Theatre's ArkType New Works Festival Kicks Off April 12

University of Arkansas Department of Theatre

ArkTypes Poster design by Shawn Irish

The Department of Theatre in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences presents the ArkTypes New Works Festival featuring readings of a number of new plays this weekend, April 12-14, at the Global Campus Theater on the Fayetteville square.

All readings are free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended, and tickets can be reserved online, while also available at the door. Everyone is invited to help celebrate new works, new worlds and new theatrical archetypes being created at the U of A.

This year's festival includes readings of new plays in process by M.F.A. playwrights Connor Johnson and Basil Parnell, as well as M.F.A. playwriting alumna Sarah Loucks, and current undergrad Jackson Cook. The festival will also showcase a selection of new works-in-progress by The Playground, an undergrad led student playwriting organization.

The 2024 ArkType Festival gives audiences a fantastic opportunity to see the vibrant community of playwriting talent at the University of Arkansas as this year's festival includes Undergraduate playwrights, current M.F.A. candidates in playwriting, and alum M.F.A. playwrights all sharing new work. John Walch, head of the playwriting program, says, "Imagination feeds off imagination, so having early writers mix with more seasoned writers tells a more complete and more dimensional story about the issues and subjects that are on the minds of our entire student body."

Schedule and Details

Friday, April 12
7:30 p.m.

• How to Overthrow your Mother's Funeral in Just a Few Easy Step by Basil Parnell (M.F.A. playwright), directed by Sarah Behrend-Wilcox (M.F.A.)

Saturday, April 13
5 p.m.

• Graveyard Picnic by Jackson Cook (Undergraduate, one-act)
• A Trio of Ten by Sarah Loucks, (three 10-minute plays by M.F.A. alum Sarah Loucks), directed by Lacy Post (M.F.A. alum director)

7:30 p.m.

• Parzival by Connor Johnson, (M.F.A. Playwright), directed by Claire Wewers (M.F.A. director)

Sunday, April 14
7:30 p.m.

• Playground Showcase of New Work (undergrad student led showcase of works-in-process)

Content Advisory: These are works in process and may contain mature, adult content.

Tickets are free, and will be sent via HogSync, and you will need to enter your UARK email to sign in. If you are not affiliated with the University of Arkansas, you will be asked to create an account.

Please arrive early to check in at Box Office. All digital tickets will be sent via email. For additional assistance, please email: tickets@uark.edu or call (479) 575-5387.