The Fairbanks Drama Association and Fairbanks Children’s Theatre will host the 23rd annual 8x10 Alaska Playwright Festival on Friday and Saturday, bringing eight short plays by Alaska writers to the stage at the Hap Ryder Riverfront Theatre.
The festival celebrates eight original ten-minute plays by writers from across the state. This year’s winners include playwrights from Fairbanks, Ester, Valdez, Wasilla and Anchorage. The plays were selected from 21 submissions received between January and mid-March by a panel of three judges: Paul Adasiak, By Valentine and Cindy Wright.
“We are excited to welcome back the 8x10 Alaska Playwright Festival in the Hap Ryder Riverfront Theatre,” FDA/FCT Executive Director Cindy Wright said in a release. “This festival is the perfect way to showcase the creativity and imagination of both local and statewide Alaskan playwrights.”
Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. Audience members are invited to fill out feedback forms for each play, which are then given to the playwrights to help them revise and improve their scripts.
This year’s featured playwrights are Linda Billington (Anchorage), Caitlin M.S. Buxbaum (Wasilla), Heidi Franke (Valdez), Laura Lancaster (Fairbanks), Dawson Moore (Valdez), Tom Moran (Fairbanks), Earl Peterson (Fairbanks) and Kyle Walker (Valdez).
Fairbanks director Bill Wright returns for his second time leading the festival, with performances by local actors Dionna Clark, Don Evans, Keaton Evans, Lily Larson, Kris Luddington, Darcy Misel, By Valentine and David Valentine. The plays will be presented in the style of reader’s theater.
Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at AKtickets.com, by phone at 907-456-7529 or in person at the Hap Ryder Theatre, 1852 Second Ave.. The box office opens at 6:30 p.m. on show nights and is open weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
