black text that reads Nuevas votes a 10-minute play festival, founded by Jim Blair, directed by mara gallon, stage center theatre fall 2023 set on a graphic of multicolor triangles on a white background. logo of NEIU in lower right corner.
white text that reads in the belly of the whale (a.k.a. the Jonah play) by georgette kelly directed by cmt faculty Leslie Hull stage center theatre November 2023 over a background of ripped paper layers in hues of blue and green
white text that reads black bear island by Karissa murrell Myers directed by TBA Stage Center Theatre April 2024 over a photograph of a deep wooded forest and includes a white logo of NEIU

Stage Center Theatre | 2023-2024 Season

Fall 2023

"in the belly of the whale (a.k.a. the jonah play)" by Georgette Kelly

Directed by Communication, Media and Theatre faculty Leslie Hull

Astrid is a sculptor. Domino is a hoarder. Jonah is a writer. Calliope is a parrot. They all live together — separately — in a Manhattan studio apartment building. When it begins to rain … and rain … and rain … they pile into one of Astrid’s sculptures and float out to sea. The adventure that ensues tests their endurance, as they lose one world and create another in the belly of a whale. This new take on the biblical story of Jonah asks the question: What does it mean to be swallowed by a great fish? By a city? By yourself? (New Play Exchange)

This play was developed at The National New Play Network MFA Playwrights Workshop. This program, conducted annually in conjunction with The Kennedy Center and the National Center for New Plays, provides a graduate-level student playwright with an NNPN-affiliated director and dramaturg, a professional cast for a week of script development, and an introduction to the Network, its Membership, and programs.

Performance Dates

  • 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10, 11, 15, 16, and 17
  • 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18*
  • *Nov. 18 performances will be live performances with live-stream access via ShowTix4U.

 

Livestream Ticket Information

  • Livestream tickets are $5 each for any patron utilizing the livestream function.
  • ShowTix4U Access

 

Spring 2024

"BLACK BEAR ISLAND" by KarISSA MURRELL MYERs

Produced in partnership with Silk Road Rising
Guest directed by Jonathan Shaboo

Black Bear Island is haunted by a monstrous man-killing bear, or so everyone says. Amitra never believed the myth about her old hometown. But when Warren, her estranged childhood sweetheart, dies mysteriously and bequeaths her everything he owned, she returns to the island one last time. As the forest begins to engulf the house and her past begins to collide with the present, she is determined to find out who Warren really was and what happened to him. This gothic magical-realism suspense thriller explores regret, the unreliableness of our own memories, and the paths we choose to become who we are.

Performance Dates**

  • 7:30 p.m. April 17-19
  • 3:00 p.m. April 20: Exclusive Silk Road Rising Donors and Patrons Performance and Reception
  • 7:30 p.m. April 24-26
  • 3:00 p.m. April 27 

**Live stream details in progress. Check back soon!

 

2023-2024 Past Productions

7th Annual Playwriting Contest Winners for the Fall 2023 Nuevas Voces Festival

Directed by Communication, Media and Theatre M.A. Candidate Mara Galeno

Founded by alumnus and former Northeastern professor Jim Blair to create a platform at Northeastern Illinois University for new playwrights, Nuevas Voces is a thrilling launch point for new work from Northeastern and its vibrant community. Featuring multiple prize-winning short plays selected from an extensive competition, Nuevas Voces reveals the complexity of our human experience through the many lenses that make up Northeastern.

Performance Dates

  • 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28; an opening reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and talkback session at the conclusion of the opening night.
  • 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29
  • 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Sept. 30

This year's winning plays:

  • 1st Place: "Two People" by Victor Braeseke, prize of $250
  • 2nd Place: "It's My Move" by Samuel Jin Seo, prize of $200
  • 3rd Place: "The Interns" by Luke Steadman, prize of $150

Honorable mention playwrights:

  • "The Palestine/Israeli Conflict" by Michael Gross, prize of $75
  • "The Hated Ones" by Anmol Galati, prize of $75
  • "Tripping on Xanax at a Mumford and Sons Concert" by David Lipschutz, prize of $75