Final four contestants in playwrights showcase

MATTHEWS PLAYHOUSE

Rory Sheriff is one of four semifinalists in the Playwrights’ Festival, a collaboration between Matthews Playhouse and the African American Playwrights Group. Sheriff’s submission, “Speak Easy,” is among the scripts to be publicly performed before a panel of theater professionals on May 27 at Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte.

The Playwrights’ Festival is down to its final four contenders.

Four playwrights of color advanced to the semi-final round of the festival, which is a collaboration between Matthews Playhouse and the African American Playwrights Group that promotes diversity and equity in theater by highlighting original works by creatives of color.

 The semifinalists, who advanced through a field of 16 candidates across the region, are:

• TaMara Goode, “Reflections”

• Donald Hall, “Black Chip, White Chip”

• Alethea McCollin, “Pastor Willie”

• Rory Sheriff, “Speak Easy”

“It is a privilege to incorporate the Playwrights’ Festival into the Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts season and establish new relationships with community members,” AAPG founder Vickie Evans said in a statement. “There is an enormous amount of talent in this community, and it is a pleasure to give these playwrights a chance to see their work come to life on stage.”

The playwrights will adapt their scripts into a 20-minute preview performed as a stage reading before a panel of local theater professionals on May 27 at 11a.m. at Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte.

Tickets to the staged readings are free and open to the public, but reservations are encouraged at ticketleap.events/tickets/catch/bipoc-playwrights-festival-semifinals. Donations to support the festival and other diversity initiatives will be accepted.  

The playwright who earns highest score from the panel will have their work produced as a full-length play at Matthews Playhouse Sept. 22-24 as part of the 2023-24 season.  

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