Kill the Beast by D.A. Mindell
D.A. MINDELL (Playwright) is an MFA candidate in playwriting at Columbia University. He’s worked as a teaching artist with the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta for the past three summers, and teaches gender education workshops with the queer, Jewish nonprofit SOJOURN. Through SOJOURN, he has also produced Quest Ed, a sex education Dungeons and Dragons podcast. Past recognition includes the David L. Shelton Award through The Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival, the Georgia Theatre Conference’s One-Act Play Competition, the Powerstories Voices of Truth Theatre Festival, and semifinalist status at the Austin Film Festival. He would like to thank Lynn Nottage for the mentorship under which Kill The Beast was first cultivated, as well as Avi Klipfel, Eli Wassertzug, Elliot Hoke and his MFA cohort for their participation in the development process.
AVI KLIPFEL (Director) (they/them) is a dramaturg and director specializing in devised work, Shakespeare and older adaptations. They are passionate about creating healthy theatrical spaces through ensemble-led work.
ELIOT HOKE (Director) is an actor and member of the 46 Minutes Collective who has worked with the One Year Lease Theater Company and Hangar Theatre.
L.D. KELLEY (Stage Directions) (they/he/she).
ELI WASSERTZUG (T) is a New York City-based dragon who lives in a cave and collects expired tubes of mascara. They also sometimes act and sing or whatever. eliwassertzug.com
Dugout Daisies by Julissa Mishay Norment
JULISSA MISHAY NORMENT (Playwright) is a dynamic and inventive award-winning playwright, bookwriter and lyricist that strives to create and diversify theatrical experiences, primarily through a Black, Queer and Feminist lens. Julissa is currently an Abbott Musical Theater Collaboration MFA candidate at Temple University.
CHEYENNE PARKS (Director) (she/her) is an actor and director based in Philadelphia. Special thanks to my parents and friends for humbling me. Always to Uncle George.
SHALINYAH CAMPBELL (FEFE) is an artist based in Philadelphia, PA and currently an acting major at Temple University.
JESSICA MONEY (Stage Directions) is a Philadelphia-based actor and a graduate of Temple University’s musical theatre and acting programs. Favorite credits include: Olive Ostrovsky (Spelling Bee), Nettie (The Color Purple), Sarah (Ragtime), Miranda (The Tempest), Urchin Swing (Little Shop of Horrors). @money226156
SUMIAYA NAFEESAH (TAE) (they/she/he) is an artist based in Philadelphia, PA. Sumiyah began acting at nine and continues to live in their passion.
JAIME JARRETT (General Manager) (they/he) is a Philly/NYC-based theatre artist. They are currently studying at Temple University to receive their MFA in Musical Theatre Collaboration.
Trudy Tries to Say I Love You But Runs Out of Breath by Emma Joy Hill
EMMA JOY HILL (Playwright) is a writer, performer, dramaturg and theatre artist. Her passion for writing plays extends into a deep love for grotesque performance art, devised theatre and human rights. She is a MFA Playwriting candidate at Columbia University and holds a BA in Theatre Studies/Playwriting from the University of Connecticut where she has had multiple workshops and staged readings of her plays. In the past, she has been commissioned by the Natural Resources Conservation Academy to develop work that addresses climate change in communities, and Studio 570 to chronicle the Women’s Suffrage Movement. She has developed theatre throughout Connecticut, New York City, Philadelphia, Dallas and Chicago, working with companies such as The Brick, Women’s Theatre Festival, 59E59 Theatre, Studio 570, Theatre L’Acadie, Echo Theatre, Bated Breath Theatre Company, Connecticut Repertory Theatre and Out of Chaos Theatre in the United Kingdom. She is currently based in Connecticut.
LINDSAY CUMMINGS (Director) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut. She is a dramaturg and theatre theorist.
ZOE EKLUND (Trudy). BA: University of Connecticut, Theatre Studies. Recent roles: Oh No (The Blue Womanman), Food for the Gods (Mother), Everybody (God/Usher).
ALEKSEI SANDALS (The Janitor). BFA in Acting from the University Of Connecticut (Class of 2023). Past roles include: Blood at the Root (Colin), Measure For Measure (Claudio/Pompey).
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#ffffff”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_separator type=”normal”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#ffffff”][vc_column_text]2023 OOB Festival Credits
Festival Sponsor
Concord Theatricals
2023 Festival Judges
Jason Aguirre
Christina Anderson
Hilary Bettis
Eleanor Burgess
Steph Del Rosso
Jason Eagan
Skylar Fox
Gracie Gardner
Margaret Ledford
Jill Rafson
Jonathan Silverstein
Emmanuel Wilson
Honorary Playwright
James Ijames
Festival Artistic Director
Casey McLain
Literary Director/Opening Night Party Moderator
Garrett Anderson
Festival Host/Client Manager
Abbie Van Nostrand
House Manager
Tyler Mullen
Box Office Manager
Rosemary Bucher
Marketing Team
Meredith Foster
Jeremiah Hernandez
Courtney Kochuba
Imogen Lloyd Webber
Festival Production Coordinators
Cambria Martin
Clare Rankine
Alexandra Varitek
Festival Support Staff
Ella Andrew, Victoria Bond, Meredith Foster, Shaina Gilks, Jeremiah Hernandez, Ben Keiper, Rachel Levens, David McMaines, Gabriela Morales, Nate Netzley, Kristen Rea, Rachel Smith, Faith Williams
2023 Submissions Readers
Ella Andrew, Caroline Barnard, Caroline Bohnenberger, Jim Colleran, Charlie Coulthard, Sequoyah Douglas, Meredith Foster, Marquis Hardin, Rachel Levens, Amy Rose Marsh, Debbie McLean, David McMaines, Elizabeth Minski, Gabriela Morales, Tyler Mullen, Alexander Perez, Kristen Rea, Rachel Smith, Abbie Van Nostrand, Sarah Weber, Faith Williams
Special Thanks
Sean Flahaven, Bill Gaden, Concord, City Theatre Miami
About Concord Theatricals
Concord Theatricals is the world’s most significant theatrical company, comprising the catalogs of R&H Theatricals, Samuel French, Tams-Witmark and The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection, plus dozens of new signings each year. Our unparalleled roster includes the work of Irving Berlin, Agatha Christie, George & Ira Gershwin, Marvin Hamlisch, Lorraine Hansberry, Jeremy O. Harris, Kander & Ebb, Tom Kitt, Ken Ludwig, Marlow & Moss, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anaïs Mitchell, Dominique Morisseau, Cole Porter, Theresa Rebeck, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Thornton Wilder and August Wilson. We are the only firm providing truly comprehensive services to the creators and producers of plays and musicals, including theatrical licensing, music publishing, script publishing, cast recording and first-class production.