Notice Board

All are invited to celebrate another outstanding year of short stories and plays submitted to the Play Right Prize and Striking Prose compeititions on Thursday, March 21 at 5:00 pm in the David Spinks Theatre. Generously supported by University of Lethbridge alumnus, Terry Whitehead, the Play Right Prize and Striking Prose Competition aim to encourage excellence and development in student playwriting and stort story writing, and is open to all U of L undergraduate students.

The Department of Drama is pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 Play Right Prize. Many thanks to this year’s jury: Trevor Rueger of the Alberta Playwrights Network, Justin Blum from the Drama Department, and Heather Ladd from the English Department. 

The winner of the first prize of $1,500 is Madeline Smith for her play Silica, which is about four characters fighting for their survival and humanity in a post-apocalyptic world. Smith’s play was commended by the jury as "A smart, compelling stage story about the things we’ll do to survive in extreme situations, with clear characterizations and a conflict that boils over in a gripping climax.” Smith was also the first prize winner last year for her play Carnaticum, which was produced as part of the TheatreXtra season.

The second prize of $750 goes to Sarah Kerr for her play Sanctum. This speculative mystery unfolds around four teenagers locked in individual cells as a mysterious voice prepares them for their rebirth. A dark and haunting look at cults, the play delves into isolation, despair, and the victimization of today’s lost youth.

The third prize of $250 goes to Alexandra Long for her monologue play Naked, a moving, honest look at the complex emotional aftermath of a sexual assault. Hard hitting and poignant, the raw story resonates well after it ends. Long’s play was performed at the 2018 Chinook Regional One-Act Festival at Casa.

The Striking Prose Competition is pleased to present three well-deserved awards to their finalists. Juried by Jay Gamble, Wendy Faith Usher and Heather Ladd, the Striking Prose competition awards Simon Wipf's story, A Saturday Night in a Small Town first place, with second place going to Kathryn DeLucia for No Reservations; Stay Thirsty, My Friends, and third place awarded to Bruce Starlight's story La Muse.

The winning play, Silica, along with the winning Striking Prose short story  A Saturday Night in a Small Town, will be read live at the Gala Celebration, 5:00pm Thursday March 21 at the David Spinks Theatre. Refreshments will be served and everyone is welcome to attend. Of special interest this year, an announcement will be made at the Gala about a brand new national creative writing competition sponsored by Terry Whitehead.