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Playwrights collaborate, create and critique during Third Annual "Friends with the Write Stuff" festival

As playwright Bev DeMello (standing at left) provides instructions, the on-stage panel of actors gets ready to read a scene from her freshly crafted play.
Tom Flanigan
As playwright Bev DeMello (standing at left) provides instructions, the on-stage panel of actors gets ready to read a scene from her freshly crafted play.

Tallahassee was very much focused on writing over the weekend. Besides the Word of South Festival, playwrights were practicing their craft during a 3-day festival at Theatre Tallahassee.

Several actors are onstage in Theatre Tallahassee's Studio space. They've just been handed their parts for a play that was written just hours before. So they're reading their lines cold, with no rehearsal. And they're doing a pretty amazing job!

"With Cathy staying up until 2 a.m. learning the difference between oak and cherry wood...Nooooo!" (audience laughs) "We're too busy flirting with Mr. Buckley with her cleavage to care about doing her job!!!" snarls one of the actors.

The event is the Third Annual Playwriting Festival called "Friends with the Write Stuff." One of the founders is Michelle Nickens.

"We really want to uplift and promote playwrights, their stories, and give them an opportunity to share, to learn and grow."

A big part of this is actually putting the mini plays written by the 22 participating play writers on stage, with actors and an audience made up of the other playwrights. Several of the play ideas from past festivals have actually been published and performed in the real world.

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Tom Flanigan has been with WFSU News since 2006, focusing on covering local personalities, issues, and organizations. He began his broadcast career more than 30 years before that and covered news for several radio stations in Florida, Texas, and his home state of Maryland.

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories. here.