The Paris Junior College Drama Department is presenting the 10th Annual Pyro PlayFest, made up of new, never-before performed short plays fitting this year’s theme: “Where There is a Will, There is a Way!” Two nights will also feature a special fundraiser where the audience gets to interrupt an actor and make them eat spicy chicken. Limited seating is on stage to put the audience into the play, so reservations are required.
“This is a festival of fresh, innovative storytelling that sets the stage ablaze with new voices and groundbreaking theater,” said PlayFest Director and Drama faculty William L. Walker. “This highly anticipated event celebrates the power of creativity and showcases a collection of brand-new short plays written by playwrights from around the world. Directed and performed by a talented ensemble of student and community artists, the festival promises an unforgettable theatrical experience filled with thought-provoking dramas, laugh-out-loud comedies, and bold, risk-taking storytelling.”
Two slates of plays will alternate on April 23-26 at 7:00 p.m. and at 2:00 p.m. on April 26-27, 2025, on the Duane Allen Stage in the Ray E. Karrer Theater.
Slate A has a run time of just under two hours and will be performed at 7:00 p.m. on April 23 and 25 and 2:00 p.m. on April 26. It includes: “Evening Student,” by Tim Wood; “A Little White X,” by Lisa Martin; “Abbott & Othello,” by Will Walker; “Over You,” by Mike Risinger; “Curs’d Be Macbeth,” by Jordan White; “Is That You, Kilgore Trout?” by Derek Dacus; “Tickle That Dragon,” by Amanda Blouin; and “Enter Three Murderers,” by Mike Risinger.
Slate B runs about an hour and forty minutes and will be performed at 7:00 p.m. on April 24 and 26 and 2:00 p.m. on April 27. It includes: “The Squatch of Avon,” by Ryan Smith; “Puppets Dallying,” by Brenna Mills; “Much Ado About Northingness,” by Hannah England; “Lab Coats,” by Lisa Martin; “Heroes in the Pages,” by Addi Brown; “Teddy Knows Too Much,” by Tim Wood; “A Dog (And His Two Gentlemen),” by Will Walker; and “Exit, Pursued by a Bear,” also by Walker.
The cast, which doubles as crew, includes Carlton Bell, Addison “Addi” Brown, Derek Dacus, Emma Davis, Hannah England, Kai Fornof, Collin Henson, Dalen Hobbs, Daisy Howe, TK McGee, Lisa Martin, Maegan Martinez, Brenna Mills, Mike Risinger, Daniel Sebastian, Ryan Smith, Sarah Stemen, Ollivia Stiles, Celia Stogner, Emilee Stowell, Libby Stowell, Teryn Wallace, Will Walker, and Jordan White. A special guest will play Ms. DNA in “Lab Coats,” and Winston the Wonder Corgi will play Crab in “A Dog (And His Two Gentlemen).”
The heat will also be cranked up for PJC Drama’s Pyro Nights, a scholarship fundraising event exclusively at the 7:00 p.m. performances on Friday and Saturday.
“On these two nights only,” said Walker, “audience members who have purchased special Pyro Tickets have the power to ring a bell during specific performances. When the bell rings, the actors onstage must eat a piece of fiery spicy chicken and continue performing through the heat — no matter what. Will they power through, or will the drama get even more intense? There’s only one way to find out!”
Each Pyro Ticket purchase directly supports Drama scholarships and helps to fuel the future of theater.
“We hope you’ll turn up the spice while supporting student artists and ensuring the continuation of bold, innovative performances for years to come,” said Walker. “When creativity sparks, anything is possible.”
Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 senior adults (65+) and high school students, and free for all PJC students, staff, and faculty. For additional ticket information and reservations, please email wwalker@parisjc.edu.
“We want to let our audience know in advance that the Pyro PlayFest features original works that may include adult language and situations similar to what you might encounter on primetime television,” Walker said. “While the content is engaging and thought-provoking, the festival is not designed for young children. We encourage parents and guardians to use discretion when considering attendance.”
PJC Drama is dedicated to fostering artistic excellence and providing a platform for emerging playwrights, performers, and directors. Through innovative productions and unique storytelling experiences, PJC Drama continues to engage, inspire, and entertain audiences year after year.
