Chameleon Home About Chameleon Directions Past Productions Chameleon Membership and Newsletter
The Chameleon Theatre Circle’s Fifth Annual
New Play Festival
February 7, 2004
Christus Victor Lutheran Church

Jump to these quick links:

Playwrights from across the country (and the world!) submitted original scripts (not previously produced) to Chameleon as part of our fifth annual New Play Contest. The top three submissions — along with a submission from Chameleon's Playwright-in-Residence Timothy Braatz, and a workshop reading of a short one-act — are presented in this one-day festival filled with fun, laughter and emotion.

These plays are presented "concert style" – the actors will carry scripts and movement will be minimal. The focus is on the story and the writing. Post-show discussions will immediately follow each reading. All shows are considered for possible production in our next season. So come and provide your insights and input and help shape Chameleon’s seventh season!

5th Annual New Play Contest Winners
(In Alphabetical Order)

Missing Matter
by Helen Hill (Nehalem, OR)

Snowflake's Story
In Search of The Fabled Land of New Jersey
by Nikki Harmon (New York, NY)

When One Is Gone
by Steve Bluestein (Bel Air, CA)

In addition, our Playwright-in-Residence has submitted a new play to be presented at the festival:

The Commistar
by Timothy Braatz (Los Angels, CA)

Plus, I have added one more one-act to the day - this will be the first step in a workshop process for this show:

Strong Silent
by Daniel K. McDermott (Minneapolis, MN)


Chameleon has produced 4 New Plays as a result of past festivals:

  1. Helena Handbasket
    by Timothy Braatz
    February/March 2001
  2. New & Nobler Life
    by Timothy Braatz
    August 2001
  3. Are We There Yet?
    by Kent R. Brown
    May 2002
  4. Love's Shadow On Snow
    by Rick Raasch
    March 2004

Chameleon has also produced these original ten-minute plays:

    1. If Garrett McDermott Were A Bowl of Prize-Winning Chili
      by Rick Raasch
      November 2002
    2. I Could Kick Your Ass
      by Daniel K. McDermott
      January 2003
    3. Pollyholiday
      by Rick Raasch
      March 2003
    4. How I Wonder What You Are
      seven original plays by seven playwrights
      January 2004       

      Believe In It
      by Kim Kivens
      The Boy Who Dies With The Most Mommies Wins
      by Rick Raasch
      Child of Mine
      by Lysa Clayburn
      H-I-J-K-LMNOP (but not Q)
      by G.J. Clayburn
      Pull Falcon's Feather Lever
      by Tim Kuehl
      Twinkle
      by Timothy Braatz
      Un, Deux, Trois
      by Clare Jodzio McDermott

Admission to the festival is free. Donations will be accepted to help offset costs.

The Festival will be held at the Christus Victor Lutheran Church.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW PLAY FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Saturday, February 7, 2004

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:30 a.m.
Set-up for Festival

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9:00 a.m.
THE COMMISTAR
by Timothy Braatz
Directed by Daniel K. McDermott

Ken Kenwood, a retired professional football player, struggles with his need for continued fame and his need for family.

CAST
Ken -- Brian Riebe
Carla -- Clare Jodzio McDermott
Fred -- Garrick Dietz
Carter -- Bradley Donaldson
Slips -- G.J. Clayburn
Lisa -- Lysa Clayburn
Prez -- Dustin Gingerich
Frank -- Paul Danko
Bob -- Rick Raasch
Del -- Eric Sharp
Pub -- TBD
Jack/Alan -- Daniel K. McDermott

11:00 a.m. (approx.)
Post-Show Discussion

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

11:30 a.m.
SNOWFLAKE'S STORY
In Search of The Fabled Land of New Jersey
by Nikki Harmon
Directed by Kim Kivens

A dove, a rat and a dog seek for the majestic (and fictional?) land of New Jersey in this touching story that is suitable for the entire family.

CAST
Snowflake -- Joy Donaldson
Newbell, et al female characters -- Shannon Jankowski
Rumbles -- Matthew Feeney
Rowdy, et al male characters -- Garrick Dietz
Matty -- Eric Sharp

12:30 p.m. (approx.)
Post-Show Discussion

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

1:00 p.m.
MISSING MATTER
by Helen Hill
Directed by Rick Raasch

What effect does a straw's wrapper (destined for world travel and back again) have on two women (and everyone else) meeting in a train station?

CAST
Lysa Clayburn
Meagan Kittridge
   +5 more actors (TBD)

1:45 p.m. (approx.)
Post-Show Discussion

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2:15 p.m.
WHEN ONE IS GONE
by Steve Bluestein
Directed by Bradley Donaldson

A fascinating look at death and how it affects a family of three.

CAST
Bradley Donaldson
Kim Kivens
Rick Raasch

3:30 p.m. (approx.)
Post-Show Discussion

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

4:00 p.m.
STRONG SILENT
by Daniel K. McDermott
Directed by Clare Jodzio McDermott

A mute boxer struggles with his life and his career in this "Play in 12 Rounds"

CAST
Mickey -- Daniel K. McDermott
Angela -- Joy Donaldson
Announcer -- Garrick Dietz
Man 1 -- Brian Riebe
Man 2 -- Dustin Gingerich
Woman 1 -- Tania Giordano
Woman 2 -- Lysa Clayburn

4:30 p.m. (approx.)
Discussion on "Strong Silent"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

5:00 p.m.
New Play Festival Concludes & Clean-up

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHERE IN THE WORLD DID THE PLAYS COME FROM?

Here is a sample of where some of the entries came from (at least 3 countries, 26 states, and 55 cities):

AUSTRALIA MASSACHUSETTS NEW YORK
    Victoria     Boston     Astoria
      Chelmsford     Hyde Park
PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO     Concord     Ithana
      Sherborn     Laurelton
ALABAMA
    Springfield     New York
    Birmingham       Rochester
  MARYLAND  
ARIZONA     Rockville OHIO
    Phoenix       Columbus
    Tempe MICHIGAN     Oberlin
      Ann Arbor  
CALIFORNIA     Grand Rapids OREGON
    Bel Air       Nehalem
    Chula Vista MINNESOTA  
    Huntington Beach     Lakeville PENNSYLVANIA
    Los Angeles     Minneapolis     Pittsburgh
    San Francisco       South Park
    San Luis Obispo NORTH CAROLINA     Wayne
    Santa Rosa     Durham  
    Studio City   TEXAS
  NORTH DAKOTA     Houston
CONNECTICUT     West Fargo  
    Fairfield   VIRGINIA
    Stamford NEBRASKA     Alexandria
    Windsor     Hastings  
    Woodbury   VERMONT
  NEW JERSEY     Burlington
DELAWARE     West Orange  
    Wilmington   WASHINGTON
  NEW MEXICO     Newman Lake
GEORGIA     Albuquerque     Seattle
    Decatur    
    Milledgeville TENNESSEE  
      Bronxville  
ILLINOIS    
    Evansville NEVADA  
    Hoffman Estates     Reno  
    Oak Park    

Copyright © 1998-2009 • The Chameleon Theatre Circle • Burnsville, Minnesota