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PlayLab Archives - Past Seasons

In 1999, the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival's long-running play-reading series, "Shakespeare Unplugged," fulfilled its mission to read every play in the canon.  The popularity of the readings series convinced the Festival's leadership to continue this free activity. Although we had finished all the Bard of Avon's work, surely there were other Bards to discover!  Eric Hissom, an actor in the Festival whose own plays have been produced at the Orlando International Fringe Festival and elsewhere, was appointed to design and host a series of new play readings that took place in the Spring of 1999 under the title "Budding Bards."  Positive audience response resulted in the Festival's decision to expand the series and make it a part of the permanent schedule.  "PlayLab" made its debut in September 1999 with a series of 6 play readings and 3 workshop productions.

With the ultimate aim of cultivating new works for the Festival's two stages, PlayLab also gives audiences a chance to follow a work from early draft to polished production.  

Since PlayLab emphasizes "process," a play may appear on the schedule more than once.  Below are listed the schedules from past PlayLab seasons, with links to synopsis, casts, etc. in order from latest to oldest.

2004-2005 Season

For information, see our PlayFest 2004-2005 Page

2003-2004 Season

For information , see our PlayLab 2003-2004 Page

2002-3 Season

For information , see our PlayLab 2002-2003 Page

2001-2002 SEASON

For info on the 2001-2002 Season , see our PlayLab 2001-2002 Page

2000-2001 SEASON

READINGS

• Buffalo by Eli Finkleman
• Becoming Eleanor by Marsha Shieness
• Jekyll's Addiction by Eric Hissom
• Skywatching, by John Lordan
• Hyde in the Shadows by Michael Carleton
• The Island of Dr. Moreau by Eric Hissom
• Poe: Spirits of the Dead by April Dawn Gladu, Susan Haugen, Tom Taylor, Richard Width

WORKSHOPS

• The Trial of Joan the Maid by Jim Helsinger
• Hyde in the Shadows by Michael Carleton

1999-2000 SEASON

READINGS

• September 20 A Tale of Two Cities by Robin Olson
• October 18  The Aeneid by H.R. Coursen
• November 15 Around the World in Eighty Days by Mark Brown
• January 17  Eighty Days, part II  by Mark Brown
• February 14  Trial of Joan the Maid  by Jim Helsinger
• March 20  Walden by Bill George 

WORKSHOPS

• April 19, 22, 23 Twilight at Monticello by J.D. Sutton
• April 26, 29, 30 Billie and Fran by Eric Hissom
• May 3, 6, 7  Eighty Days by Mark Brown

1998-99 SEASON

READINGS

• April 20 Shoes by Paul Kiernan
• April 27 Whimperby Randy Rand
• May 1 The Eclipse by Richard Width
• May 8 Billie and Fran by Eric Hissom

1997-98 SEASON

SHAKESPEARE UNPLUGGED

Stay tuned, full Shakespeare Unplugged List from 1995-1998 to be added.