The 32nd Annual Valdez Theatre Conference wrapped up another successful year.

 

The two public evening shows were both well-attended. Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground starred Tony-winner John Rubinstein in a one-man show about President Eisenhower finding out that after his presidency, a group of historians have ranked him 23 out of 31 presidents. It explored the modern political climate with parallels from Eisenhower's political career.

 

The New York workshop production of Joanna Castle Miller's INFERNA was a call to action for the playwrights in the room, and explored the treatment of women in theatre through history played against an autobiographical story from the author's youth. Both shows were powerful and beautifully presented.

 

In addition to the forty-seven play readings responded to in the Lab, there were also many classes for actors and playwrights throughout the week. The Monologue Workshop's final performance was the biggest in its 16th year, with 50 actors performing monologues written by the attending playwrights. This year also saw the return of the highly popular Ten-Minute Play Slam, featuring five writers' short plays directed by PWSC staff member Jay Stevens.

 

There were other great activities, including a donated cruise for all participants aboard Stan Stephens Cruises; a late-night Fringe Festival held at Magpie's On-the-Fly; and a showing of the short film Big Sur, with a discussion afterwards with its two stars, Laura Gardner and Alma Martinez. The week wrapped up in a gala dinner catered by Serendipity

Catering and entertainment provided by TBA Theatre, the Anchorage-based company that regularly provides a two-week summer intensive to Valdez children.

 

We are excited to announce that the 33rd VTC will be held from June 7-14, 2025. We look forward to seeing you there. For any questions or inquiries, please feel free to reach out to the Coordinator, Dawson Moore. Dawson's email address is dmoore@alaska.edu.

 

 

Panelists Nan Barnett, Minita Gandhi, and Dawson Moore taking a photo after responding together in the Play Lab.