Friday, November 9, 2007
Those with juicy stories about how their parents met will get a chance to put them to good use this weekend. The English Alternative Theater will host its “How My Parents Met” writing competition during performances of two one-act plays written by two KU students.
Paul Lim, professor of English, organized the event and said the competition resulted in some original stories.
“A lot of the stories we have received are really interesting,” Lim said. “Surely everyone asks their parents how they met when they are growing up. Some of these stories are really comical about how the writers’ parents met, but some are tragic as we know love can fade and can eventually turn to divorce.”
The competition has 24 finalists, who have been separated into three groups of eight. The finalists will read their pieces before the one-act plays on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday, depending on which day each group has been designated.
Finalist Robert Knapp, Stillwell junior, said the story of how his parents met at a party was quite entertaining. “My mom mistook my dad for a biker. He had a beard, a jacket, the whole bit. However, he had just been working on an oil rig for a few months as an engineer.” Knapp said he hoped his peers’ stories were just as humorous.
Shawn Bowers, Overland Park senior and competition volunteer, said he thought people should attend because the subject was relatable.
“Having students and community members share the stories of how their parents met provides a perfect introduction to what these plays are about,” Bowers said. “It shows how universal the themes in these one-acts actually are.”
“Please Take ... Seriously,” written by Lawrence senior Adam Brent Lott features the long life of a couch, from its original purchase by a fraternity in 1958 to the present, where two professors must determine its final fate.
“Lights Fade, Curtain,” by Whitney Reece Rowland, Olathe junior, explores a playwright’s attempts to figure out his life by looking into, and writing about his parents’ lives, from their first meeting to how their marriage fell apart.
Three finalists will win a cash prizes of $100 if chosen by the panel of three judges.
The one-act plays and competition happen at 7:30 tonight and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. Tickets are available at the Lawrence Arts Center box office and cost $6 for students, $8 for seniors and $10 for the general public.
Katherine Leslie contributed to this story.
— Edited by Amelia Freidline
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