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Overnighters Monologues

The January 2007 Overnighters were really pretty awesome!

Click here to read the rave review in the Anchorage Daily News

Click here to hear Ashley Gross’ award winning short public radio piece on the Overnighters… gives a pretty good synopsis of how it works, and Ernie Piper is very funny on it.
(requires Windows Media Player)

The Overnighters is theatre fully realized within twenty-four hours. Four playwrights get a topic at 8:00 PM, then stay up all night writing a 10 to 20 minute play inspired by the given inspiration. Those plays are performed that night at 8:00, fully realized performance with inception to finalization in the span of one day.

I've been one of the producers of the Overnighters up in Anchorage for the past five years. I learned of the concept from the Rough Theatre Company in San Francisco, consisting of "Bulldog" Jenn Garagliano and Bradford Coorman. We've come a long way from our first performances in the Jerry Harper Studio Theatre at UAA.

We perform at least twice a year, and are nearing 100 scripts produced. Scripts we've developed have gone on to win awards and have further productions, both in Alaska and the throughout of the U.S. We now are the opening performance every year at the Last Frontier Theatre Conference, and every year it starts us off with the spirit of creativity that is the essence of what the event is about. And other cities around Alaska like Homer have begun to stage their own version of the Overnighters, giving voice to the writers in their communities.

The Overnighters has been co-produced by me'n'my company, Three Wise Monkeys/Moose, and Shane Mitchell and his tribe at TBA Theatre Company.

The Overnighters process is a great education that creates engaging, entertaining theatre. I'm attaching a 12-page how to guide as an Adobe file (Click here to open the guide). It gives the basic instructions on how to run one of these for yourself. Start one of these in your community…. You won't be sorry.

Click the thumbnails below to see posters
from previous Overnighters performances.
 
 
 
 
 

J. SIBLEY LAW'S PIECE

Sib's a good friend of mine I barely know. We worked together on the board of the Playwrights Center of San Francisco for a couple of months before he moved out of town. But we recognized kindred spirit or whatever, and have stayed in touch, and I was thrilled to get to do an Overnighter script of his at the Conference. His current project is pretty fun, www.newsforblonds.com. Pictured cast includes Hailey Faust, Sara Wagner (love you, Sara), Jeff McCamish, and Taylor Haynes.

ARLITIA'S SHOW PICTURES

These are from Arlitia Jones' amazing play Over the Sea. They feature Linda Ayres-Frederick, Hailey Faust, Kristin Fernandez, Wayne Mitchell, and the much-missed Meghan Tanner, who played Abigail to my John Proctor in The Crucible here in Valdez (I know, you're saying, "wow, I bet that was amazing," but really, it was a pretty effective production!


SHANE MITCHELL'S SHOW

Naughty Friedrich Goes to Heaven, by the ever challenging Shane Mitchell, my partner in crime in producing the Overnighters up in Anchorage. Love his work, and really, this project that I get a lot of credit for wouldn't have happened without his clan's unflagging support and belief. Pictured are Rodney Lamb (going freakin' crazy!), Lindsay Lamar (hot hot hot), and Alette Valencia (who is not allowed in the frozen food section of the supermarket coz she'd melt all that stuff!).

These shots are by Gen Hasagawa, and were taken at the 2006 Conference.

The actors, writers, and directors from the Overnighters held in Anchorage, Alaska:

Friday, June 28, 2002

Rhoda Palmer, Three Days Dead by Arlitia Jones
Directed by Shane Mitchell
Casts Schatzie, Charlotte Kopp, Krista M Schwarting

String of Pearls/Succulent by Michael Hansel
Directed by Jeremy Bryan
Cast: Mark Stoneburner, Erick J. Robertson, Angela Littleton

Rock Fall by Dennis Thurston
Directed by Geoff Ritchie
Cast: Carl Bright, Frank Delaney, Laura Rasmuson, Kristen Frazier

One Nation Under by Ann Reddig
Directed by Sondra LeClair
Cast: Rodney Lamb, Dana Fahrney, Elle Janecek Delaney

Saturday, June 29, 2002

Fortitudine by Mark Robokoff
Directed by Erin Dagon
Cast: Tatsuya Aoyagi, Jennifer Faulkner, Janet Stoneburner, Aaron Wiseman

Alone by Forrest Attaway
Directed by Tracy Campbell
Cast: Brendon Babb, Van Horn Ely, Molly Killoran, Hal Schneider

Chariots by Dennis Cleary
Directed by Jennifer Waldroup
Cast: Megan Bladow, Kristin Fernandez, Rodney Lamb, Kari Mote

Afterglow by Brett Chatelain
Directed by Lainie Dreas
Cast: Petra Banks, David Haynes, Charlotte Kopp, Wayne Mitchell

Friday, December 13, 2002

A Cross to Bear by Schatzie
Directed by Erin Dagon
Cast: Todd Glidewell, Laura Rasmuson

Melody by Paul Brynner
Directed by Tracy Hinkson
Cast: Ross Emerson, Dane Markell, Jessica Marsh

The Runaway by Dennis Thurston
Directed by Shane Mitchell
Cast: Shane Mitchell, Leif Sawyer, Frances Tolbert

A Bowl of Strawberries by Ann Reddig
Directed by Tracy Campbell
Cast: Petra Banks, Tracy Campbell, Dennis Cleary, Charlotte Kopp, Dawson Moore

Saturday, December 14, 2002

Sharkers by Arlitia Jones
Directed by Mike Daniels
Cast: Tracy Hinkson, Yosh Hiyashi, Paul Jones, Jeff McCamish

Saving the Union by Peter Porco
Directed by Brendon Babb
Cast: Elle Janecek Delaney, Jennifer Faulkner, Paul Schweigert, Aaron Wiseman

The 13th Commandment by Forrest Attaway
Directed by Kari Mote, assisted by Lois Kendrick
Cast: Frank Delaney, Mark Robokoff, Krist M. Schwarting

Wonderful, Wonderful by Mira Vasiljevic
Directed by Tracy Campbell
Cast: Shanwne Albright, Sara Davis, Wayne Mitchell, Schatzie

 

Saturday, August 16, 2003

Lust by Forrest Attaway
Directed by Wayne Mitchell
Cast: Rodney Lamb, Dana Fahrney, Petra Banks

Delivery by Frances Tolbert
Directed by Tracy Campbell
Cast: Frank Delaney, Lesley Borkowski

The Feast of the Assumption by Mark Robokoff
Directed by Ron Holmstrum
Cast: Megan Bladow, Nick Lynch, Ellie Delaney

Proof of Love by Mike Daniels
Directed by Erin Dagon
Cast: Leif Sawyer, Jill Yarbrough, Alexandra Korshin

Emotional Modifications by Shane Mitchell
Directed by Rory O'Boyle
Cast: Kevin Sweeney, Audra Nabinger, Bryce T. Gill

The Bodice Rippers by Arlitia Jones
Directed by Vicki Russell
Cast: Steven Cooper, Christa Brelsford, Jennifer Faulkner

 

Saturday, December 20, 2003

Pilates of the Caribbean by Linda Billington
Directed by Schatzie Schaefers
Cast: Wayne Mitchell, Nick Lynch, Dawson Moore, Megan Bladow

Tinkle Bells by Jill Bess
Directed by Mike Daniels
Cast: Krista M. Schwarting, Leif Sawyer, Brenda Joyner

Virginia, Alabama, a Bit Beyond by Dawson Moore
Directed by Jill Yarbrough
Cast: Sara Waisanen, Paul Brynner, Regina MacDonald

What the Mountain Keeps by Arlitia Jones
Directed by Erin Dagon
Cast: Petra Banks, Carl Bright, Kary L. Bashford, Thomas Korn

Sunday, December 21, 2003

Only a Hippopotamus Will Do by Wendy Withrow
Directed by Paul Brynner
Cast: Kevin Sweeney, Allison Leary, Alexis Hudson

Die Again Another Day With Love by Dave Block
Directed by Mike Faust
Cast: Frank Delaney, Alexandra Korshin, Nick Weaver, Jim Howard

A Christmas Quarrel by Dennis Cleary
Directed by Ron Holmstrum
Cast: Christa Brelsford, Jennifer Faulkner, Aric Hudson

Christmas at Ground Zero by Ann Reddig
Directed by Paul Schweigert
Cast: Lesley Borkowski, Billy Worthy, Regina MacDonald, Karen Lauer, Paul Schweigert

Saturday, August 21, 2004

Salmon Taloned by Cardinal Knowledge by Ann Reddig
Directed by Rory O'Boyle
Cast: Rita Miraglia, Nick Lynch, Elle Janecek Delaney, Rachel Babcock, Wayne Mitchell


Schatzie Schaefers' funny funny play Ancient Chinese Secret. The togas would be Charlotte Kopp, Van Horn Ely II, and Kayti Barnett. The histrionic man is Stuart Matthews, and he's yelling at Jennifer Faulkner.

My play The War of Virginia and Alabama. Sara's being brilliant in this shot, with Paul Brynner waiting his turn to be brilliant.
Krista Schwarting with anonymous necking couple (okay, it's proly Leif Sawyer & Christina Weber in Peter Porco's Wrinkles in Time).
Mike Daniels has something to hide!

Wrinkles in Time by Peter Porco
Directed by Kristina M. Church
Cast: Leif Sawyer, Erika Savage, Krista M. Schwarting, Christina Weber

Sevenfold by Mark Stoneburner
Directed by Paul Brynner
Cast: Paul Schweigert, Regina MacDonald, Jill Yarbrough, Kristin Fernandez

The Miraculous Resurrection of Humpty Dumpty by P. Shane Mitchell
Directed by Erin Dagon
Cast: Amanda Thomas, Rodney Lamb, Glen Wald, Dana Fahrney, Lesley Burkowski

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Ancient Chinese Secret by Schatzie Schaefers
Directed by Brendan Babb
Cast: Charlotte Kopp, Van Horn Ely, Morgan Hobkirk, Stuart Matthews, Jennifer Faulkner, Vivian Kinnaird, Kayti Barnett

Fastrax by Mark Robokoff
Directed by Dave Block
Cast: Lisa Reed, Audra Mabinger, Dave Block, Paul Brynner, Michelle Inman, Carl Bright, Aric Hudson, Jesse

The Ballad of Sidewinder Slade… by Linda Billington
Directed by Jill Yarbrough
Cast: Mike Daniels, Dennis Cleary, Carmen Pfeil, Jacqueline Heimel, Krista Brelsford

The Eccentricities of a Monkey Rat… by Mark Muro
Directed by Vicki Russell
Cast: Frank Delaney, Petra Banks, Alexandra Korshin, Kathy Hertel-Baker, Mark Stoneburner, Aron Johnson

Saturday, January 29, 2005

Babe Magnet by Arlitia Jones
Directed by Rory O'Boyle
Cast: Paul Brynner, Frank Delaney, Aaron Wiseman, Morgan Hobkirk, Regina MacDonald, Rory O'Boyle

Onions by Peter Porco
Directed by Vicki Russell
Cast: Rodney Lamb, Christina Weber, Scott Baker, Mark Stoneburner

The Fears of Harold Snedleigh / a lame squirrel by Dawson Moore
Directed by Erin Dagon Mitchell
Cast: Mark Robokoff, Todd Glidewell, Jeff Atuk, Lindsay Lamar, Hailey Faust

Taint Corn by Ann Reddig
Directed by Mike Faust
Cast: Jeff McCamish, Molly Killoran, Karen Lauer, Laura Carpenter, Christa Brelsford, Roxann Anstett

Sunday, January 30, 2005

Shitty Haircut by Wendy Withrow
Directed by Dave Block
Cast: Karina Thomas, Carl Bright, Megan Bladow, Ryan Buen, Scott Semans, Aric Hudson

Cloak of Stars by Mark Muro
Directed by Mike Daniels
Cast: Jesse Alleva, Brian Lyke, Jacqueline Rose Heimel, Kristina Church, Kathy Hertl-Baker

Fun Things to Do by Sarah Hurst
Directed by Rachel Babcock
Cast: Dave Fink, Dana Fahrney, Rebecca Brothers, Paul Brynner

Green Legs & Spam by Schatzie Schaefers
Directed by Dawson Moore
Cast: Stuart Matthews, Elle Delaney, Regina MacDonald, Alexandra Korshin, Dawson Moore

Sunday, August 28, 2005, Wendy Williamson Auditorium

Alamo Confidential by Linda Billington
Directed by Brendan Babb; Stage Managed by Chistina Ashby
Cast: Lesley Borkowski, Lindsay Lamar, Paul Brynner, Dennis Cleary, Kevin Goff, Tyler Collins

Love in Darkest Suburbia by Doreen Ransom
Directed by Richard Benavides; Stage Managed by Melissa Workman
Cast: Lesley Borkowski, Jeff McCamish, Alex Korshin, Frank Delaney, Whitney Wright, Ryan Buen

Go This Way by Arlitia Jones
Directed by Paul Schweigert; Stage Managed by Talia Ibarguen
Cast: Lesley Borkowski, Stuart Matthews, Kathy Hertel-Baker, Hailey Faust, Wendy Withrow, Danny Jones, Jessie Scholz

Blighted by Rita Miraglia
Directed by Erin Dagon; Stage Managed by Brian Lyke
Cast: Mark Robokoff, Wayne Mitchell, Leif Sawyer, Petra Banks, Kristin Fernandez, Ernie Piper, Mark Robokoff

One Lonely Mute Protagonist by Schatzie Schaefers
Directed by Krista M. Schwarting; Stage Managed by Amelia Veilleux
Cast: Lesley Borkowski, Kristina Church, Christopher Bean, Matt Smith, Jessica Faust, Regina MacDonald, Morgan Hobkirk, Carl Bright, Tina Lloyd, Terri Doyle

Norma's by Tonya Derrickson
Directed by Vicki Russell; Stage Managed by Christina Ashby
Cast: Mark Robokoff, Dana Fahrney, Kelly Rossberg, Aaron Wiseman, Aric Hudson, Kelly Cameron, Erick Hayden, Wesley Ford

Saturday, January 7, 2006, Wendy Williamson Auditorium

Final Forest by Linda Billington
Directed by Erin Dagon Mitchell; Stage Managed by Melissa R. Workman
Cast: Carl Bright, Ryan Buen, Elle Janecek Delaney, Nick Lynch, Cameron McKay, Aaron Wiseman

Games People Play by John McKay
Directed by Kari Mote; Stage Managed by Amelia Veilleux
Cast: Lesley Borkowski, Paul Brynner, Matt Fossberg, Rita Miraglia, Randall C. Peck, Glen Wall

A Tree by Any Other Name by Ann Reddig
Directed by Ron Holmstrom; Stage Managed by Peter Porco
Cast: Tyler Colins, Jessica Faust, Mike Faust, Ron Holmstrom, Rodney Lamb, Jerry McDonnell, Peter Porco, Leif Sawyer

The Don of Smyrna by Schatzie Schaefers
Directed by Codie Costello; Stage Managed by Alexis Hudson
Cast: Rebecca Brothers, Todd Glidewell, Emily Kurn, Jeff McCamish, Jimmy Navarro, Frances Tolbert, Jill Yarbrough

Sunday, January 8, 2006

Mount Fuji: A Parable by P. Shane Mitchell
Directed by Jill Yarbrough; Stage Manage by Zieh Huyck
Cast: Brendan Babb, Emily Cohn, Dana Fahrney, Kristin Fernandez, Anthony Lounsbury, Ernie Piper, Jessie Scholz

When You Can't Think of Anything, Just Go for Racist by Sam Dunham
Directed by Vicki Russell; Stage Managed by Alexis Hudson
Cast: Paul Brynner, Ryan Buen, Laura Carpenter, Regina MacDonald, Krista M. Schwarting, Janet Stoneburner

Karma by Paul Schweigert
Directed by Dave Block; Stage Managed by Melissa R. Workman
Cast: Jesse Aleva, Petra Banks, Frank Delaney, Aric Hudson, Emily Kurn

King Koi by Arlitia Jones
Directed by Mark Robokoff; Stage Managed by Amelia Veilleux
Cast: Kayti Barnett, Michelle Hart, Charlotte Kopp, Wayne Mitchell, Janet Stoneburner, Wendy Withrow

Saturday, June 17, 2006, Valdez Civic Center, Last Frontier Theatre Conference

Naughty Friedrich Goes to Heaven by P. Shane Mitchell
Directed by Krista Schwarting
Cast: Deborah Gideon, Lindsay Lamar, Rodney Lamb, Alette Valencia

Over the Sea by Arlitia Jones
Directed by Erin Dagon
Cast: Linda Ayres-Frederick, Kristin Fernandez, Wayne Mitchell, Meghan Tanner

Depth of Emotion by J. Sibley Law
Directed by Vicki Russell
Cast: Jesse Alleva, Ryan Buen, Hailey Faust, Taylor Hanes, Jeff McCamish, Sara Wagner

 

Saturday, August 19, 2006, Wendy Williamson Auditorium

A Day at the Post-Apocalyptic Beach by Linda Billington
Directed by Kari Mote; inspired by Cheryl Lyon's Day at the Beach
Cast: BreAnn Brandlen, Emily Cohn, Hailey Faust, Nick Lynch, & Janet Stoneburner

Princess Court by Ann Reddig
Directed by Vicki Russell; inspired by Kate McPherson's Princess Court
Cast: Laura Carpenter, Kathleen Hertel-Baker, Regina MacDonald, Leif Sawyer, Jessie Scholz

Immaculata by Paul Brynner
Directed by Codie Costello; inspired by Jo Dagon's Mother and Child
Cast: Paul Brynner, Ryan Buen, Codie Costello, Todd Glidewell, Aron Johnson, Alex Korshin

This Really is the End by Dawson Moore
Directed by Krista M. Schwarting; inspired by Julie Decker's Sheep Counted
Cast: Eleanor Janecek Delaney, Dana Fahrney, David Haynes, Krista M. Schwarting, Meghan Tanner, Jill Yarbrough

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Egg Macguffin by Brendan Babb
Directed by Megan Bladow; inspired by Garry Kaulitz' Sitemap 801.A
Cast: Justin Birchell, Lesley Borkowski, Paul Brynner, Kristin Fernandez, Wayne Mitchell, Ernie Piper

The Bridge Place by Mark Robokoff
Directed by Jill Yarbrough; inspired by Marcella Munoz' Untitled
Cast: Michelle Hart, John McKay, Jessica Pervier, Jessie Scholz, Wendy Withrow

A Stiff Pounding by Schatzie Schaefers
Directed by Dawson Moore; inspired by Margaret Hugi-Lewis' The Drummer
Cast: Jackie Carr, Morgan Hobkirk, Jodi Hughes, Anthony Lounsbury, Brian Lyke, Regina MacDonald

Grand Central and 42nd by Arlitia Jones
Direced by Erin Dagon Mitchell; inspired by Duke Russell's Grand Central and 42nd
Cast: Petra Banks, Tyler, Collins, Eleanor Janecek Delaney, David Fink, Cameron McKay, Amelia Veilleux, Aaron Wiseman, Whitney Wright

Photos From the Last Set of Overnighters in Valdez, Featuring work by Ann Reddig, Schatzie Schaefers, Lia Romeo, and Mark Muro.