The Linnell Festival of New Plays: A Showcase of Emerging Talent and Diverse Voices
The University of New Mexico Department of Theatre and Dance is thrilled to present the Linnell Festival of New Plays. This annual celebration is a testament to the creativity and innovation that will come to define the next generation of theatre. Highlighting this year’s festival are three original plays authored by exceptionally creative and gifted MFA in Dramatic Writing graduate students: Marya Errin Jones, Katie Farmin, and Dani Mettler.
“Pressing” by Marya Errin Jones
“Pressing,” written by Marya Errin Jones and directed by Ewa Maria Platt, offers an examination of contemporary themes while setting the play in the 1980s to 2000s. “Pressing” delves into music, pop culture, human connection, sexuality, dreams, the elusive nature of time, and interracial love. Marya Errin Jones has crafted a powerful narrative that invites audiences to reflect on the complexities of race in America and the intricate bonds we forge as families of choice.
“Pressing” was included in an exchange with Akademia Teatralna Warszawa, a prestigious theatre school in Poland, and student Ewa Maria Platt has spent the last few weeks here in Albuquerque directing the play. This exchange exemplifies the Department of Theatre and Dance’s commitment to nurturing international collaborations.
“Sink” by Katie Farmin
Katie Farmin’s “Sink” emerges as a compelling gem in the festival’s lineup. The plot revolves around Paul and Molly, a couple settling into their new home. However, their blissful journey takes an unexpected turn when they grapple with the extended presence of Paul’s old college friend, Annie. As tensions escalate, Molly’s growing unease is vindicated by a shocking revelation about Annie. “Sink” offers an exploration of trust, paranoia, and the unsettling secrets lurking beneath the surface.
“Below Sea Level” by Dani Mettler
Dani Mettler’s “Below Sea Level” closes out the Linnell Festival’s lineup. Set in the backdrop of the vibrant city of New Orleans, the play immerses the audience in the lives of a diverse group of expats and locals. These characters navigate the tumultuous waters of hurricanes and the profound loss of loved ones, seeking solace in poetry and ritual.
In addition to these productions, the Linnell Festival of New Plays will feature two staged readings by second-year MFA students Tatiana Isabel Gil and Mikayla Jade. These readings offer a sneak peek into the promising talents of these emerging playwrights.
Don’t miss the Linnell Festival of New Plays, a celebration of the diversity and creativity of these talented playwrights and witness the emergence of exciting new voices in the world of theatre.
UNM Artists Take the Spotlight in Southwest Contemporary Vol. 12: Obsession
Southwest Contemporary Vol. 12: Obsession features some incredible work from several of the amazing people who comprise the Art Department. Current second-year MFA students Luka Berkley and Justine Kablack, recent MFA graduate Taylor Engel, and instructor Jessamyn Lovell all have work featured in this most recent issue of Southwest Contemporary.
Spotlight on Art Studio & Art History Faculty: Featured Exhibitions
Art History Professor Ray Hernández-Durán was recently featured in two articles and interviewed by the Latin American and Iberian Institute. UNM News published “UNM Professors Create Exhibition, First-Ever Scholarship of Local Chicano Artists’ Work” by Anna Padilla, highlighting an exhibition curated by Hernández-Durán and Dr. Irene Vásquez. The show, now on view at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, features six talented New Mexican Chicano artists whose work has been historically underrepresented in academic scholarship.
Art Faculty: Awards, Residencies & Revisited Projects
Distinguished Professor Jim Stone is an exhibiting artist who uses photography. His photographs have been published in three monographs and exhibited internationally; they are represented in the permanent collections of over 30 major museums and public archives.