Theatre Lab's Inaugural Playwright's Forum
Florida Atlantic University’s Theatre Lab welcomes master playwright Israel Horovitz for an evening of political theater.
Florida Atlantic University’s Theatre Lab welcomes master playwright Israel Horovitz for an evening of political theater on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. The event takes place in Parliament Hall, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. Admission is $20 ($10 with student ID). To purchase tickets, visit www.fauevents.com, call 800-564-9539, or visit the box office in FAU’s Student Union. Tickets will be available at the door upon availability.
Horovitz will be the first guest for Theatre Lab’s “Playwright’s Forum,” a lecture/workshop/master-class program that will feature some of America's most celebrated playwrights. The event will include readings of three of Horovitz’s short plays, “Breaking Philp Glass,” “Beirut Rocks,” and “What Strong Fences Make,” followed by a discussion with Horovitz about the role of the theatre artist in social change and how one can effectively translate the complexities of the political world into dynamic and powerful dramatic action.
In “Breaking Philp Glass,” Paul confronts an art gallery’s manager about an upcoming exhibition showcasing previously unseen work by a world-renowned photographer. The gallery is intent on promoting their discovery and display of these now 50-year old erotic photos - despite not having permission from the subject, who just so happens to be Paul’s mother. “Breaking Philip Glass” was written in response to the Charlie Hebdo murders in France and is part of the “Playwrights for a Cause” project, which benefits the National Coalition Against Censorship.
“Beirut Rocks” tells the story of four American college students studying abroad who are caught in the middle of the 2006 Hezbollah-Israeli war. As they wait to be evacuated from the hotel where they have taken refuge, these students begin to reflect the tension of the outside conflict, and relatable youngsters suddenly become militants and banter becomes a series of furious accusations that threaten to spill over into violence.
Finally, “What Strong Fences Make” is set at an IDF checkpoint just outside Ramallah. Horovitz calls this play “a simple and clear stage-play that attempts to make a statement about a real-life situation that is anything but simple and clear.” The short play was written in response to another short play by Caryl Churchill, “Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza.”
Theatre Lab is the professional resident company of FAU that is dedicated to the development and production of new work in American theater. Theatre Lab will provide a bridge for students from the academic to the professional world and also expose students and the South Florida community to new works in American theater. Louis Tyrrell, founding artistic director of Florida Stage and Theatre at Arts Garage, has been named artistic director and Dorothy F. Schmidt Visiting Eminent Scholar in the Arts for this new initiative. The fall season of Theatre Lab is generously underwritten by Martin and Judith Stein.
Other Theatre Lab productions include “The Playwright’s Forum,” “Play Slam” and “The New Play Festival.” For more information, visit www.fau.edu/theatrelab, email theatrelab@fau.edu or call 561-297-4784.
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