Spotlight UB Develops Plays in Ireland This Summer
June 25, 2015
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
Starting in July, a group of University of Baltimore students will travel to Armagh, the oldest city in Northern Ireland, to participate in a month-long playwriting experience. When they return, they will perform their plays as part of the University's live performance series known as Spotlight UB in October. The Maryland Irish Festival also will host performances of these plays in early November.
Kimberley Lynne, UB arts and theater manager, affiliate assistant professor and a Baltimore playwright, will teach an intensive playwriting residency during the trip—the fourth consecutive summer it has taken place. Her six UB student writers will develop creative work inspired by local folklore and history and perform them at the John Hewitt International Creative Writing Festival in Armagh.
This year, the students are partially funded by a combination of the UB Foundation's Fund for Educational Excellence, Spotlight UB, and the Maryland Irish Charities. Funding is critical in order to facilitate this journey.
The six students—Jeffrey Bismayer, Bryonna Edwards, Sharea Harris, Chris Rizzo, Carolyn Siu, and Robert Shillieto—make up a diverse mix of undergraduate and graduate-level writers from various programs in English, creative writing, and simulation and design programs. Additionally, Armagh veteran and MFA candidate Christopher Warman will join the residency as a teaching assistant.
Over 30 of Lynne’s plays have been produced in Baltimore, Washington, Minneapolis and New York. Stillpointe Theatre Initiative produced her sci-fi mystery, The Benefactor, in February and Guillotine Theatre in Alexandria staged a reading of her play, The Mad Wooing, in April. This spring, Lynne taught World Culture: Ireland and playwriting at UB.
Throughout their journey, the students will blog about their adventures on Facebook and on a daily homework blog.
Learn more about the John Hewitt International Creative Writing Festival.
Learn more about Spotlight UB.
Learn about the Maryland Irish Festival.