Towson Theatre Lab

Founded in 2008, the Towson Theatre Lab provides writers creating texts for live performances (playwrights, poets, and storytellers) from the TU community with the opportunity to share early drafts of their work and receive compassionate, critical feedback from a group of assembled artists. The assembled artists offer the writers the chance to hear and observe reactions to their work at a nascent stage, before proceeding onto the next phase of the creative process.

Playwrights, performance artists, actors, directors, designers, and anyone interested in working with emerging works are invited to attend and hone their skills in finding inspiration in cold readings and discovering new works and creative voices.

Theatre Lab has produced several new play festivals including Good Gravy (2011); Wright On (2015); Wright Hard, Play Hard (2018); and Love at First Wright (2024).

Beginning in 2021, Theatre Lab is supported by the Acting Crew (THEA 492) during the fall semester, which provides opportunities for longer-form residencies with TU alumni who are writing and developing new works: 20/02 by Chloe and Kaylah Harvey (2021) and Queens by Divinia Shorter (2023).

Towson Theatre Lab has hosted readings of many works that have gone on to production or received other accolades:

• The Reaper Files by Davin Banks. Student Studio Production, Spring 2024
• Birthday Manicure by Ramon Miranda Amaya produced at 10x10x10 (Fells Point Corner Playhouse), August 2023
• 20/02 by Chloe and Kaylah Harvey.  Co-Production Towson University and Morgan State University, Spring 2023
• Voyager by Jacob Zeranko.  Student Studio Production, Fall 2018
• After by Tess Huth, Student Studio Production, Fall 2015
• Dance on Bones by David White presented at Festival of American Culture, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 2014
• Mixed Media by Nina Kauffman workshop production presented at Towson University, April 2014
• Bad Kids by Steven Barroga, production spring 2013, TU
• Hello My Name is GAY by Peyton Lynch, production fall 2012, TU
• Leaves of Hope presented in Joplin, MO and at WordBRIDGE, spring 2012
• Paul! (A Musical) by Michael Perrie production fall 2010, TU
• Pilgrims of the Storm by Catherine Hagner workshop production spring 2011, TU
• A Good Brain is Hard to Find by Becca Wyrick produced spring 2010, TU; 2012 Baltimore Playwrights Festival
• Martial Arts by Yury Klavdiev, translated by David M. White with Yury Urnov produced spring 2010, TU/CITD New Russian Drama Conference; 2013 Breaking String, Austin Texas
• Frozen in Time by Vyacheslav Durnenkov, translated by John Freedman produced spring 2010, TU/CITD New Russian Drama Conference
• Tanya-Tanya by Olga Mukhina, adapted by Kate Moira Ryan produced fall 2009, TU/CITD New Russian Drama Conference
• The Rope In Your Hands by Siobhan O’Laughlin produced spring 2009, TU; fall 2009, Chesapeake Arts Center; spring 2010, Salisbury University
• Chapstick Smells Like Fish by Jared Jiacinto produced fall 2009, TU
• Colorism by Rain Pryor workshopped May 2009, Mina’s Gallery, Baltimore,
• 7:32 by KT Peterson produced fall 2008, TU; Winner of National KCACTF Music Theater Award (Book)
• Good Gravy! New Play Festival Fall 2011
  A Love Story <3 by Michael Perrie Jr.
  Thick as Thieves by Matt Shea
  CRACKeD by Diane Sadak (formerly Step on a Crack)
  Eve’s Appetite by Sean Mahoney
  O FortunaCom by Kyle Levine

Archive of Works Presented at the Lab

Fall 2023:
Queens (Act 1) by Divinia Shorter
In The Between by Kai DonDero
Heart of Taiko (Scene 1) by Mary Luken
UNdocumentary by Ramon Miranda Amaya
Here and There poems by Francesco Leandri
En Route by Kaylah Harvey
After Death Group Therapy by Davin Banks
Notorious Ambition by Emily Grasso

Spring 2023:
The Combination of the Living and the Dead by Davin Banks
A Three-Ways Play by Alisa Hicks
Moments from Queens by Divinia Shorter
Going Through It by Nikiyah Fayson
The Room and Burger Joint by Ramon Miranda Amaya
Meetup by Nikiyah Fayson
A Dark Cry of Vengeance by Jeremiah Catoe
Flash Bang Gone by Alisa Hicks
Why Didn’t We Go Home? by Nikiyah Fayson
Back When Tigers Smoked… by Wynter O’Conner
Notorious Ambition by Emily Grasso

Fall 2022:
Flash Bang Gone by Alisa Hicks
Fat Fucks, Birthday Manicure, and The Room by Ramon Miranda Amaya
The Combination of the Living and the Dead by Davin Banks
Mirai, Absurd Peter Pan, and House of Memories by Emily Grasso
The Many Faced Monster by Jovan Brooks
The Beginning of the End by Dave White
Golden by Lenox Kamara
Unfortunate by Emily Grasso

Spring 2022:
BTT Pop UP and Outside the Window by Lenox Kamara
Friends for the End by Eddie Stockman
Right? and Mommy Milkers by Tia Thomas
Offiline by Nicholas Friend
Get Down by Christy Brooks
A Monologue by Logan Van Guine Jennings

Fall 2021:
Reasons to Live by Lela Woodward
The Horror of Dora the Explorer by Michael Oduro
Life is a Stage by Nicholas Friend
20/02 by Chloe and Kaylah Harvey

Spring 2021:
Hiatus

Fall 2020:
Blessed Celebration, Janan V. Hamdi, and Gay Straight Defiance by Keche Navina Arrington
Friends for the End by Eddie Stockman
Champion of Sherwood: A New Robin Hood Tale by Heather awaken
Promised Neverland by Miles Lawlor
Pumpkin’ by Darcy Fowler (1st reading)
Pumpkin’ by Darcy Fowler (2nd reading)

Spring 2020:
Vals by Sam Ortiz and Simi by Ayo Tunde-Sanya
*Lab sessions cancelled due to COVID

Fall 2019:
A Collection of Summer Poems by Keche Arrington
I’m Neither by Claire Wescott
The Book of Rachel by Kalene Chmura
The Eskimos by Keche Arrington
There May Not Be Dungeons, But There Will Be A Dragon by Dave White
The Hunter by Liam Watkins and Broken Dreams by Bala Mah’moud

Spring 2019:
There May Not Be Dungeons, But There Will Be A Dragon by Dave White
Manic Memoirs: A Collection of Pixie Poems By O’Malley Steuerman
‘Questions for Donald Trump’, ‘Depression is like a War Found My Salvation in McDonald’s’, ‘Me and My Sleep Paralysis Demon are BFFs’, ‘It’s Dangerous When You’re Black’ a collection of poems by Amaya Blanding
The Hardest Words to Say and Finished Business By Keche Arrington
JESUS CHRIST, JULIET and The Hardest Words to Say by Keche Arrington
Black Moon Lillith by Aris Hines
Bryophyta by Autumn Koehnlein
‘Out of the Blue: A Play with Music’ Keche Navina Arrington
‘A/C’ by Jacob Zeranko
Untitled Waffle House Play by Liam Watkins
Divine Underworld by Izzy Springer

Fall 2018:
Punch Me in the Heart By Isaiah Harvey
OOOWOOGAHHH!!!! By Keche Arrington
Fairy Gay Parent By John Patterson
If The Roles Were Reversed By Keche Arrington
When You Were My Age By John Patterson
Self Help for Dummies By Libbey Kim
Half Full, Half Empty By Keche Arrington
Maggie and Dane and Assorted poems By Liam Watkins
Ragnarok: A Play in 5 Battles By Jake Zeranko
Hickies and Hangovers By Keche Arrington
Discovering Earth The Story of Apollo 8 By Keche Arrington
Fairy Gay Parent By John Patterson
Too Young To Burn By Keche Arrington

Spring 2018:
Voyager by Jacob Zeranko
In Lak’ech by Keche Arrington
Recreational Tourists of Duat by Ántonia Timothy
The Fall by John Patterson
Keep Moving by Alyssa Bell
The Loss of a Mother by Daniel Rosen

Fall 2017:
A Queen’s Curse by Divinia Shorter
Dumb Love, A Short Screenplay by Liam Watkins
X-Ray, The Case of the Modern Negro, and Afterglow by Aris Hines
A Full Table by Keche Arrington and Sweeter than Dirt by Natalie Dent
Apollo 8 by Samuel Pomerantz
Evicted and Glimmer by Austin Wilson
Warlords by Isaiah Mason Harvey
A Love Story by Rose Hahn,
Bethany, Jess, & Occasionally Barbara by Aris Hines,
Bros and Blood Eggs by Mani Yanglimau

Spring 2017:
Tentatively Titled- Schooled by Rose Hahn
10 minutes: Settle the Score by Rose Hahn; Attack of the Universe by Steve Barroga; The Talk by Tess Huth; Stand Beside Her by Becca Altschul; The Ballad of “Duckie” Dale by L.H. Lynch; Rabbit Rabbit June by Grace Kane; On Oakley Hill by Tess Huth
Rio Doce by Mani Yanglimau,
Let's Talk About by Divinia Shorter
Mz. X by Tess Huth
Amontillado by David White
Home by Divinia Shorter
A Scene from Hamlet: A Modern Tragedy by Aris Hines,
One minute plays: Beauty’s Eyes, Hard to Get, Old School, Spring Break, The Big Idiot, and Whacked! By Dave White
Crossroad by Aaron Morina
Arbitrary Test of Skill and Strength by Sterling Morrison

Fall 2016:
The Songs My Grandma Sings by Tess Huth
May Flowers by Grace Kane
Writing Workshop: Setting, Character, Action
So-Called Heroes by Isaiah Mason Harvey
Son of Olympus by Tobias Vogelstein; screenplay
Hotel Persephone by Grace Kane

Spring 2016:
Smut: A Pas De Deux by Tess Huth
The Hotel Persephone by Grace Kane, Environment by Mani Yanglimau, and Hawthorn Vale by Tyler Peterson
10 minute plays: Space Alien Shit by Steve Barroga, Another Sunny Day by Sterling Morrison, Twisted Business by Maria Winters, Best Seller’s List by Tess Huth, New Normal by Grace Kane, A Simple Video Game by Kyle Levine, Perdition by Sam O’Farrell
Lucid by Isaiah Harvey
Master Hunter, a musical piece by Leora and Aviva Match
8 ½ Bluest Eyes by Steve Barroga
Substancial by Kat Kaplan
GREY by Taylor Reiland, Asma Iqbal, Bridget Lindsay, and Abdul Idris;
Love to Watch Her Go by Allison Bradbury

Fall 2015:
Milagros, a screenplay by Mani Yangilmau
The Girl I Love by Tess Huth
Phantom Limb by Mani Yangilmau
Will you be my.. by Zoe Jenkins
The Gambit: A Tale for the Mole People by L.H. Lynch
Lucid by Isaiah Harvey
A Mysterious and Sudden End, a melodramtic short film by Tyler Peterson
Come On In a screenplay by David White
Lucid by Isaiah Harvey (Including Acts II and III)

Spring 2015:
Cacophony by Adele Russell
After: A Play in Two Acts by Tess Huth
Time by Adele Russel
Short scenes and Monologues from After: A Play in Two Acts by Tess Huth
(An Untitled Play) by Mani Yanglimau
Prodigal (Working Title) by Tess Huth

Fall 2014:
Backmasking,Mahpiohanzia, Sluffing, and The Hunger Artist by Zach Trebino
The White Apron (El Delantal Blanco) by: Sergio Vodanovic; Translated by Taylor Rieland
Steam by Tess Huth
(An Untitled Play) by Divinia Shorter
Short Horror Adaptations: Steven Barroga: Music of Erich Zann by H.P. Lovecraft; Kat Kaplan: Telltale Heart by Edgar A. Poe; Ren Marie: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; JD Sivert: An Occurrence in Carcosa by Ambrose Bierce; Dave White: The Raven by Edgar A. Poe
Helvetios by Benjamin Badorf
Superheroism by Tess Huth
Patron by David White
My Brother, Supergod Billy Elroy by Steven Barroga
Shit My Dad Told Me or 4th and Long by Alex Lewis
Continuance by Zach Trebino
Customs by Sadie Lockhart
Struts and Frets by Zach Bopst and Steve Barroga
The Shards by D. Whit

Spring 2014:
A One Minute Play by Linus T. Owen (Titleless)
Measure Twice by David White
Cut Once by David White
Loser by David White
Dance on Bones (Revised) by David White
Mixed Media (Revised) by Nina Kauffman
After (Revised) by Tess Huth
Achromic Edition #2 by Tess Huth
Vajungle by Mani Yangilmau
My Brother, Supergod Billy Elroy by Steve Barroga

Fall 2013:
Whatever Happens Happens, Or It Doesn’t by Linus T. Owens
That’s No Play by Alex Lewis
Taylor Rieland’s monologue (Titleless)
Fast by Steve Barroga
Dance on Bones by David White
Mixed Media by Nina Kauffman
Wayflame “Lighting” Parts 1 + 2 by Kyle Levine
The Chronicles of Rachel West: Objects by Dawn Kelley
Baltimore Crazy Quilt by Carol R. Collins
After by: Tess Huth
Lucifer by Logan Lynch

Spring 2013:
Curious by Peyton Lynch
The Power by Linus T. Owens
Solicitation by Tess Huth
Restless by Edmond Cofie
On our Way to the Fair by Bill Savage
Special writing lab with George Brant
Wayflame (pilot episode) by Kyle Levine
Cityscape Act 1 by Tess Huth
Cityscape Act 2 by Tess Huth
The Second Six: The Day the Forest Fell by Linus T. Owens
Wayflame (second episode) by Kyle Levine

Fall 2012:
HELLO My Name is GAY by Peyton Lynch
Bad Kids by Steven Barroga
The Cup Breakers by Maddie Hicks
6 by Linus T. Owens
Sunshine Play by Eva Hiott
Brick by Brick by Maddie Hicks
Survives by Linus T. Owens
The Chronicles of Rachel West: Objects by Dawn Kelley
This is All True by Kat Kaplan
Sickness by Sean Mahoney
Don’t Fucking Speak: A Look at Emotional Extremism by Paul America
Don’t Fucking Speak: A Look at Emotional Extremism (revised) by Paul America
In Our Own Revolutions A Radio Play by Sean Bargatze
HELLO My Name is GAY by Peyton Lynch
Closure by Zach Bopst

Spring 2012:
Leaves of Hope, a play for Joplin compiled by Molly Baker, Taylor Haddad, Kelsey Hale, Kaitey Hembree, Sarah Matthews, Ethan Ritschel, Bradley White and David M. White
The Industrial Revolution in 3-D by JD Sivert
Lady Strata by Dawn Kelley
The Power by Linus Owens
Noh, Mistress by Kyle Levine
Eleven Days of Bloody Bloody Carnage by Michael Perrie, Jr.
Spiders by Emily Renae Hall
Samsara, In The Beginning by Paul America
Don’t Tell Poppa by Dawn Kelley
A Dream of Wings by Sean Mahoney
The Contract by Michael Perrie, Jr.

Fall 2011:
Sweet Darkness and the Plot to Destroy Earth by Michael Perrie, Jr.
O FortunaCom by Kyle Levine
Eve’s Appetite by Sean Mahoney
Waiting Room by Sean P. Smith
Ninjas and Squirrels by David M. White
Tall Buildings by David M. White
Injuries by Dawn Kelly
New Messiah by Michael Perrie, Jr.
The Last Unicorn(s) by Peyton Lynch

Spring 2011:
A Love Story <3 by Michael Perrie Jr.
Pavel Pryazhko’s Panties translated by David White with Yury Urnov
Untitled by Will Dalrymple
Transmitting by Lene Hardy
Frayed Covers by Jesse Marciniak
Supernatural “The Museum of Doctor Moreau” by J.N. Jiacinto
Polymerous by Kyle Levine
Legend of the Dead Fist by Eric Poch
Loser by David M. White
Ain’t Nothin’ Quik ‘n Easy by David M. White

Fall 2010:
Plans by Sean P. Smith
Step on a Crack: A Universe Unbound by Diane Smith-Sadak
Recall by Casey Subock
Headache by Sean P. Smith
Tennessee Sun by Michael Perrie Jr.
The Cave Dwelling by Eric “Texas” Boelsche
The Masque of the Red Death by Billy McHattie
12 Steps by Sean P. Smith
The Little (Messed-Up) Mermaid by Peyton Lynch
A Piece by Catherine Hagner

Spring 2010:
The Family Anatidae by Kate Robinson
Salient Factor by Kate Robinson
Ingenious Devices by Becca Wyrick
Chicago Box by Julia M. Smith
Lakeshore Drive by Julia M. Smith
There’s Always A Worse Place to Be by Billy McHattie
Dirty Little Rooms by Pamela J. Gross
Paul! (A Musical) by Michael Perrie Jr.
The Death Eater by Jared Jiacinto
Pilgrims of the Storm by Catherine Hagner
Stand-Up Comedy by Matt Kaiser
Legend of the Dead Fist by Eric Poch
I Am Death Man by Caitlyn Joy

Fall 2009:
Damn Your Eyes! The Swingin’ of the Wretched Sam Hall as Performed by the Good Folk of Ludi County by Steven Barroga
Pilgrims of the Storm by Catherine Hagner
Wash Me Red in the River Cheyenne by Pamela J. Gross
The Blossoming of the Dark by Joseph Ritsch
The Test by Peyton Lynch
Techno Breakdown by Billy McHattie
A Good Brain is Hard to Find by Becca Wyrick
Martial Arts by Yury Klavdiev, translated by David M. White with Yury Urnov
Frozen in Time by Vyacheslav Durnenkov, translated by John Freedman
Thick as Thieves by Matt Shea

Spring 2009:
The Rope In Your Hands by Siobhan O’Laughlin
Tanya-Tanya by Olga Mukhina, translated by Kate Moira Ryan
Wash Me Red in the River Cheyenne by Pamela J. Gross
Out by Rain Pryor
Colorism by Rain Pryor
A Good Brain is Hard to Find by Becca Wyrick
Chapstick Smells Like Fish by Jared Jiacinto
The Interrogation of Frances P. Dorsett on the Anniversary of Her Birth by Pamela J. Gross
Pleasant Living by Caitlyn Joy

Fall 2008:
Ginger’s Odyssey by Bill Stanley, edited by Joan La Count
Starlight by Pamela J. Gross
A Twisted Soul: The Rise of an Emperor by John Anthony
Repress and Excite by Maksym Kurochkin, translated by John Freedman
(reading featuring John Glover)
The Holding Pattern by David J. Glover
Cat’s Cradle by Caitlyn Joy
Balau and the Top of the World by KT Peterson
Enough by David M. White
Watersheds by David M. White

Spring 2008:
Mr. Boniface, The Wise, a one act play by KT Peterson
Loom, a weave of dreams by Carolynne Wilcox
7:32, the first scene by KT Peterson
Fortune Teller by Carolynne Wilcox
The Play, a one act play by David J Glover
Loser by David M. White
Red Line by Mark Krawczyk
Men of Good Fortune, an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman #13 by Tracy Flanders
Neither Thinking; Nor Feeling by David J. Glover
Balau and the Top of the World, part one by KT Peterson
Amenti by Pamela Gross
/game/ by Carmela Lanza-Weil

David M. White – Founder and Faculty Artistic Director
Skylar Shaffer – Managing Director

Emeritus Staff:

Keche Arrington, Managing Director 2018 - 2020
Divinia Shorter, Managing Director 2016 - 2018
Timonthy Huth, Managing Director 2015 - 2016
Chloe Anderson, Managing Director 2013 - 2015
Eva Hiott, Managing Director 2011 - 2013
Cat Hagner, Managing Director 2009 - 2011