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Theater fans will have the chance to see debut performances of the three winners of the 2026 Marshalltown Community Theatre (MCT) Playwriting Competition.
MCT Board Member Pete Grady said the three plays will bring the total of produced one acts to nine.
"That is part of the playwriting competition," he said. "It gives a way for people to write, win and get to see their play on stage."
The one acts – "Two Old Farts" by Alexander Richardson, "Impromptu – The Almost Demise of Carter and Taffy Mitchell" by Justin Nostrala and "Belady's Anomaly" by Sara Lastine -.will be performed this weekend in the Orpheum movie theater.
"Two Old Farts" is directed by Grady, who is also filling the role of Larry. It is a comedy where two grumpy fellows attend a performance of “The Bear” by Anton Checkov, a 1888 Russian one act play. The "old farts" disturb the actors and provide commentary for the audience.
Grady said the play reminds him of the Muppets characters Statler and Waldorf, two old man characters who frequently heckle others.
"The playwright did a wonderful job playing the characters off of one another," he said. "The script lays together like pieces of a puzzle. It's very funny stuff."
The rest of the "Two Old Farts" cast include Jordan Cline as the producer and announcer; Tim Polzin, Jerry; Riley Thede, Luka; Courtney Zajic, Popova and; Nathan Bloomquiest as Smirnov.
"Impromptu" is also a comedy, but one featuring a young married couple playing a marriage counseling game. They learn silly games can be risky to a marriage. Grady did not have a lot of details for Nostrala's one act, but knew the actors are Stacy Heil and Stacie Sorenson.
"Belady's Anomaly" by Lastine is inspired by the Belady's Anomaly phenomenon, which occurs in computer operating systems when increasing the number of page frames also increases the number of page faults. Typically, an increase in the number of page frames reduces the number of faults. Competition judges said the one act is the kind which would generate discussions and arguments for days. Grady said Heil makes another appearance in this play, along with Amber Sorenson.
Rehearsals for the one act plays began after the Sept. 11 readers theater performance of "110 Stories" by Sarah Tuft.
"So, for 'Two Old Farts,' rehearsals started in September," Grady said. "We've only had five or six weeks to rehearse, and as someone who has to memorize lines, I wish there were more."
By bringing this year's winning plays to the stage, the MCT has produced nine of the one acts since 2021.
"We've got really top-notch shows, I think," Grady said.
PERFORMANCE INFO
Name: Original One Act Plays
Location: B.A. Niblock MCSD Orpheum Welcome Center movie theater
Address:220 E. Main St.
Dates and times: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
Tickets: $15
Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.