April 12, 2023 713 PM
MARFA — Marfa Live Arts presents the 12th Annual One-Act plays on Wednesday, April 19, at the Crowley Theater in Marfa. This year’s selection of award-winning plays has been written by freshman Piper Donaldson, sophomore Jack Marquez, junior Amber Hinojos, and senior Janelly Pereira during the 2023 Marfa Live Arts Playwriting Workshop under the tutelage of playwright Raul Garza. The words of the student playwrights will be brought to life and performed onstage by regional thespians including: Jerram Rojo, Fatima Anaza, Belen Garcia, Rachel Tate, Olivia Pertuso, Dillon Orr, John Aguero, Sabine Blaese, Evan Louison, Christie Alexander, Abby Boyd, Lily Aguero, Oscar Aguero and Caitlynn Almance.
According to the winners of the competition, their plays being picked to be performed were a surprise. “I didn’t think I was going to win,” Donaldson said of her play “Colors,” which she said was inspired by a video she watched in elementary school of an American icon. “We watched this video about Helen Keller and how she learned sign language and it always stuck with me. Sometimes I get memories of it, and I thought, ‘What if I wrote a play about an artist who’s blind?’”
Marquez’s play, titled “OK,” according to the student playwright, “is a story of an unrequited crush.” Hinojos’ work, “Ice Cold,” she said, was inspired by a story told to her by her grandmother. And the idea for Pereira’s play, “Future Kids of America,” came about after a fellow student interviewed her about time travel. “I said if I could go back, I’d go back to the ‘80s and be my mom’s best friend,” she said.
For Garza, who ran the Marfa Live Arts workshop, the students have shown great promise as playwrights. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to have worked with MHS students. My role was to offer tools to help the writers get out of their own way. I’m proud that the students –– and the winning writers in particular –– showcased the ability to write from the heart without filters or barriers.” Garza is also excited for the upcoming performances that will demonstrate the students’ newfound writing abilities. “They created plays that transform everyday experiences into moments of transformation,” he said. “Audiences will be wowed by their boldness and imagination.”
The Marfa Live Arts One-Act Plays is at 7 p.m. on April 19, and made possible by support from the Marfa Education Foundation. The community is invited to attend this free event. For more information visit www.marfalivearts.org.
