Paperclip Plays Project to Debut at Toquet Hall

Two local students home from college are using their winter break to create an all-youth-run theater festival in Westport.

The Paperclip Plays Project, organized by Kate Doyle, 19, of Westport and Kristin Otharsson, 21, of Fairfield, presents six brand-new student-written plays at Toquet Hall on Jan. 15 and 16.

The event is organized by, and exclusively features the works of, high school and college students. This first-time endeavor will feature the work of five playwrights, five directors, four set designers, five stage managers and 17 performers.

The one-act plays will include an ensemble piece about the college admissions process, a  dark comedy about man versus computer, a humorous look at the age of instant information, a comical tale of planning a dinner with friends and an evocative story  of family, love and memory.

The goal of the Paperclip Plays Project is to connect student theater artists from throughout Fairfield County, Otharsson explained.

"Kate and I love theater and we wanted to put something together during our winter breaks, when there are not a lot of student theater opportunities," Otharsson said. "We felt that we could bring together a group of theater enthusiasts who can reach and learn from each other."

Coincidentally, it was a student-based theater experience that first united the two collaborators. Otharsson and Doyle met in 2006 while attending the Westport Country Playhouse apprenticeship program. "We've been friends ever since," Otharsson said.

Their brain child has received significant local support. The Paperclip Plays Project is backed by RevitalArts (http://www.revitalarts.org), a completely student-run nonprofit organization that is devoted to supporting and fostering the youth arts scene in Fairfield County. Half of the event's $7 per-person admission fees will be donated to RevitalArts.

The pair approached Kevin Godburn, director of Toquet Hall, with a mission statement describing the Paperclip Plays Project as: "An ensemble-based project that hopes to sustain an artistic process of innovation and collaboration, connecting Fairfield County student artists of both high school and college age through student written, produced, directed and performed new plays."

Godburn lent his support to the endeavor by posting information about the event on the Toquet Hall Web site (http://toquethall.wordpress.com),  helping to accrue submissions and volunteers, as well as providing audition and performance space for the productions.

A theater-group meeting has taken place at the Westport Public Library and Fairfield Theatre Company, in Fairfield, is sharing its stage for rehearsals.  

Otharsson studies theater education at Emerson College and will graduate in 2011. Doyle, a student at Brown University, will receive her diploma in 2012. Both plan to direct and act during the Jan. 15 and 16 productions.

Westporters involved in the event include actors Zoe Apoian, a student at Point Park College, and  Nora Kennedy, who attends Staples High School.

Additional participants are Scott Bartelson, Laura Blagys, Michael Blagys, Joseph Burgess, Emily Callahan, Altay Citak, Bayindir Citak, Ian DeVotie, Katie Garvey, Alexandra Keegan, Emily Kwong, Gina LeDonne, Emma Linsenmeyer, Christina Longofono, Carly Maier, Jeremy Marcone, Ryan Marcone, John Mozier-Tichy, Caroline O'Connor, Haley Olson, Daeja Otharsson, Megan Paqua, Brendan Quinn, Quinn Rooney, Connor Ryan, Carmine Urciuoli, Madeleine Veith and Phoebe Wright.

Participants in the production represent the following schools: Boston College, Bunnell High School, College of the Holy Cross, Columbia University, Fairfield College Preparatory School, Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Fairfield Warde High School, Lauralton Hall, LeMoyne College, Marist College, New York University, Norwalk Community College, Sacred Heart Academy, St. Joseph's High School,  SUNY New Paltz, The Spence School, University of Connecticut, University of Delaware andWilliam Paterson University.

The Paperclip Plays Project program will be about 2 hours and 15 minutes in length.

For information, email paperclipplaysproject@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com and search for Paperclip Ensemble.