THE HUMAN CONDITION| A SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL
Lake Erie College Department of Theatre presents
“The Human Condition” — A Short Play Festival
March 23-26
The Theatre Department at Lake Erie College will explore the theme The Human Condition through four short plays, including the premiere of an original play, “No Return”, written and directed by Abigail Marie. The Short Play Festival opens March 23 with three evening performances March 23-24-25 and a matinee on March 26.
"These short plays have been collected under the theme of The Human Condition as each depicts people in situations where they must make human contact to survive, both literally and emotionally,” Professor Jerry Jaffe remarked. “Following the recent experience of isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic, we have all had to relearn how to make human contact. In a sense, making and remaking human contact is the human condition."
The original play written and directed by Abigail Marie called “No Return” is set in the near future. With raging heat and severe water shortages now regular occurrences, two people make their daily trip for water while discussing what their lives have become. The cast includes Eleanor Ramos, Abrar Ghazy, and Kenyon Tomlinson. “No Return” has received readings in New York City, New Zealand, and other locations.
Three more plays are included, all directed by Jerry Jaffe who also authored two of them. Jaffe commented that the plays were selected to match the actors, who are a mix of students and community members. “The Toledo Holocaust Memorial” portrays a father and daughter contemplating the Jewish theme of assimilation while in the shadow of the Holocaust, represented by the play’s location, the actual Toledo Holocaust Memorial, found in the garden of the Toledo Jewish Community Center. The play includes Sean Scott, Jasmyn Vislovsky, and Alice Madsen.
The second play authored by Jaffe is called “One More Goal.” This fanciful comedy-drama asks the main character, a college soccer player who is the team’s star scorer, how important is it to get one more goal. The cast includes Mal Powell, Giovani Monteiro, Amarr Adam, Will Smestad, Zidane Miller, and Vincent Vitale.
The final play in the line up is “A Corpse with Feet,” written by Betsuyaku Minoru and translated by Masaka Yuasa. This play begins with an eccentric woman dragging a heavy item until she is stopped at an apparently broken railroad crossing. She is soon joined by a man on his way from a wedding. Stuck together by the strange circumstance of the broken barrier, they slowly become involved in each other’s lives. The cast includes Marissa Pahoulis and Vincent Vitale.
Technical direction is by Julie Harter with Paul Gatzke serving as Lighting Designer. The backstage crew includes students Emily Tarase, Chase Simak, Janice Robinson, and Johnathan Franklin.
All performances take place in the C.K. Rickel Theatre in Royce Hall for Fine and Performing Arts on the LEC campus. Free, convenient parking is in the lot adjacent to Royce Hall, with the lot entrance on Gillett Street.
The Human Condition performance dates are March 23-24-25 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee March 26 at 2:00 (Note: “One More Goal” is NOT being presented at March 26’s matinee.).
Tickets are available through On the Stage, the College’s ticketing web portal. Tickets for each show are limited and reservations are required. Questions can be directed to Professor Jaffe at 440-375-7451.
About Lake Erie College
Founded in 1856, Lake Erie College provides an excellent, inclusive and highly personalized education grounded in the liberal arts tradition. Guided by hope and care, our students are empowered to lead lives of personal significance and professional success as global citizens. We offer 35 undergraduate majors and masters programs in business administration, professional studies, education, and physician assistant studies. Our students compete in 19 NCAA Division II varsity sports and on three intercollegiate equestrian teams.
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Lake Erie College Department of Theatre
The Human Condition – A Short Play Festival
FACT SHEET
WHAT: The Human Condition – A Short Play Festival
WHEN: March 23, 24, 25 at 7:30 PM
March 26 at 2:00 PM
WHERE: C. K. Rickel Theatre
Royce Hall for the Fine and Performing Arts
Lake Erie College, Painesville, OH 44077
Entrance off Gillett Street
PARKING: Free parking in lot adjacent to building
Entrance off Gillett Street
TICKETS: Free, but limited seating (reservations required)
Reserve at On the Stage
QUESTIONS: Professor Jerry Jaffe at 440-375-7451