Havre's Dean returns to Sixth Annual Last Chance New Play Fest

Press release

Helena’s Last Chance New Play Fest, now in its sixth year, will run Nov 8-17, and features five new projects by Montana writers with a play by Havre’s Rachel Dean appearing for the second-straight year.

The play by Dean is in the Montana Short Cuts, a program of 10-minute plays, in this year’s festival.

This year’s theme is “genetically modified.”

Montana Short Cuts: Genetically Modified explores how eight different authors across the state interpret the theme. This year’s plays feature made-to-order babies, a game show of the future, a world where genetic engineering is a crime, a talking grizzly, a couple fighting over how to engineer their child, a cowboy lamenting changes in the rodeo, spreading a new religion via insects, and a political satire in verse.

In “Ticked Off,” Dean wrote about a young man attempting to convert his love interest in a future where vegetarianism has become a religion, the festival website said.

The other projects which join the Short Cuts in repertory over the 10-day Fest include:

“Pitiful Beautiful Pittanc,” by Susan Dunlap, a love story at the Berkeley Pit.

“Becoming Number Six” by Ross Peter Nelson, adark comedy about the surveillance state.

“Showdown at Lost Creek Ranch,” by Steve Palmer, a one-act comedy where a reality TV show goes awry.

“When Nana Hit the Glass,” by Rebecca Ryland, a one-act play in which a spoiled child grows up.

This year’s fest will be held in collaboration with Free Ceramics, and all plays will be performed in the Free Ceramics Studio at 650 Logan St. in downtown Helena. This grass-roots theater event celebrates the works of local and regional playwrights.

Along with Montana Actors’ Theatre veteran Dean, the Montana writers whose projects are part of the fest are: Brian Massman of Helena, Craig Kenworthy of Seattle and Bozeman, Michael Donohue of Kalispell, Susan Dunlap of Butte, Ross Peter Nelson of Helena, Steven Palmer of Helena, Rebecca Ryland of Clancy and Barry Stambaugh of Helena.

Tickets for individual performances are $10 and are available at the door. Fest passes, which admit holders to any performance throughout the Fest, are available in advancefor $25 at the Fire Tower Coffee House or at the door. A complete schedule can be found in the Fest Guide which will be available at Free Ceramics and the Fire Tower Coffee House.

This year’s fest is sponsored in part by a grant from the Montana Arts Council and presented in collaboration with Free Ceramics.

A list of all the projects, writers and actors, along with the full schedule can be found at http://www.experimentaltheatrecoop.org/2019 .

The Last Chance New Play Fest was inaugurated in 2015 and is an annual event. It serves as a showcase for new and recent work by Montana-affiliated writers and features the talents of some of the best actors, directors, and stage technicians in the Helena area. Follow the Fest on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/helenaFringe .

The Experimental Theatre Cooperative is the “experimental arm” of a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the dramatic arts and supporting development and performance opportunities for theatre artists. For more information, visit ETC’s website at http://www.ExperimentalTheatreCoop.org .