Fringe 2004 Early Buzz - Honorable Mentions (1 of 3)

My objectivity on these shows is probably a wee bit skewed, as they have very direct personal connections, and are close to my heart. I'm not going to front-load the top 10 prospects with them, but they come very highly recommended. After all, why would I be involved otherwise?

Dandelion Snow
by Matthew A. Everett
Out on Stage Productions
MCTC Whitney Mainstage

It was not my original intent to actually have a script of my own in the Fringe. I was helping to produce an entirely different Fringe show that would showcase the work of other writers. But the producer/director of Out on Stage had their original choice of script fall through due to scheduling. A good friend steered them my way. After reading a copy of my scripts, Dandelion Snow was chosen. It's a script that evolved over the course of three years, three Ten Minute Play Festivals and a Great American Play Bakeoff, all sponsored by The Playwrights' Center. The characters of Dana and Ash, two high school sweethearts who meet again in their 30's in the ruins of their old elementary school, burned to the ground by a freak lightning strike, are creations who stuck with me, and whose circle of acquaintances and family continued to grow in both fun and touching directions. Mothers, sisters, husbands, even potential new boyfriends delivering pizza. Love revived, love requited and unrequited, love that won't let you go unless you send it packing. The first segment was a finalist in the national ten minute play contest at the Actors Theater of Louisville, and was fully produced as part of the Original Theatre Company's ten minute play showcase "Ten By Ten" at the Theatre Garage for an extended run back in the fall of 2000. But the full four parts of it - the title sequence, Across Their River, Extra Cheese, and Tools - have never been produced before. I've been lucky enough to have commissions and productions the past four years running, but never in town, or even in state. I'd be on one coast or the other but my friends in the Midwest haven't had a chance to see my work lately. Now, thanks to Out on Stage, the Fringe 2004 is about to change all that. So, join the homecoming, and meet Ash, Dana, Julian, Abigail, Grace, Claire, and Aidan. I personally vouch for them, one and all.

Read excerpts of the four parts of the cycle
Dandelion Snow
Across Their River
Extra Cheese
and Tools
as well as other coverage, photos and more at
www.matthewaeverett.com