Reader, I know you’ve never written a play.
Look, there’s no shame in that! I’ve never written a play either. I hear it’s pretty hard to do. In fact, that’s what makes the annual Original Play Festival such a powerful anomaly among the rest of Cabaret’s traditional season. Because every year, a handful of talented Cabbies do what only we theatrical plebians dream of and write full one-act plays to be produced entirely by students. No source material, no adaptations– Pure, original, student-made content. And it’s pretty freaking magical.
“OPF was the first Rutgers theatre program that really drew my attention as a freshman in 2019. It’s so special that student writers get the chance to see their work produced on stage, and I’m so glad I got to be a part of that process.”
Kirsten Bennet (Jacob), Alyson Kumor (Christina), and John Baker (Daniel) in Sore Feet on the Double E
This year, we have a collection of four different shows that leave the audience in a whiplash. You get a little bit of everything this time! Drama, comedy, dramedy– even a little bit of ballet. Diversity is the key to any successful OPF, and the 13th edition of this honored showcase is no stranger to variety.
The four plays have no interconnectivity, save for a few familiar faces you see throughout the night (I have a conspiracy Franc is just Logan researching a role. Someone please get back to me if they agree). However, each leads into the next with a graceful flow. Until we get to the end. Guys, the end of this OPF is a wild one. But, no spoilers.
But, like. Trust me.
Maia Zaborowski (Logan) and Kirsten Bennett (Cora/the Nightmare) doing an impression of me and my mom in Inside, or a Journey into a Struggling Bohemian Mind
The scripts of the 13th Annual Original Play Festival were hand-selected by a team of Cabaret members, led by OPF coordinator Izzy Bonvini. Izzy, a longtime Rutgers theatre kid, has poured a heart full of love into every ounce of this year’s picks.
“This process has been a whirlwind in every sense. The turnaround between casting and production was super tight, but the Directors and cast members were so gracious and adaptable, and really managed to put it all together in spite of the timing. ”
Alexandrea Manalo (Sage) and Shannon Kathleen (Ara) in Things Fall Apart
Our first play of the night is a deep dive into the mind of a teenage girl struggling with her inner voice. Things Fall Apart by Uchenna Agbu and directed by Brittany Rojas introduces us to a young girl upon woking up from a tragic accident. But was it really a mistake that landed her there?
Shannon Kathleen, a junior and seasoned actor of Cabaret Theatre, flexes her talent leading Things Fall Apart in a beautiful performance as Ara. Introduced as small and meek, Ara builds up the courage to reveal her true nature in a series of heartbreaking, introspective monologues written by Uchenna. It takes everything in you not to jump on stage to comfort a sobbing Shannon.
Sean Coleman (Doctor), Shannon Kathleen (Ara), and Felicity Winter (Dr. Bridges/Mom) in Things Fall Apart
With the surrounding cast, it’s easy to become deeply invested in these new characters. Our next protagonist, Logan, is a starving artist making his way as an actor. And as we’re all well aware, that is not an easy thing. Especially when you have a plethora of mental sidekicks bursting in the room to tell you just how wrong you are about everything, like Logan does.
Written by Cabaret-newcomer Sander Mark, Inside, or a Journey into a Struggling Bohemian Mind calls elements of Tick, Tick… BOOM to the table and weaves in a layer of magical realism. Struggling actor? A desperate need to beat the clock and find success? Inner voices telling you to quit the business and start over as some random accountant?
Reader, this OPF may have hit this journalist a little too close to home.
Amber Danae (Dominick/Future Logan), Alexandrea Manalo (The Narrator), and Maia Zaborowski (Logan) in Inside, or a Journey Into a Struggling Bohemian Mind
Another excellent feature of The Original Play Festival is its tendency to introduce new faces to our theater. As a non-mainstage event, the lower time commitment allows students to dip their toes into the theatre community at Rutgers. One student, Sean Coleman, is making his RU stage debut with this production after three years of being a student.
“It’s like I’m on a side quest in my final semester”
Patrick Joyner (back left, Adrien) and Amber Danae (back right, Jax) watching Sean Coleman (left, stagehand) and Gillian Durante (right, M) get spicy in What Are You Gonna Do About It?
Sean is one of five new acting faces a part of What Are You Going to Do About It? written by Des Walker. I make this specification for Felicity Winter, a junior who plays Davis. Despite directing Cabaret Theatre’s most recent main stage production, Heroes of the Fourth Turning, Felicity is trying her hand at performance this time.
Chantel Amissa (John), Patrick Joyner (Adrien), Shannon Kathleen (Meryl), and Felicity Winter (Davis) in the explosive What Are You Gonna Do About it?
In fact, multiple Cabaret vets are switching gears for OPF. Cabaret Theatre’s Director of Finance and Rutgers Business School senior, Brittany Rojas, decided to try her hand at directing Things Fall Apart. Em Lacognata, whom you may have last seen as the Audrey II puppeteer last December, directs Sore Feet on the Double E. And, folks, that’s just the tip of the iceberg in our talent pool.
The second act of OPF may be a bit hard to disclose without spoilers, so I made you guys one of those “without context” memes.
I promise after you see the show and come back to this, that’ll be really funny.
While I can’t give you more information on these plays without totally giving away the plot, I can tell you that you’ll be experiencing the full spectrum of emotion at this year’s OPF. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll ponder. You may even dance.
Inside, or a Journey Into a Struggling Bohemian Mind
Directed by Des Walker, Written by Sander Mark
Things Fall Apart
Directed by Brittany Rojas, Written by Uchenna Agbu
What Are You Gonna Do About It?
Directed by Yiraldo Campos, Written by Des Walker
Sore Feet on the Double E
Directed by Em Lacognata, Written by Lauren Bromberg
The 13th Annual Original Play Festival will run this weekend at Cabaret Theatre on:
Friday, April 1st, 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 2nd 7:00 PM
Sunday, April 3rd 2:00 PM
For tickets: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/sabo/4785
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/498259215119948/498259228453280/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%7D]%7D
Photography by Yiraldo Campos