The University Prize Plays Workshops
Written by Students
Directed by Students
Performed by Students
Advisor: Nina Louise Morrison
Stage Manager: Siena Vitone '24
Dramaturge: Niko McPherson '24
Hephaestus
Written by Allison Fisante '24
Directed by Mia Cosco '24
After being discarded by his mother, the young god Hephaestus returns to claim his place on Mount Olympus, but is met with much resistance from his extended family.
CAST
Hephaestus: Noa Hellquist '26
Hera: Andrea Ellis '27
Ares: Rowan Dunning '24
Hermes: Christopher Dole '26
Eurynome: Abigail Chambass '25
Thetis: Polina Datsko '27
Dionysus: Julianna Giordano '25
Reader: Michael Paragios '27
Get Your Phil
Written by Kaci Kneeland '24
Directed by Maeve Bentley '24
Dedicated to Dan Malley, my Uncle D. Thank you for the years of love and laughter.
When you work at the only fast food restaurant around for miles off of Interstate 89, of course you get to work both Christmas and New Year’s. Alyssa doesn’t mind. It’s not like she has anything else to do.
CAST
Alyssa: Harley Cassady '27
Kinsley: Lydia Richman '27
Trey: Andrew Kelly '24
Braydon: Jasper Billingsley '26
Janet: Erin Gagnon '27
Rob: Michael Paragios '27
Reader: Mia Cosco '24
A note from the UPPW Faculty Advisor-
I am pleased to present the Fall 2023 University Prize Plays Workshops: two brand new one act plays written, directed, produced, and acted by students. Tonight is the first time these exciting new plays will be heard and seen by an audience.
The UPPWs highlight each year what is possible when our students have the freedom and resources to work as generative artists to write and collaboratively create their own unique theatre. I am so thrilled to share these new playwriting voices with you – Kaci Kneeland and Allie Fisante – each with their own take on important questions about finding meaning, justice, and satisfaction in our lives.
Using national new play development standards set by organizations like the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, we devoted the last four weeks to revising the plays with the help of the actors and directors and dramaturg. This format allows for the playwrights to continue to revise their plays until just days ago! Our one-night-only presentation of script-in-hand staged readings is the culmination of this professional new play development workshop.
My hope is that working on the UPPWs not only celebrates talented, thought-provoking, and entertaining student-written work, but also prepares all our students who want to work on new plays as writers, dramaturgs, directors, and actors in professional new play development workshops and productions.
Congratulations to all the playwrights, directors, actors, and everyone involved in bringing these new plays to vivid life. Thank YOU for supporting live theatre and celebrating new plays with us! And stay tuned … for Mask and Dagger’s full productions of these plays in April 2024!
-Nina Morrison, UPPW Advisor
Acknowledgements
This season would not be possible without their generosity and community spirit.
Donations were received July 2023 – September 2023
Friend up to $50: Mr. Thomas Alsip, Ms. Alice Anderson, Mrs. Karen & Mr. Kevin Baldwin, Ms. Tara & Mr. Justin Belanger, Ms. Julia Bingham '01, Mr. Robert Bizzotto & Mrs. Julia Tristan, Ms. Meghan Blakeman '11, Ms. Kathryn Ellis '18G & Mr. Thomas Crossman, Christine Gallardo, Ms. Emme Johnson '23, Ms. Riane and Mr. Clifford Metcalfe, Ms. Nina Morrison, Mrs. Kimberly & Mr. Christopher Neher, Mr. Michael & Mrs. Michelle Pellerin, Mr. Michael & Ms. Karen Randall, Mr. Dan Schiffmacher, Ms. Kimberly Schmidt '88 '94G, Ms. Marlena Schroeder '73 & Mr. William Maher, Mrs. Alice Seaman '49, Ms. Catie Sneath, Mr. James D. Fellows '87, Mrs. Tracy A. Speller '90 & Mr. Andrew Lawrence Speller, and Mr. Michael Wood '99
Supporter $50-$99: Mrs. Traci & Mr. Christopher Bowen, Ms. Victoria Carot '11, Mr. Michael Casella, Ms. Jamie Clavet '07 & Mr. Justin Limberger, Mr. Patrick & Mrs. Lynda D'Amico, Ms. Victoria Leonard '18 & Mr. Skyler Szucs, Mrs. Kathleen McGourthy & Mr. Craig Schwarze, Mrs. Pamela '84 & Mr. Phillip Sapienza, Mr. Richard Whitney '68 & Ms. Sandra Sherman, and Mr. Lih-Hwa Yu
Sponsor $100-$499: Mr. Steven Alsip, Ms. Szu-Feng Chen, Mr. Jason Craven Esq. '95JD & Mrs. Annmarie Craven, Mr. Philip Hammond Jr. '80 & Ms. Laura Schmalzl, Mrs. Carolyn & Mr. Scott Kneeland, Mrs. Mary Beth Marino '99 & Mr. Christian Gompert, Ms. Gay Nardone & Mr. Martin Wilkinson, Mr. Matthew Petrin, and Mrs. Shirley '73 & Mr. Louis Surgent, Mrs. Elizabeth '73 & Mr. Brain Burgess, Mr. Dameon & Ms. Kathleen Carot, Ms. Marilyn George, Mr. David '73 & Mrs. Janet Leong, Mr. Russell '90G & Mrs. Linette Miles, Ms. Lynn Parsons '74
Producer $500- $999: Mr. David & Mrs. Mary Kaye, Mr. Stephan '74 & Dr. Patricia Gianotti, Mr. Stephan Hellus, Ms. Eleanor & Mr. Wade O'Neal
Star $1000+: Ms. Carol Lucha-Burns & Mr. Michael Burns, , Mrs. Jennifer Seifert-Gerney & Mr. Eric Gerney
Congratulations, 2023-2024 award recipients!
Scholarships
These students were chosen because of their ambition, hard work, positive attitude, grade point average, and desire to develop their talent in theatre and dance. Each award recipient would like to thank those who contributed to their education through donations to these scholarship funds.
Gilbert B. Davenport Theatre Scholarship: Krista Farrell, Kaci Kneeland, Eliza Ingersoll
Joseph D. Batcheller Memorial Scholarship: Kaci Kneeland, Lizzie Schwarze
Raymond J. Bernier Scenic Arts Scholarship: Krista Farrell
John C. Edwards Theatre Scholarship: Pheobe Bowen, Juliana Desnoyers, Julianna Giordano
William G. Hennessy Scholarship: Maeve Bentley
Elizabeth Jones Class of 1922, Scholarship: Kaitlyn Beauchemin, Brendon Kelley, Siena Vitone, Madailein Demler, Krista Farrell, Braedon Meattey, Gavin Blonda, Diana Gibson, Ciara Hoehmann, Samantha Rizzo, Kaci Kneeland
Jean Mattox Memorial Scholarship in Dance: Sarah Whittier
Gary R. O’Neal Musical Theatre Scholarship: Eliza Ingersoll, Juliana Desnoyers
Undergraduate Fellowship in the Arts Award: Krista Farrell, Kaitlyn Beauchemin, Lizzie Schwarze, Sydney O'Toole, Nick Tavares
Theatre Education Endowment Award: Madailein Demler, Julianna Giordano
Mask & Dagger Achievement & Scholarship Award: Eliza Ingersoll
Richard A. Morse Scholarship: Kaci Kneeland, Fiona Fitzpatrick, Bryanna Toohey, Emmy Van Dorn
Make a Gift that Lasts Forever
Scholarships & Endowments
Make a contribution to the education of UNH theatre and dance students. Please indicate the fund you would like to support in the special instructions field. (Link to scholarship list)