News Center

Dec. 21, 2012 — The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) has selected the Allegheny College Playshop Theatre’s original production “Playing Dirty” for its annual regional festival competition.

“Playing Dirty” is one of only eight plays chosen for performance — from 60 entries — during the KCACTF Region II Festival at Towson University in Maryland January 14-17. Participating schools in Region II are from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, northwestern New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, northern Virginia, Washington D.C. and West Virginia.

The play was created with Professor of Theatre Beth Watkins, Meadville puppeteer Brian Thummler and a company of Allegheny students who spent several months developing material on the historical, scientific and sociological connotations of dirt.

It was first presented this fall as the opening performance of the Playshop Theatre’s 83rd season.

“Playing Dirty” has several original songs by Philadelphia-based composer Bob Michel. The music helps to tell the various stories of how dirt shapes the world we live in, including personal hygiene, cultural taboos and the language we use.

Company members include Tito Aderemi-Ibitola, Blair Hartman, Annie Maglione, Lee Scandinaro and Kevin Van Develde. Dan Winston is the musical director, Lee Ann Adelsheim the stage manager, Uriel Gomez the costume designer and Michael Mehler the lighting designer.

An open dress rehearsal of “Playing Dirty” will be held at Allegheny College at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13, in the Gladys Black Theatre at the Vukovich Center for Communication Arts, before the company travels to the festival on Jan. 14.

Caption: Allegheny students Annie Maglione and Blair Hartman in “Playing Dirty.” Photo by Bill Owen.