Award-winning playwright Lee Blessing was in residence for a week with the TU Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre in January. His play The Hourglass Project, directed by Professor Steven Marzolf, was presented in a concert reading style on two evenings, Jan. 30-31, 2015.
Blessing originally brought the play to the attention of his friend, TU Professor Michael Wright, director of creative writing. The department decided to offer the weeklong residency to help develop the play (originally commissioned by Hendrix College in Arkansas) toward a new draft, which will be given a full production in October 2015.
The highlight of the residency was the opportunity for student actors to participate in daylong, professional-style rehearsals of the play, with Blessing in attendance and providing rewrites during the process. The readings were favorably received by the audience, and a lively Q&A session with Blessing followed each of the presentations.
Best known for his play A Walk in the Woods produced on Broadway and West End, Blessing has authored more than 20 plays and screenplays. He has been nominated for Tony and Olivier Awards and was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist.