, all ages welcome, event!
Giving is not required to attend, but if you want to, you can GIVE here:
https://www.extragive.org/organizations/creative-works-of-lancaster
Party with the Creative Works gang as we transform Modern Art into The Galactic Tourism Bureau: A Sock Puppet Star Wars Experience.
The Galactic Tourism Bureau is celebrating its grand opening and wants to help you plan your next trip to a galaxy far, far away. Enjoy a glass of blue milk, the music of Figrin D'an & the Modal Nodes, and take photos in some of your favorite exotic destinations all while raising money for your favorite nomadic Lancaster theater company.
This drop-in party will feature an assortment of free food and drink (both adult and all-ages kinds), a free-to-enter raffle, and the chance to hear about some great travel spots from Alderaan to Yavin-4. You won't have to Endor a bad vacation ever again!
This is a free, all ages welcome, event!
Giving is not required to attend, but if you want to, you can GIVE here:
https://www.extragive.org/organizations/creative-works-of-lancaster
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!
