Detention is an evening of new and original theater pieces written, directed, and performed exclusively by ESPA artists. For each Detention, our playwrights have two weeks to create new, short plays based on a challenging writing assignment. A handful of these plays are selected, staffed with an ESPA director, and cast with ESPA actors for a one-night-only, down and dirty production. Detention plays have gone on to both publication and full production. This program continually brings the ESPA community of artists together in a raw, collaborative challenge with public exposure.
Detention performances take place a couple of times each semester, and participation is limited to ESPA artists.
Detention assignments will be announced 4-6 weeks prior to each performance.
WHAT
DETENTION #51: WORDS HAVE POWER
This virtual edition of Detention is a challenging opportunity for writers to create material for a specific person, for actors to receive and perform a monologue or scene written especially for them, and for directors to rehearse, film, and edit a virtual performance.
“At their best… words… can inspire. At their worst, they can incite.” – President Joe Biden on January 6, 2021
As we’ve seen throughout history—and even these past weeks—words have immense power. They have the potential to instill great wisdom and insight, or incite violence… depending on where you place the emphasis. For this Detention, we want you to think about the power of words—both our greatest tool for hope and our greatest weapon of fear—and create a piece about the power of words and the implications on those that choose to wield them. With hope and change in sight, we empower you to use your words to provide insight into who we are, and incite change toward everything we could be.
WHO
Over 100 artists from the Primary Stages ESPA Community. See below for the list of actors, directors, and playwrights that will be with us each night!
WHEN
Detention #51 will be held on February 12 & 13 at 7pm ET.
WHERE
This virtual Detention will be held online via Live Stream! You will receive your Live Stream link after you RSVP.
TICKETS
Admission is FREE. Space is limited. RSVP links coming soon!
Playwrights: Ally Betker, Annie Dinerman, Antonio Devers, Ben Kawaller, Carey Seward, Danielle Alonzo, Darci Faye, Dawn Kalani Cowle, Deborah Sansone, Devin Dearing Preston, Diane Davis, Jeff Smith, Jerry Polner, Jonathan Kim Phillips, Kimberly Marcelino, Leah Griff, March Schrader, Mia Zuckerkandel, Michael Zaiontz, Nicole Reinert, Peter Pasco, Rebecca Whitehurst, Richard Castle, Sarah Krohn, Veda Kumarjiguda, Victoria Clare
Actors: Amy Shaffner, Antonio Devers, Caroline May, Clint Zugel, Danielle Alonzo, Griffin Stanton-Ameisen, Haneen Arafat Murphy, Jade Anderson, Justin P. Lopez, Kari Buckley, Kendall Cafaro, Kristen Hasty, Leah Griff, Lluvia Almanza, Michael Zaiontz, Peggy J. Scott, Peter Pasco, Rachel Lynn Jackson, Rebecca Whitehurst, Sara Thigpen, Tamar Barbash, Yelena Friedman
Directors: Andrew Willis-Woodward, Catherine Higgins-Moore, David F.M. Vaughn, Deborah Sansone, Dina Vovsi, Emmett Murphy, Jenna Rossman, Jessalyn Gerbholz, Jessie Winograd, Kenzie Caplan, Kevaughn Harvey, Kevin Ray, Mia Zuckerkandel, Nicki Heskin, Savannah Core, Thomas Grenier
Click here for the program for February 12
Playwrights: Avery Deutsch, Bill Hyatt, Brady Walsh, Caroline Aaron, Catherine Higgins-Moore, Caty Morrison, Daphne Macy, Donnie Tuel, Elliot Kreloff, Erik Champney, Erik Corona, Erin Fagan, Gabrielle Fox, Helen Rynaski, Isabella Dawis, Jeffrey James Keyes, Jenifer Margaret Kelly, Jerrica D. White, Katherine Shelton, Kathy Gail MacGowan, Lisa Wagner Erickson, Meghan Duffy, Mickey Fortune, Molly Horan, Rick Fromberg, Wally Marzano-Lesnevich
Actors: Alice Marks, Ashley Marinaccio, Brandt Adams, Caroline May, Daphne Macy, Elliot Kreloff, Emily Cordes, Erik Corona, Flo Ankah,Gracie Belt,Heidi Armbruster, Jade Anderson, Jessica Greenwald, Kari Buckley, Katerina Madson, Marc Pierre, Mike Dreyden Figueroa, Nadine Ndlovu, Nicole Kasprzyk, Gail Payne, Pip Merrick, Ronan Wolfe, Rosemary Tross, Thanh Ta, Thomas Vorsteg
Directors: Aleesha Nash, Amy Crossman, Andrew Willis-Woodward, Catherine Higgins-Moore, Dan Chen, David Charles, David F.M. Vaughn, Emmett Murphy, Jesica Garrou, Kevin Ray, Lenys Sama, Maisa Chiang, Mickey Fortune, Nicki Heskin, Savannah Core, Thomas Grenier
Click here for the program for February 13