15th Annual One Act Play Festival...

Venture Underground Production
Past Production - January 2009
Produced by Robert Brian Wood
Technical Direction by Paul Jangula

Ever wonder what goes into staging a play, creating an original theatrical work or performing live… without a script? Venture Theatre invites you to witness the whole creative process! From January 7- 23, audience members can attend workshop rehearsals, explore the local youth poetry scene, laugh with the Venture Improv actors, and celebrate the work of seven up-and-coming local playwrights.

Work-In–Progress Workshops

See half of the One Act Plays, (Group A or Group B) in progress and stick around after the shows for audience feedback. The feedback helps the playwright/director teams adjust and improve the work for the final performances. Rewrites are often made and a whole new story angle comes back for the next workshop!

Group A
January 6 – 7:30pm
January 8 – 8pm
January 13 – 7:30pm

Group B
January 7 – 7:30pm
January 9 – 8pm
January 14 – 7:30pm

One Act Play Finales

Audiences can see all seven shows in their completed state during two weekends. Celebrate and converse with the playwrights, actors and artists afterwards in the Venture Bar!

January 15 – 8pm
January 16 – 8pm
January 22 – 8pm
January 23 – 8pm

Poetry Slam

The Billings Poetry Slam, presented by the Alberta Bair Theater and Venture Theatre, takes place on Sunday, January 10 at 2pm at Venture Theatre.

The top three winners of the slam will be invited to open for two matinee school performances of The Mayhem Poets at the Alberta Bair Theater on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 9:30am and 12:30pm. The Mayhem Poets use hip-hop rhythms and dynamic theatrical techniques to develop their performances. Taking on topics as varied as Dr. Seuss, fast food and love, these beat-boxing bards from New York keep the rapid-fire rhythms flying in this clever concert of words.

Jason Harris, Hot 101.9 disc jockey “Big J” is the Master of Ceremonies. Montana Poet Laureate, Henry Real Bird opens the Poetry Slam. Dave Caserio, former Seattle Poetry Slam winner, will perform some of his original poetry.

January 10 – 2:00pm

Venture Improv

Short-form comedy based on audience suggestions, kind of like Venture's version of TV's Whose Line is it, Anyway?  The January shows are family-friendly - PG-13.

January 13 – 9:30pm  (1-hour set of Improv comedy)
January 14 – 9:30pm  (1-hour set of Improv comedy)
January 21 – 7:30pm  (2-hour set of Improv comedy)

Press and Photos:

See photos and read the December 25 article about the 15the Annual One Act Play Festival in the Billings Gazette here.

See photos and read the January 8 article about the Billings Poetry Slam in the Billings Gazette here.

See photos and read Kahrin Deines' January 11 review of the Billings Poetry Slam in the Billings Gazette here.

See photos and read Jaci Webb's January 15 review of the 15th Annual One Act Play Festival in the Billings Gazette's Enjoy here.

Shows / Cast Lists:

Group A

Lorem Ipsum
By Michael Siebert
Directed by Dawn Carter

Adam:  Tucker Downs
Rob:  Tyler McKinley
Ted:  Seth Hanser

A young boy sitting alone in a desolate park meets a deceptively charming stranger.  Through their quirky conversation he soon discovers that he may be forced into a life-and-death situation.

Duplicity
By Kirsten Horn
Directed by Sarah Kary

Chris:  Gustavo Belotta
Sarah:  Bobbi Kupfner

Men and women are often judged very differently for similar behaviors. In “Duplicity,” a young man and woman are stuck in the dangerous heady time of discovery and flirtatious new love. Unfortunately they are both already in relationships with other people!

So Much for Seatbelts
By Craig Kenworthy
Directed by Adam Jacques

Brian:  Dina Brophy
Josh:  Patrick Wilson
Kara:  Chaslee Zent

A woman and her brother-in-law are trapped in a mudslide inside a car with just enough air enough for one of them to survive. Do they make a decision for the sake of the sister/wife, or are their own self interests too much to overcome?

Mel and Al 2
By Travis Bierwagen
Directed by Daniel Zent

Mel:  Jayme Green
Al:  Kevin Schweigert
Visitor:  Chase Andersen
Zoe:  Crystal Oring
Fiona:  Jennifer Olsen

When a mysterious visitor unexpectedly drops by, a renowned team of paranormal private investigators learn they are not safe from the unknown even in their own office. It’s about “time” and it’s about time that the wacky characters Mel and Al return to the stage!

Group B

The Man Next to You
By Amber Meyer
Directed by Craig Huisenga

Harold:  Shawn Bettise
Bethany:  Mary Monaghan
Cordi:  Angela Fulkerson
Lewis:  Jared Siess
Steve:  Steve Zediker

Coincidence and a minor misunderstanding put neighbors face-to-face in an exploration of sexual bias and cultural stereotyping. With a little help from family and friends and a nudge from a stranger, the men are forced to put a human touch on their own opinions.

#415
By Shad Scott
Directed by Paul Jangula

Colonel:  Ben Botts
Bauman:  Jennifer Lillian
Stern:  Travis Lee

Two military men are instructed to remain in a room and guard an invisible prisoner. They slowly begin to debate whether there is such a prisoner, and question the authority that binds them to their eerie assignment.

For One Day
By Ryan Gage
Directed by Wanda Morales

Mickey:  Kelsey Steffan
Papa:  Gary Treglown
Louis:  Steve Zediker
Mary:  Sarah Holm

“'For One Day,” takes us into the troubled relationship between a headstrong teenage girl and her well-meaning father and a grandfather she hardly knows. The piece explores the difficulties and rewards of inter-generational relationships in an ever-changing world.

Production and Design:

Producer:  Robert Brian Wood
Technical Director:  Paul Jangula

Show Dates & Times:

January 6, 2010 - 7:30 (Wednesday) - Group A Workshop
January 7, 2010 - 7:30 (Thursday) - Group B Workshop
January 8, 2010 - 8:00 (Friday) - Group A Workshop
January 9, 2010 - 8:00 (Saturday) - Group B Workshop
January 10, 2010 - 2:00 (Sunday) - Billings Poetry Slam

January 13, 2010 - 7:30 (Wednesday) - Group A Workshop
January 13, 2010 - 9:30 (Wednesday) - Venture Improv (1 hr.)
January 14, 2010 - 7:30 (Thursday) - Group B Workshop
January 14, 2010 - 9:30 (Thursday) - Venture Improv (1 hr.)
January 15, 2010 - 8:00 (Friday) - All Shows Perform
January 16, 2010 - 8:00 (Saturday) - All Shows Perform

January 21, 2010 - 7:30 (Thursday) - Venture Improv (2 hrs.)
January 22, 2010 - 8:00 (Friday) - All Shows Perform
January 23, 2010 - 8:00 (Saturday) - All Shows Perform

Show Location:

Venture's Blackbox Theatre: 2317 Montana Ave., Billings, MT