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The best undergraduate training for
playwriting in the nation is in...
Independence, Kansas.
The William Inge Center for the Arts’
Professional Playwriting Certificate Program at Independence
Community College, Independence, Kansas, allows students to study
with two working professional playwrights each semester. By taking
the playwriting course (a 3 unit class) each semester for two years,
you will have the opportunity to work with a minimum of eight
accomplished, working professional playwrights during your freshman
and sophomore years of college. We truly believe there is no other
college in the nation—including four-year schools—where one can have
such intimate contact with such experienced playwright instructors
as a freshman and sophomore. Almost all our playwrights have
experience teaching playwriting at the university and graduate level
in addition to productions at esteemed theatre companies. (See list
below.)
The instructors are selected as
Playwrights-in-Residence; they reside in Independence at William
Inge’s Family Home, where they enjoy time to write their own work in
addition to teaching here at Independence Community College. Again,
the emphasis is on instructors who have contemporary, practical
experience in the field.
Playwriting scholarships receive significant
financial support from the Inge Festival Foundation. Coupled with
academic scholarships offered by ICC, we are able to put together a
financial package (no loans) to cover the entire cost of two years
education here at ICC for selected students. Fees and
out-of-district tuition are approximately $1,000 each per year and
academic year room and board at the college dorm is $4,100.
We ask playwriting scholarship applicants to
send two scripts (excerpts acceptable) that are the best
representations of his or her work. These should be sent to: Peter
Ellenstein, Artistic Director, Inge Center for the Arts, PO Box 708,
Independence, KS 67301. For consideration of these full-grant
scholarships, we require receipt of an intent to apply letter by
Jan. 28, 2005 for the Fall 2005 semester. (Applicants should also
fill out the federal student aid FAFSA form as quickly as possible
by visiting
www.fafsa.ed.gov.) However, we welcome scripts and at any
point; in fact, the earlier the better.
Prospective applicants (and parents) are most
welcome to visit the campus. In the spring of 2005, our
playwright/instructors are in residence March 14 through May 15.
Each will have a reading of one of their current works-in-progress,
featuring visiting guest artists. These will be held April 3 and
May 8 at 3 p.m.
The most opportune time to visit is during the
annual William Inge Theatre Festival (April 20-23). The
multi-talented performers, directors, and playwrights will be here
as well as the Playwrights-in-Residence. We will be happy to
provide our prospective students passes to some of the phenomenal
workshops and events during the festival.
Prospective students are encouraged to phone
the Inge Center office at (620) 331-4100 ext. 4216 or e-mail
pellenstein@ingecenter.org to make arrangements.
Playwriting students also have the
opportunity—indeed, are encouraged—to participate in ICC Theater
Program classes and productions. ICC Theater operates on a
“conservatory-style training” philosophy. As a small college, there
will be ample opportunities to act as well as write. ICC employs a
full-time drama instructor and full-time theater technician. The
drama instructor is Jon Sidoli. He is a former member of Actors
Equity and SAG, has acted professionally on stages in southern
California, and, as an instructor in LA, been teacher and mentor to
many young aspiring actors and has prepared them for entering the
professional world. The technical director is Mark Spitzer, a
designer with numerous professional productions, including the Inge
Festival.
Again, for further information, contact Inge
Center director Peter Ellenstein at
pellenstein@ingecenter.org or at (800) 842-6063, ext. 4216.
William Inge Center for the Arts
Playwriting Instructors are
Accomplished Professionals
Instructors for the William Inge Center for the
Arts Professional Playwriting Certificate program have had works
performed at some of the most respected theater companies in the
nation and abroad. They’ve been recognized with some of the most
prestigious fellowships and honors.
Here is only a partial list of the achievements
of the William Inge Center for the Arts Playwrights-in-Residence:
Their plays have been produced at: (partial
list):
Steppenwolf Theatre; Eugene O’Neill Center; Manhattan Theatre Club;
Actors Theatre of Louisville; the Mark Taper Forum; Jean Cocteau Rep; Arizona Theatre Company; The Guthrie
Theatre; Williamstown Theatre; Nebraska Rep;
The Working Theatre; Sundance Playwrights Lab; London Royal Court;
California Institute of the Arts; Denver Center for the Arts; The
Playwrights Center; The Julliard School; San Diego Repertory; Dublin
Andrews Lane; Sacramento Theater Company.
Fellowships and Awards (partial list):
Michener Fellow for
Playwriting; Michener Fellow for Screenwriting; Jerome Fellow; New
Visions Filmmaking; Fellow; Chicago Dramatists; McKnight Advancement
Grant; Edward F. Albee Foundation; NEA/TCG Theatre Residency; Brown
Vs. Board of Education Commemoration; Heidemann Award; Creative
Screenwriting Magazine Award; Samuel Goldwyn Award; Samuel French
Off-Off-Broadway Award; Latino Screenwriters Lab Scholarship; A.S.K.
Theatre Project; Joseph Jefferson Award
William Inge Center for the Arts
Professional Playwriting Certificate
At Independence Community
College, Kansas
We
are not afraid to boast—the Professional Playwriting Certificate
program is unrivalled at even prestigious four-year universities due
to expert instruction from professional, nationally produced working
playwrights.
No where else can
Freshman and Sophomore students learn from a minimum of eight
professionally produced playwrights in the course of just two years,
all in small classes and intimate settings.
Here’s how--
The William Inge
Center for the Arts is sponsor of the prestigious William Inge Theatre
Festival. Over the years, internationally renowned playwrights such
as Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, and August Wilson—(click
Past Inge Festival Honorees
for a complete list)—have all traveled to Independence Community College to partake in
this celebration of playwriting excellence.
In 2002, the Inge
Center launched its new “Playwrights-in-Residence” program. Each
semester, a minimum of two professional playwrights come to
Independence and live in William Inge’s family home. The playwrights
enjoy time to write their new plays in the same surroundings that
inspired ICC alumnus William Inge to his Pulitzer and Oscar-winning
scripts.
These working
playwrights also teach playwriting at Independence Community
College—where our students can tap their expertise. Plus, students
are in the midst of the William Inge Theatre Festival each April and
may take advantage of conservatory-style training now available at the
Independence Community College theater program.
This is a
certificate that can be added onto a regular community college degree
and is intended for those seriously considering a professional career
as a playwright or writer. Thanks to support of the Inge Festival
Foundation, substantial financial aid is available for students with
demonstrated interest and ability.
Students wishing
to apply to enter the Playwriting Certificate Program will need an
original script. For more information, contact:
The William Inge Center for the Arts
Professional Playwriting Certificate
At Independence Community College, Kansas
(800) 842-6063, ext. 4216
www.ingecenter.org
E-mail contact:
Bruce Peterson
bpeterson@ingecenter.org
Suggested course of study: Two-Year
General Studies Associates Degree
offered by ICC with a Certificate in Playwriting
from the William Inge Center for the Arts
Semester 1
Playwriting
1
3
Eng.
Comp
3
Speech
3
Comp.
Concepts
3
Intro to Dramatic
Lit
3
Wellness
1
College
Skills
1
Play
Production
3
20
Semester 2
Playwriting
2
3
Eng. Comp
2
3
Contemporary
Dramatic
Lit
3
Theatre
Appreciation
3
College
Algebra
3
Music
Appreciation
3
Theatre Workshop
(1-3 credits)
1-3
19-21
Semester 3
Playwriting
3
3
Acting
Fundamentals
3
History of Modern
Civilization
3
World
Geography
3
General
Psychology
3
General Biology (5
credits)
5
Theatre Workshop
(1-3 credits)
1-3
21-23
Semester 4
Playwriting
4
3
Art
Appreciation
3
Directing for the
Stage
3
Elements of
Sociology
3
Intro to Theatre
Design
3
Introduction to
Philosophy
3
Theatre Workshop
(1-3 credits)
1-3
19-21
Those who seek to
complete the Playwriting Certificate without a General Studies degree,
please contact The William Inge Center for the Arts for guidelines.
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