The Hollins Theatre Institute and Mill Mountain Theatre (MMT) are joining forces to produce three never-before-seen plays as part of the Hollins – Mill Mountain Winter Festival of New Works during January and February.
The productions are all written by playwrights from the Playwright’s Lab at Hollins University and will be presented on MMT’s professional stages.
“The Winter Festival of New Works is becoming a very important part of the theatre season in town,” says Hollins Theatre Institute Director Ernie Zulia. “Exciting stuff is coming out of the Playwright’s Lab, and the festival is the major showcase for our plans, hopes, and dreams to make Roanoke and Hollins a major national force in the development of new work for the American stage.”
This year’s schedule includes:
- Helvetica by Will Coleman
January 16 – 17, 23 – 24 at 7:30 p.m., January 18 and 25 at 2 p.m.
Waldron Stage, Mill Mountain Theatre
Admission: $10 general (Purchase tickets online or call the Hollins Theatre box office at 540-362-6517.)
With wit and charm, an unlikely guide leads bestselling children’s storybook Helvetica Burke through the adventures of life and death, family and fantasy, and past and present, encountering laughter and tears along the way. “Helvetica is a beautifully lyrical and whimsical play that is certain to grab your heart,” says Zulia. “It won this year’s top national award from the Southeastern Theatre Conference.” - The Adventures of Iris and Walter, based on the books of Elissa Haden Guest and adapted by Nicole B. Adkins (both Guest and Adkins earned their Master of Fine Arts degrees from Hollins in 2012)
February 5 – 6, 10 a.m.
Main Stage, Hollins Theatre
February 7, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Trinkle Stage, Mill Mountain Theatre
Admission: $5 for children, $8 for adults (Purchase tickets online or call the Hollins Theatre box office at 540-362-6517.)
Iris is lonely and unhappy when her family moves from the big city to the country, until she climbs a tree and meets her new best friend, Walter. A rambunctious baby sister, an ornery cousin, and several surprises present the duo with great adventures and important learning opportunities. “This is the first year we are expanding the festival into the realm of children’s theatre,” explains Zulia. The play, a Hollins Legacy Series production, is recommended for children of all ages, especially pre-K through fourth grade. - An Initial Condition by Taylor Gruenloh
February 17 – 21 at 7:30 p.m., February 21 – 22 at 2 p.m.
Waldron Stage, Mill Mountain Theatre
Admission: $10 general (Purchase tickets online or call the box office at 540-362-6517.)
Chance, a young mathematician, is brought on to help map out cancer in a young woman’s body. His determination to solve the problem of Sarah’s illness through mathematical oncology takes Chance to places that are unimaginable – professionally, emotionally, and spiritually. “An Initial Condition will also be staged in New York March 13 – 15 at Playwrights Horizons, a writer’s theater dedicated to the support and development of contemporary American playwrights, composers and lyricists, and to the production of their new work,” Zulia notes. The play is directed by Playwrights Horizons’ founding artistic director, Bob Moss.
Zulia calls the Winter Festival of New Works “the cornerstone in the growing partnership between Hollins and MMT. We are exploring new levels of collaboration that we think will advance the impact of live theatre on the Roanoke Valley.”
