Five Plays Premiering At Contemporary American Theater Festival In July

Theater artists from across the United States will gather in Shepherdstown next month for plays exploring topics of identity, family, wellness and more.

Since 1991, the Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) has brought dozens of actors, writers, directors and creatives to the campus of Shepherd University each year for a slate of new theatrical productions. This year’s festival will run from July 11 to Aug. 3 and showcase five plays.

Plays and playwrights who participate in the festival are selected by different means, according to Artistic Director Peggy McKowen. Some submit their work through agents, whereas others are discovered by McKowen herself at events and reading festivals around the country.

From there, McKowen works with playwrights to identify directors and designers, then coordinates with a casting director to audition and place actors.

This year’s productions include the story of a West Virginia native who explores his Vietnamese American identity, the theatrical retelling of a conversation between Peter the Apostle and Mary Magdalene and a creative’s journey navigating both art and disability.

These topics may seem disparate at a first glance, but McKowen said there are through-lines across all five productions, especially in their exploration of “intense, challenging aspects of life.”

“All of the plays talk [about] or at least address the idea of belonging and what communities we belong in,” McKowen said. “How we can build the communities that we want to be part of.”

McKowen said the works demonstrate how characters journey toward life paths that are “still positive and still loving and still engaging, sort of maintaining a faith in the goodness of humanity.”

The plays featured in this year’s CATF lineup are as follows:

• “Did My Grandfather Kill My Grandfather?” by Cody LeRoy Wilson: Written by a native of Marion County, this play explores the journey of a Vietnamese American main character raised in a predominantly white family in West Virginia. The protagonist explores relationships within his racially mixed family, the history of Vietnamese-American relations and opportunities for community-building among Asian Americans. The play was developed in 2023 at the NuWorks Festival at Pan Asian Repertory Theatre in New York City, and now returns to LeRoy Wilson’s home state for a wider production.
• “Magdalene” by Mark St. Germain: This marks the fourth production St. Germain has staged for the CATF, and is set 18 years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In it, Peter the Apostle speaks with Mary Magdalene after she was exiled from Jerusalem. The two recount different versions of Jesus and his miracles, examining the intricacies of the western Christian faith along the way.
• “Kevin Kling: Unraveled” by Kevin Kling: National Public Radio (NPR) commentator Kevin Kling uses theater to tell his journey as an artist. Kling was born with a congenital birth disorder and experienced partial paralysis after surviving a severe motorcycle accident. The work incorporates moments of humor and joy, and will be produced in partnership with the Massachusetts-based Merrimack Repertory Theatre.
• “Happy Fall: A Queer Stunt Spectacular” by Lisa Sanaye Dring: This play incorporates puppetry, video, illusions and, of course, stunts to tell the story of two Hollywood stuntmen. It follows the lives of two men navigating both a romantic relationship and the challenges of their industry. The play is produced in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the Rogue Artists Ensemble.
• “Side Effects May Include…” by Lisa Loomer: This play follows a mother’s efforts to help her son navigate mental health difficulties, exploring side effects that can arise from psychiatric medications and trust in the contemporary medical system. Loomer showcased another play, “Accelerando,” in 1991 as part of the CATF’s first-ever festival. Loomer also wrote a musical called “Real Women Have Curves” that premiered on Broadway in April.

The festival will also feature several talks with the artists and administrators behind this year’s festival, plus other community events.

West Virginia residents also receive a discount for ticket purchases, according to McKowen. Individuals who volunteer to usher shows are also eligible to attend for free, she said.

“Theater is an opportunity for us to gather together and share experiences,” McKowen said. “I think that we have at least one show for everybody.”

To learn more or purchase advance tickets for this season’s shows, visit the Contemporary American Theater Festival website.