WSU presents 'House Beautiful,' winner of 2016 National Playwriting Competition

Wichita State University School of Performing Arts will present “House Beautiful,” a play by Liz Maestri, winner of WSU’s 2016 National Playwriting Competition.

The play will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 15-18, and 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 18-19, in Welsbacher Theatre, Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

“House Beautiful” takes place in a decaying Long Island town as a man named Edwin reaches the end of his life. His daughter and granddaughter support him until the arrival of a stranger causes each family member to fight for what they love most. The play is a love letter to those who deal with the sanitized pain of dying in America; exploring family dynamics across generations and celebrating life that exists outside of the tiniest houses and smallest rooms. The show is rated PG-13.

WSU’s National Playwriting Competition accepts scripts from undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at any college or university in the U.S., which contain four to six characters and a setting suitable for an 88 seat black-box theater.

In addition to being selected as the winner of the competition, Maestri’s projects have been commissioned, produced and developed in a variety of theaters around the U.S.

“House Beautiful” is directed by theater instructor Jeannine Russel, with theatre majors Madison Bishop as stage manager and Stephanie Crump as assistant stage manager. The cast features Anthony Valdez, Mariah Clements, Lance Vaillancourt, Valerie Vulgamore and Payton Dickerson. The production team includes students Jamie Laning, Kenneth Stephens, Makenzie Hercules, Sydney Jordan, Stephanie Crump and Cody Buettgenbach.

Tickets can be purchased at the Fine Arts Box Office in the lobby of the Duerksen Fine Arts Center or online at wichita.edu/fineartsboxoffice. General admission is $15, with $12 discount tickets available for seniors, faculty/staff and military or $10 tickets for children and students. WSU students are eligible for one free ticket (visit http://www.wichita.edu/j/?4363 for details). For ticketing assistance, contact the Fine Arts Box Office from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, at 316-978-3233 or fasttickets@wichita.edu.