Stark Turn Players Premiere New Work by Local Playwright

Stark Turn Players = World Premiere by Local Playwright! Draw Me Out, by Laura Uzarski set to perform April 30 - May 3

The Stark Turn Players are pleased to be producing a new script by local playwright, Laura Uzarski. Draw Me Out will be presented April 30 - May 3, 2015 at the Dog Story Theater, 7 Jefferson SE, Grand Rapids.

Stark Turn has created a ‘hyper-local incubator for playwrights’ with its annual 10-Minute Playwriting Competition which produces the best of those submissions during the annual Lake Effect Fringe Festival (LEFF) held during February at the Dog Story Theater.  Each year, the winner of Best in Show is invited to submit a full-length script for production the following May.

In 2014, area playwright and actress Laura Uzarski won the LEFF competition with her piece Remember Me, so this year Stark Turn is producing her new show, Draw Me Out.  The story features Drew, a shy, withdrawn teen suffering from bi-polar disorder. We follow his days at school, relationships with his mom, sister and her friends, his new therapist, and a new friend named Suze who seems to be everything that Drew is not and pops up out of nowhere when he least expects her.  Director Adam J. Hyde worked for eight years in the mental health field as a behavioral analyst and autism specialist, but he hopes the audience won’t view the show as a heavy ‘issue play’ about mental illness, but will spark “intelligent conversation about relationships and being honest with yourself and who you are in a world of fake people.” He considers it a “drama, with levity” and believes the audience will find the dialogue is very natural and the action fast-paced as we learn that Drew is creative and loves to draw, forging a relationship with one of his sister’s friends as he learns along with the audience who Suze is and why she has come to goad him into action.  Cast members include: Benjamin Brown as Drew, Claire Mahave in the double role of his mother and Dr. Greene, Julia Steudle portrays Suze, and Amanda Furstenberg plays Drew’s sister, Amy.  Kaija von Websky, Jessica Fountain and Anessa Johnson round out the cast as Amy’s “mean girls” friends.

Most of the actors play two roles, showing the duality of human nature, they show the best and worst qualities of themselves. As an actress herself, Uzarski finds playing multiple characters a challenge and would welcome the chance to show versatility on stage.  She is an Aquinas College graduate who has appeared onstage there, in several Stark Turn productions, and has performed with many other local theatre organizations.  This is her first full-length script.  Originally written two years ago for a 24 Hour Theatre Showcase as a 10 Minute Play, featuring Drew, Suze and Dr. Greene, it seemed to her that “the characters wouldn’t leave me alone, insisting that there was more to their story.” The show will appeal to all ages, but could be considered rated PG-13 for language. Draw Me Out will be performed at the Dog Story Theater, 7 Jefferson SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49503 April 30 - May 3.  Performances are at 8pm Thursday - Saturday with a 3pm matinee on Sunday.  There will be a talk back with the playwright and director after the performance on Friday, May 1.  Tickets are $14/adults and $8/students & seniors and are available on the Dog Story Theater website: www.dogstorytheater.com.  For more information: www.starkturnplayers.org.

###