Theater Is Born

Beowulf Alley shows off three brand-new plays written by Tucsonans

Playwrights need to see their developing plays "on their feet." It's not enough for the play to be given a reading, although readings can be helpful. New plays need a stage, a director, actors who are "off-book," and enough technical embellishment to provide a real sense of how—or if—

the plays actually work. Playwrights—unlike poets and novelists, who can labor alone in their garrets—are collaborators.

Beowulf Alley Theatre is lending its support to developing plays with the "Page on the Stage" event, which happens over the next three weekends. Three new plays authored by Tucson playwrights will be presented to that other critical collaborator—the audience.

Michael Fenlason is the coordinator of this summer's festival, which is in its second year.

"The plays are given almost-full productions—they're not just readings," he explains. "This shows your faults and your strengths almost immediately."

Renata Rauschen and Richard Chaney in Icon, part of "Page on the Stage."

Fenlason says, "This does attract perhaps a more adventurous audience, but these are smart writers talking about interesting things in ways never seen before. This could be the first step to becoming a great play—and you saw it first."

Read the entire article here: Theater Is Born | Review | Tucson Weekly