So long! It's been a good run, but all things must come to an end

It is with deep regret that I announce the end of the Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition. As a one-person organizing committee, it's been a massive labor, and, as I head toward retirement (in the next couple of years), something that I'll not be able to continue to devote time to. And enormous technical difficulties (mostly involving computers) have made the task even more onerous. I'm deeply grateful for the several hundred playwrights who participated, to the couple of hundred folks who willingly served as evaluators over the years, and to the staff of Ohio State's Department of Theatre, who were helpful in many, many ways.

Still arranging for readings of the 2009 winners, including Lans Taverse's Coleslaw and Coconut Cream Pie, Elizabeth Orndorff's Aidan’s Gift, Richard Conlon's send forth thy mercies, and Murder in a Nursing Home by R. Lawrence Sifford. So stay tuned--

Alan Woods

Readings Scheduled!

Had hoped to have more readings set but the winter and spring were, for a variety of reasons, very full. We were able to have a reading of Mary Steelsmith's winning ten minute play, Happy and Gay, at the Senior Theatre USA festival in Asheville, North Carolina, in June, and on July 24, Donna Spector's full-length winner, Not For the Ferryman, will be read at the end of the sixth annual retreat for members of the International Centre for Women Playwrights. Here's the press release:

Donna Spector’s Not For The Ferryman, the winner of the Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition (full-length category) will be given a free staged reading on Saturday, July 24th, at 8:00 p.m. in Ohio State University’s New Works Lab, Drake Performance and Event Center, 1849 Cannon Drive on the O.S. U. campus (between the twin towers). Because of construction, access is from Woody Hayes Drive and Lane Avenue; parking is available across the street from the Drake for a modest fee.

Spector’s prize-winning play tracks the stories of two elderly women, sharing a sitting room in an assisted living facility, and the conflicts and connections between their families. Thea Tomadakis is a retired professor of classical literature, while Oriah Peabody is an Appalachian midwife. Spector combines their current lives with surrealistic scenes of confrontations with death, both in ancient Greek and Appalachian guises. Their grandchildren meet, battle, and eventually develop an understanding, while the facility’s doctor attempts to intervene.

Several of Columbus’ most noted performers will participate in the reading. Thea will be read by Katherine Burkman, artistic director of the ensemble group, Women At Play, while Linda Dorff, active at CATCO and in many roles at Players’ Theatre, will read Oriah. Their grandchildren will be read by Christopher Matsos, a recent graduate of Ohio State’s doctoral program in Theatre, and Carolyn Cutri, currently active in Ohio State’s Department of Theatre. Well-known local actor Truman Winbush is the doctor.

Donna Spector, a playwright based in New York, has had many plays produced Off-Broadway, regionally, and in Canada, Ireland, Scotland, and Greece. She received two National Endowment for the Humanities grants to study in Greece, and production grants from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the New York Council for the Arts. For more information, www.donnaspector.net. She will be present for the reading.

Over five hundred plays were submitted to the 2009 Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition. The competition honors Columbus native (and Ohio State alumna) Eileen Heckart (1919-2001), the distinguished American actress whose long career culminated in her stunning performance in Kenneth Lonergan's The Waverly Gallery (2000), for which she received the Drama Desk Award, Obie Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award. That same year she was awarded the Tony for lifetime achievement. She also was the recipient of an Academy Award (Butterflies Are Free), Golden Globe (The Bad Seed) and an Emmy (Save Me A Place at Forest Lawn). She was recognized with a Margo Jones Medal in 2000 for her long championing of new plays, having appeared in almost thirty world premiere productions.

Update: scheduling readings, looking forward to 2011

Currently in the process of scheduling/arranging readings of the 2009 Heckart winners and runners-up, so watch this space for dates/places/times; the reading of Donna Spector's Not For the Ferryman, the winner of the full-length category, will take place during the annual retreat for members of the International Centre for Women Playwrights, which will be in either July or early August this year.

As the Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition takes place in alternate years, the next Heckart Competition will be in 2011; watch this space for details, which will be announced early in January, 2011!

Announcing the 2009 Winners!

WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN HECKART SENIOR THEATRE COMPETITION

Results of the 2009 Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition were announced today by Ohio State University’s Department of Theatre and Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute. The contest, named in memory of Ohio State alumna and Central Ohio native Eileen Heckart, attracted more than five hundred entries this year, in three categories: ten-minute plays, one acts plays, and full length plays.

And the winners are:

Ten-Minute: Mary Steelsmith (Los Angeles, California) Happy and Gay
One act: Katherine DuBois (Boulder, Colorado) Volunteer Work
Full-length: Donna Spector (Warwick, New York) Not For the Ferryman

Finalists in each category include:

First runners-up:
Ten-Minute: Toby Armour (East Haven, Connecticut) Lifer
One act: Richard Conlon (St. Charles, Illinois) send forth thy mercies
Full-length: R. Lawrence Sifford (Washington, D.C.) Murder in a Nursing Home

Second runners-up:
Ten-Minute: Stephanie Allison Walker (Los Angeles, California) Melt
One act: Tevia E. Abrams (New York, New York) Marge and Jack
Full-length (tie): Elizabeth Orndorff (Danville, Kentucky) Aidan’s Gift
Lans Taverse (London, England) Coleslaw and Coconut Cream Pie


Other finalists included
Ten-Minute: Damon Chua (Los Angeles, California) Dogs Are Evil
Douglas Stewart (Santa Fe, New Mexico) Never Mind
One act: Steven Shutzman (Baltimore, Maryland)Tammy
Rosemary Frisino Toohey (Baltimore, Maryland) Tilapia
Full-length: Paul Elliott (Los Angeles, California) Exit Laughing

The Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition honors Eileen Heckart (1919-2001), the distinguished American actress whose long career culminated in her stunning performance in Kenneth Lonergan=s The Waverly Gallery (2000), for which she received the Drama Desk Award, Obie Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award. That same year she was awarded the Tony for lifetime achievement. She also was the recipient of an Academy Award (Butterflies Are Free), Golden Globe (The Bad Seed) and an Emmy (Save Me A Place at Forest Lawn). She was recognized with a Margo Jones Medal in 2000 for her long championing of new plays, having appeared in almost thirty world premiere productions. Ms. Heckart was a native of Bexley, Ohio, and an alumna of The Ohio State University.
Winning plays, and first-runners-up, will receive staged readings at The Ohio State University during the 2009-2010 academic year.
Further information: 614/292-8238 (voice), 614/292-3222 (FAX), woods.1@osu.edu

Finalists Announced!

Finalists were announced today for the 2009 Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition, hosted by the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute at The Ohio State University. There were 510 plays submitted to the third competition. Winning plays, and first-runners-up, will receive staged readings at The Ohio State University during the 2009-2010 academic year. Winning writers are not required to attend.

Further information: 614/292-8238 (voice), 614/292-3222 (FAX), woods.1@osu.edu; www.heckartdrama.blogspot.com


One act

Abrams, Tevia E. New York, New York Marge and Jack
Conlon, Richard P St. Charles, Illinois send forth thy mercies
Dubois, Katherine Boulder, Colo. Volunteer Work
Schutzman, Steven Baltimore, MD Tammy
Toohey, Rosemary Frisino Baltimore, MD Tilapia

Ten minute

Armour, Toby (Ms.) East Haven, Conn. Lifer
Chua, Damon Los Angeles, Calif. Dogs Are Evil
Steelsmith, Mary Los Angeles, Ca. Happy and Gay
Stewart, Douglas Santa Fe, NM Never Mind
Walker, Stephanie Allison Los Angeles, CA Melt

Full Length

Elliott, Paul Los Angeles, Calif. Exit Laughing
Orndorff, Elizabeth Danville, KY Aidan’s Gift
Sifford, R. Lawrence Washington, D.C. Murder in a Nursing Home
Spector, Donna Warwick, NY Not For the Ferryman
Traverse, Lans London, England Coleslaw and Coconut Cream Pie

The Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition honors Eileen Heckart (1919-2001), the distinguished American actress whose long career culminated in her stunning performance in Kenneth Lonergan's The Waverly Gallery (2000), for which she received the Drama Desk Award, Obie Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award. That same year she was awarded the Tony for lifetime achievement. She also was the recipient of an Academy Award (Butterflies Are Free), Golden Globe (The Bad Seed) and an Emmy (Save Me A Place at Forest Lawn). She was recognized with a Margo Jones Medal in 2000 for her long championing of new plays, having appeared in almost thirty world premiere productions. Ms. Heckart was a native of Bexley, Ohio, and an alumna of The Ohio State University.

2009 Semi-finalists named

Semifinalists were announced September 11th for the 2009 Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition, hosted by the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute at The Ohio State University. There were 510 plays submitted to the third competition, which honors Eileen Heckart (1919-2001), the distinguished American actress whose long career culminated in her stunning performance in Kenneth Lonergan's The Waverly Gallery (2000), for which she received the Drama Desk Award, Obie Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award. That same year she was awarded the Tony for lifetime achievement. She also was the recipient of an Academy Award (Butterflies Are Free), Golden Globe (The Bad Seed) and an Emmy (Save Me A Place at Forest Lawn). She was recognized with a Margo Jones Medal in 2000 for her long championing of new plays, having appeared in almost thirty world premiere productions.

Winning plays, and first-runners-up, will receive staged readings at The Ohio State University during the 2009-2010 academic year. Winning writers are not required to attend. We hope to be able to announce finalists by the end of September, and the winners by late October.

Further information: 614/292-8238 (voice), 614/292-3222 (FAX), woods.1@osu.edu; www.heckartdrama.blogspot.com


One act

Abrams, Tevia E. New York, New York Marge and Jack
Conlon, Richard P St. Charles, Illinois send forth thy mercies
Dubois, Katherine Boulder, Colo. Volunteer Work
DuKore, Lawrence New York, NY Death in Venice, California
Jackson, Simon Edinburgh, Scotland The Rose Garden Party
Kinast, Robert L. Prairie Village, Kansas The Leftover Couple
Klarup, Pamela Chicago, Illinois Seeing Siberia
Lerner, Harry Summerfield, Florida Diary of a Fading Rose
Lindsay, Barbara Seattle, Wash This Almost Joy
Mellas, Michael Minneapolis, Minn Waiting
Potter, Jon Rockport, Maine Working
Rothstein, Robin New York, NY Breaking Routine
Schutzman, Steven Baltimore, MD Tammy
Toohey, Rosemary Frisino Baltimore, MD Tilapia
Werner, Raymond Pittsburgh, PA Night Song
Werner, Raymond Pittsburgh, PA Wandering Angus

Ten minute

Appel, Dori. Ashland, Oregon Feathered
Armour, Toby (Ms.) East Haven, Conn. Lifer
Bailey, Jerry Murfreesboro, Tenn. Clyde, Is That You?
Bohane, M. John Nokomis, Florida The Travelling Woman
Chua, Damon Los Angeles, Calif. Dogs Are Evil
Dempsey, Sandra Toronto, Ont. V.S.A.
Lerner, Harry Summerfield, Florida A Love Story
Lewison, David Los Angeles, Calif. Maryanne
Lindsay, Barbara Seattle, Wash. The Takeover
Martin, Maureen A. Sarasota, Florida Memorial Park
Musto, Edward New York, NY Shute Branch
Rigney, Mark Evansville, Indiana Porch Revival
Steelsmith, Mary Los Angeles, Ca. Happy and Gay
Stewart, Douglas Santa Fe, NM Never Mind
Walker, Stephanie Alison Los Angeles, CA Melt

Full Length

Antone, Tiffany Los Angeles, Calif. Ham Brown’s House
Elliott, Paul Los Angeles, Calif. Exit Laughing
Estrine, Judith New York, NY Pinocle and Roses
Gately, Robert Bethlehem, PA Going Solo
Guilford-Blake, Evan Stone Mountain, GA Leavin’ for Heaven
lathrop, mara Port Townsend, Wash The Lily & Lou Show
Orndorff, Elizabeth Danville, KY Aidan’s Gift
Rao, Diane New Concord, OH Sunset: Sunrise
Siegel, Adam New York, NY The Legacy
Sheldon, Carol Novato, Calif. Last Call
Sifford, R. Lawrence Washington, D.C. Murder in a Nursing Home
Spector, Donna Warwick, NY Not For the Ferryman
Toohey, Rosemary Frisino Baltimore, MD Gladys in Wonderland
Traverse, Lans London, England Coleslaw and Coconut Cream Pie
West, Ellen Portland, Oregon Losing Things

Readings scheduled, although still haven't pried the last few evaluations

Hosting a retreat for playwrights, members of the International Centre for Women Playwrights, this week, so that's distracted me from getting the final few evaluations. But we do have a schedule for the readings of the winners: here's the listing sent to the local newspaper today:

Sunday, November 15, 2009
Staged reading of the winner of the Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors 2009 Competition, full-length play category. 7:00 p.m., New Works Lab, Drake Performance and Event Center, 1849 Cannon Drive, on the Ohio State University campus. Free. For further information, www.heckartdrama.blogspot.com


Sunday, February 28, 2010
Staged reading of the winner and first runner-up of the Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors 2009 Competition, one-act play category. 7:00 p.m., New Works Lab, Drake Performance and Event Center, 1849 Cannon Drive, on the Ohio State University campus. Free. For further information, www.heckartdrama.blogspot.com

Sunday, May 30, 2010
Staged reading of the winners of the Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors 2009 Competition, ten-minute play category. 7:00 p.m., New Works Lab, Drake Performance and Event Center, 1849 Cannon Drive, on the Ohio State University campus. Free. For further information, www.heckartdrama.blogspot.com

contact: Alan Woods, Heckart Competition Coordinator, 614/292-8232, woods.1@osu.edu