Kayla Cody’s “Swords, Lights and Nuts” isn’t your typical “Nutcracker” story

March 10, 2023

Meet Our One Act playwrights: Kayla Cody's "Swords, Lights and Nuts"

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This isn't your typical "Nutcracker" story.

We asked our One Act writers and directors to share a bit about their works with us. Here’s writer/director Kayla Cody on “Swords, Lights and Nuts.”

I’ve always loved telling stories and making my own worlds with a paper and pencil and my voice. I’ve always loved books and the way I could get sucked into the story. When I write plays, hopefully I can make a story the audience will get sucked into using my favorite way of writing: dialogue!

I decided to do a “Nutcracker” story because I always wondered what “The Nutcracker” was supposed to be about. Then my sister had the idea that “Hey, what if the (first) battle with the mice to big of a deal, and Clara gets taken?” That’s what I went off of. I decided a play would be a good way to adapt it because we’re used to seeing the ballet version. This way keeps it on a stage. 

Since I’ve moved a lot, I’ve done theater all over the country, and I’m constantly writing and directing plays and my sisters and I do together. Recently I’ve been in four plays with Asheville Performing Arts Academy, and this summer I directed a performance of my play “A Midsummer’s Doughnut” at a family reunion. “Swords, Lights and Nuts” is my first time directing a show that is open to the public!

I hope to learn about how to direct a group of people in a way that makes everyone feel good and gets amazing things done together.

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Audition for “Swords, Lights and Nuts” and our other five One Act shows on March 18!

Graham Esmon looks to the future in Kurt Vonnegut’s “2BR02B”

March 9, 2023

Meet Our One Act playwrights: Graham Esmon's take on "2BR02B"

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Everything is swell in Vonnegut's "2BR02B." Or is it?

We asked our One Act writers and directors to share a bit about their works with us. Here’s writer/director Graham Esmon on adapting Kurt Vonnegut’s “2BR02B.”

I very much enjoy Kurt Vonnegut’s distinct writing style. My favorite book of his is “Slaughterhouse 5.” I chose to put Vonnegut’s “2BR02B” to stage as it is a simple but extremely effective story that shows how a seeming utopia never functions for the needs or wishes of everyone under it. It also has a small cast, which is good for a One Act.

I have previously adapted and directing a short film version of “August Heat” by WF Harvey for the Moppets 2021 horror/comedy anthology show. I have written narratives for certain classes as well. This is my first play.

Graham Esmon has been a Moppet for five years. They previously directed the short film “August Heat” with the Moppets. Their pastimes include: magnets.

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Audition for “2BR02B” and our other five One Act shows on March 18!

Hunter Miyan puts a new twist on a class tale in “A Holiday Song”

March 10, 2023

Meet Our One Act playwrights: Hunter Miyan's "A Holiday Song"

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A new twist on a classic holiday tale

We asked our One Act writers and directors to share a bit about their works with us. Here’s writer/director Hunter Miyan on “A Holiday Song.”

I was inspired to adapt “A Christmas Carol” because I’ve always loved watching all the different movie adaptations of it. I figured it would be fun to see what I would do with the story!

I have written other stories before, but this is my first play. I’m glad it came out so well! I love writing because it’s a way that I can express all the ideas and stories in my head and share them with other people.

Hunter Miyan is a new Moppet and a theater veteran! Hunter, 14, has been acting since age 8, including roles in “Peter Pan,” “Aladdin” and “The Emperor’s New Hair.” Our One Act Festival will be Hunter’s directorial debut!

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Audition for “A Holiday Song” and our other five One Act shows on March 18!

Exploring the reign of Queen Mary I in Selah Atwood’s “Mary, Mary”​

March 9, 2023

Meet Our One Act playwrights: Selah Atwood's "Mary, Mary"

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Exploring the reign of Queen Mary I in Selah Atwood's "Mary, Mary"

We asked our One Act writers and directors to share a bit about their works with us. Here’s writer/director Selah Atwood on “Mary, Mary.”

I’ve always found Bloody Mary fascinating, even just learning about her in school. One thing that makes her story really interesting is that she devoted her entire ruling to “restoring England.” And when she died from a supposed sickness about five years after ruling, her sister took the throne and immediately reversed all of the changes Mary had made. It just goes to show that something so significant in someone’s life and something that caused so many deaths can become almost pointless in a blink of an eye.

I thought telling Mary’s story alongside a nursery rhyme inspired by her would be a really interesting way to tell some of her story, and I feel that it (hopefully!) will be blunt and straightforward while leaving an air of discomfort behind. History is uncomfortable, and even more so when it’s told through the use of innocent sing-song!

Selah has been a Moppet for about seven years, with some favorite roles including Horatio in “Hamlet,” Goneril in “King Lear,” and Cassius in “Julius Caesar.” 

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Audition for “Mary, Mary” and our other five One Act shows on March 18!

The Moppets are producing six student-written One Act plays!

February 26, 2023

The Moppets are producing six student-written One Act plays!

We put out the call for One Act submissions from young playwrights, and oh my did you deliver! Our judging panel had a lot of great entries to read, and they had a rather difficult time narrowing it down. It was a really hard decision!
 
We are thrilled to announce that the Moppets have the privilege of bringing the following six shows to life:
 
  • “Kurt Vonnegut’s 2 B R 0 2 B,” adapted by Graham Esmon.
  • “The After School Superhero,” by Isabella LaRose
  • “A Holiday Song,” an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” by Hunter Miyan.
  • “Mary, Mary,” by Selah Atwood
  • “Salome: A Humorously Re-told Act in One Tragedy,” by Urzuly C. Pineada
  • “Swords, Lights and Nuts,” an atypical Nutcracker tale by Kayla Cody.

Auditions for our One Act plays are March 18 — sign up today!

Meet Phin, our Moppet of the Month!

February 1, 2023

Phineas Price has range. He’s played everyone from Murderer #1 in “Richard III” to Bob Cratchit in “A Christmas Carol” on the Moppets stage since joining us in 2021! He tells us his favorite Moppets role was Fluellen in “Henry V,” and his all-time favorite was playing Ponyboy in “The Outsiders.” (We told you he has range!)

Phin hopes to someday join the ranks of Moppets royalty: He wants to play a king. We think that’s totally realistic — he’s already the president of his eighth-grade class!

When he’s not on stage, Phin likes to make spray-paint art, play basketball, and watch TV while eating grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.

You can catch Phin on stage next in his school’s production of “Appropriate Audience Behavior.”

Summer theater program for tweens and teens in Asheville NC

February 1, 2023

Fill your calendar with moppets fun

Sign up for our spring and summer theater programs today!

We’re so excited about this year’s shows that we just couldn’t wait to open registration! 

Starting today, you can sign up for:

We can’t wait to build these amazing productions with you!

An open call for submissions from young playwrights

January 26, 2023

The Montford Moppets Youth Shakespeare Company is seeking submissions for our inaugural One Act Festival!
A selection of 3 to 5 finalists will be chosen for production by our judging panel and Artistic Director Ashleigh Goff. Productions will be student-directed, under the supervision of Moppets staff.

GUIDELINES

We are seeking works by playwrights between the ages of 10 and 18.

One Acts must be original works or adaptations of works in the public domain.

All submissions must be written in English.

Running time should be no more than 20 minutes (roughly 20 pages)

Works should require a cast of 7 or fewer actors with minimal staging.

Submissions must be PG-13 or milder.

Contact information should be on the cover page of the script. The author’s name should not appear anywhere else on the script.

IMPORTANT DATES

Submission deadline: February 14
Decision notification: February 21
Rehearsals: March 20 – May 11
Performances: May 12-13

SUBMIT YOUR SCRIPT

Meet Sam, our Moppet of the Month!

January 26, 2023

Sam Cintron is a freshman at the School of Inquiry & Life Sciences at Asheville, and he has been doing theatre since he was much younger. He performed in his first Moppets show last spring, in our production of “Tartuffe” as the siblings Damis and Marian — still his favorite role(s)! He has also performed as Exeter in “Henry V,” and he is currently Scrooge in the Moppets’ annual production of “A Christmas Carol.”

Sam dreams of one day playing the lead in “Macbeth,” his favorite Shakespeare production. Aside from theatre, Sam enjoys writing, producing, and listening to many different genres of music, hanging out with friends, and thinking deep thoughts (sometimes). 

Meet Mia, our Moppet of the Month!

August 9, 2022

Sixth-grade homeschooler Mia Saidi has been a Moppet since last summer, when she played King Edward IV and Prince Edward V in “Richard III.” Her favorite role with the Moppets was in “Tartuffe” earlier this year. 

Dorine “was a really fun character,” Mia says, “because she was a little bit sassy and a little bit sarcastic but very loving. Like me!”

Mia would love to have a role in a big Broadway production someday. She especially likes “Hamilton” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”

When she’s not on stage, Mia likes to read, make art and play the piano. She also likes to hang out with her friends and play with her cat. And sometimes you can find her hiding under a pile of blankets in her room!

Mia most recently appeared on the Moppets stage as Bedford and Lord Constable in “Henry V.”

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