HFC Studio Showcase runs May 2-5

The HFC Theatre Arts Studio Showcase features six short plays, the majority written by Metro Detroit playwrights. It will run May 2-5 in the Black Box Studio, located in the Adray Auditorium (Rm. F-100) in the MacKenzie Fine Arts Center (Building F) on the main campus.

Directed by HFC theater instructor Sarah Hawkins and student director Nada Harajli, the Studio Showcase will be performed on the following dates and times:
• Thursday, May 2, at 8:00 p.m.
• Friday, May 3, at 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 4, at 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 5, at 2:00 p.m.

NOTE: After the May 5 performance, there will be a Q&A session afterwards with the actors, the playwrights, and the directors.

HFC students featured include:
• Kaylin Reed, of Dearborn Heights
• Joe Jabara, of Flat Rock
• Dynasty Orr, of Detroit
• Jesse Mattox, of Inkster
• Nathaniel Wilhelm, of Brownstown

“I wanted the students to have the opportunity to work with people who were locally creating theater at this very moment,” said Hawkins. “The hope is that this will help them be energized to enter the professional theater world once they leave HFC.”

Redford Township playwright Maureen Paraventi has three pieces being performed in the showcase. The first play, There’s Nothing Wrong with Me, is the story of how a married couple’s vacation turns sour as the wife plots to poison her condescending husband. Ruin Porn takes a look at the tourist industry of photographing Detroit’s decaying buildings with travelers from abroad encountering a native Detroiter who calls such a place home. Paraventi’s final piece, Going Nowhere, explores the demise of a relationship during a delayed plane flight.

Also being presented is The Last Word by Detroit playwright Ford McCarther, which is a hilarious look at a woman visiting a funeral home to arrange a funeral – for herself. Between the Thorns, written by Dearborn playwright Collette Cullen, recounts the bittersweet tale of family and loss. Finally, Valerie: A Cosplay Monologue by Minneapolis playwright Asher Wyndham explores one woman’s mission to help others navigate the complicated and sometimes dangerous world of comic conventions.

ADVISORY: These plays contain adult content and language. Viewer discretion is advised.

HFC Theatre prides itself on offering a diverse selection of arts entertainment for the residents of Michigan. Not all productions may appeal to or be appropriate for every person or for all ages. Therefore, patrons are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the shows we offer in order to make informed decisions prior to purchasing tickets.

Tickets for the One Acts Festival are $5 for general admission.

To purchase tickets, go to www.hfcc.edu/campus-life/theatre. For questions or more information, call Brandon Grantz at 313-212-5276.