This year marks the Town Crier Speaks Festival’s 13th annual run. The Town Crier Speaks Festival is a production of Barebones Collective, the student theater group on campus. Town Crier Speaks consists of six different one-act plays, all of which are acted, written and directed by students.
Town Crier Speaks, an entirely student-run production, gives many students who aren’t normally involved in theater a chance to perform.
“Over the year [Town Crier Speaks] has given a lot of opportunities to new writers, new directors, new actors, to feel a part of the campus community,” Andrew Lutfala said. Lutfala, a senior, is the producer of the Town Crier Speaks Festival.
Lutfala’s Town Crier Speaks experience was one that allowed for growth and evolution.
“My first involvement with the festival was my sophomore year, I was acting in a student written show. Last year I ended up directing and writing for the festival, and this year I’m producing it,” Luftala said.
Town Crier Speaks is the first time many of these actors get involved in campus theater.
“I’m currently taking Theater 110, but this is my first time doing a production outside of class,” sophomore Alana Fineman said.
The Town Crier Speaks festival gives new actors the chance to work alongside seasoned actors—a unique and valuable experience.
“I’m surrounded by so many really talented people and it’s amazing what everyone has been able to put together in such a short amount of time, and I am so stoked to be a part of it,” Fineman said.
Fineman and many other University of Puget Sound students credit the Town Crier Speaks Festival as a major influence in their decision to continue participating in the school’s theater offerings.
“This production has pretty much sold me on Puget Sound theater,” Fineman said.
The plays vary in subject matter and all run approximately 10 minutes in length.
“This might be our strongest lineup in years in regards to all the shows. We have great directors. Some experienced ones and some young, exciting ones as well. I think all the plays are really well written,” Lutfala said.
One of the plays in the festival, Sure Thing Boss, is a dark office comedy centering around a boss who tries to ruin the life of his happiest employee. Sure Thing Boss was written by Lindsey Salazar and is directed by Courtney Seyl. Many of the other plays are similarly humorous and quirky.
The University of Puget Sound’s Town Crier Speaks Festival’s 13th annual run will take place Oct. 9, 10 and 11 at 7 p.m. all evenings.