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Quinsigamond Community College’s Upcoming Play, “SLICES OF LIFE - An Evening of Original Works”
October 2018
Paper Planes cast members: Tris Sackman as Stella and Xavier Franceschi as Chandler.
Fair Play cast members: Spencer Edwards as Kevin and Diana Alacon as Marlene
Occupy Hallmark cast members: Nate Wilson as Moose and Lola Balogun as Salty.
Color Me Complete cast members from left: David Rodriguez as Red and George Baraklilis as Gray.
Legs cast members from left: David Rodriguez as Man 1, Liam Doherty as Man 2, Xavier Franceschi as Man 3; Maya Bastien as Maya, and Melesia Swanston-Alonzo as Vicky.
Quinsigamond Community College’s upcoming play, “SLICES OF LIFE - An Evening of Original Works,” is an innovative theatrical performance that incorporates five original short plays into one captivating performance. While each play is completely different, there is an overarching theme about relationships that ties all of the plays together. QCC Play Director Kelly Stowell, said the plays were written by student playwrights, whose plays were submitted to the regional Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), a national theater program.
Ms. Stowell reached out to the National Playwright Program Chair of the regionals to ask to review a variety of student submitted plays to consider for QCC's fall production. From there she chose five diverse plays that were geared for “young people,” she said.
The plays chosen include: “Paper Planes,” by Michael Pisaturo; “Occupy Hallmark,” by Casey M. Senuik; “Fair Play,” by Shaquielle Edwads; “Legs,” by Hanna Byrmen, and “Color Me Complete,” by Rose-Emma Lambridis. Each of the student playwrights have also been invited to attend the show.
“All of these plays have been written within the last three years and have either won or been a runner up,” Ms. Stowell said. “I like for theater to be socially relevant and make people think.”
Once the plays were chosen, a casting call was held and students were chosen for the roles, with an additional two students as understudies.The entire cast is made up of QCC students and Ms. Stowell said not only was no one was double-cast, but also almost all of the actors are new to QCC theater productions.
Collaboration with the Fab Lab
This will also be the first time the theater group will be collaborating with another department on campus - QCC’s Fab Lab. The staff at the lab will be assisting several students in helping to build rehearsal/ theater blocks for the play that are used as props to help performers act out their scenes.
While this play does not require much in the way of set design, Ms. Stowell said these blocks will be a tremendous help for this play, and the connection they have made with the Fab Lab will be terrific for future props they might need to have made.
She noted that the relationship they have made with the Fab Lab is the perfect tie-in to what the actors are demonstrating in the play – relationships and interpersonal communication.
Another first will be a collaboration with the Media Services. Ms. Stowell said a few students who are interested in lighting and sound will be allowed to shadow and watch media services, offering their input and learning about light design and sound.
The play will take place in the Hebert Auditorium (670 West Boylston Street, Worcester) on November 28, 29, 30 and December 1 at 7:00 p.m. and December 2 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $5.
QCC student Veronica Wiley is the stage manager and student Hailey Shea is the assistant stage manager. Assistant Director Amber Charest is a QCC alumnus.
Cast members include:
OCCUPY HALLMARK
- Moose: Nate Wilson
- Salty: Lola Balogun
COLOR ME COMPLETE
- Red: David Rodriguez
- Gray: George Baraklilis
PAPER PLANES
- Chandler: Xavier Franceschi
- Stella: Tris Sackman
LEGS
Maya: Maya Bastian
Vicky: Melesia Swanston Alonzo
Man 1: David Rodriguez
Man 2: Liam Doherty
Man 3: Xavier Franseschi
FAIR PLAY
Kevin: Spencer Edwards
Marlene: Diana Alarcon
Understudies:
Margarita Fabre
John Bacellis
