Spring Open: Artist Showcase

Welcome to the 3rd annual spring Open Artist Showcase

Off Center for the Dramatic Arts is thrilled to once again present two weekends of new shows produced by four local Vermont artists and companies.  

WEEKEND ONE: APRIL 24 - 27 ($15 + PWYC preview Wed. 24)

WEEKEND TWO: MAY 1 - 4 ($15 + PWYC preview Wed. May 1)

Let me tell you something...(Perseverations) - Weekend 1

by Dennis McSorley

Bits of conversation that go somewhere and nowhere.

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​A native New Yorker, Dennis has been a constant presence in Vermont since 1995 as an actor and storyteller. As part of various theater companies, he has played memorable roles written by established playwrights including Mamet, Albee, Simon, and Chekov, as well as original plays written by several Vermont playwrights. A gifted storyteller, he is now writing and performing his own material as solo stage performances. Humility has been the guiding force behind anything good that’s happened.

Gravitons: into the black sun - Weekend 1

jocelyn woods and three unquantifiable dervishes

This show will combine video stream via projector and live performers. It will feature original trance chanting and minimalistic dialogue in both English and Arabic, inspired by the Sufi poets and film works of Maya Deren, with nude dancers in whirling-dervish intuitive choreography. A “graviton” is a hypothetical quantum of gravity, an elementary particle that mediates the force of gravity. There is a mathematical problem in developing complete theory on gravitons, and this is where Gravitons explores the inexplicable and unquantifiable in our mystic communion through immersive meditative theatre.

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Created by Jocelyn Woods, and featuring dance performances by David Brizendine, Johnny Chag, Marc Price

Other minds - Weekend 2

by margot lasher

directed by Margo Whitcomb

A human learns ancient truths and wisdom from her dog as they unpack puzzling questions: a dog's view of time, life and afterlife as well as mysterious human behaviors like "picking up after your dog." The human is a journalist who has an assignment in Japan and plans to leave her dog alone with a stranger. The dog champions the position that they are better equipped to meet life's dangers (spanning chipmunks to climate change) together, not separated . Other Minds is the world premiere of a poignant and funny meditation on life, companionship, play and bones by the award winning Vermont playwright, Margot Lasher.

Weekend 2-

WEDNESDAY MAY 1

ETA

Jenna Emerson, Daniel Trigg, and Anthony Apodaca (aka ETA) are three of Vermont's most reckless improvisors. They constantly do things that break "the rules" of improv and no self-respecting improvisor will play with them (this one time, Anthony threw his actual left shoe into the audience... wtf). If you want to see real improv, please do not waste your time with ETA. Seriously, they totally suck.

THURSDAY MAY 2

FUNNY STUFF: FEATURING JEREMY RAYBURN AND FRIENDS

Cap your Thursday off with the comedy stylings of Burlington comedy and sketch artist Jeremy Rayburn - hilarity will ensue! Featuring Meredith Gordon, Jared Hall, Kaitie Bessette, Jenna Emerson, Smork Bolson, and Liz Thompson.

FRIDAY MAY 3 and SATURDAY MAY 4

A FINE NIGHT FOR A CIRCUS

FEATURING MEGHAN MCCLURE AND AUSTIN SMITH OF CAMP CIRCUS COLLECTIVE

Meghan McClure and Austin Smith have both been immersed in circus from a young age. They recently met in Burlington where they helped build the CAMP Circus Collective. There they push the limits of their own abilities, while also teaching each other new skills and techniques. This piece is a collaboration that has been waiting to happen. They are excited to be performing their mix of juggling, acro, dance, and just general happiness for the first time here in Burlington!