UIowa Theatre
Arts Journal
This issue (May 2025) includes commentary on the last mainstage show of the season, An Enemy of the People. However, its main focus is the 2025 Iowa New Play Festival, with productions from MFA playwrights, Sixtus Igbokwe (Adaku), Eli Campbell (salt tongue), and Xiaoyan Kang (The Words of Ants).Unbounded—May 2025
Dramaturgical Musings
by Bo-Hua Lin, MFA Dramaturg
MFA Candidate in Dramaturgy, Bo-Hua Lin examines the moral and political nature within the history of playwriting and dramaturgy-Are All Plays Inherently Moral and Political?
Curated by Rebecca Weaver
An enemy of the People
In this collection for our last mainstage production, An Enemy of the People, hear from the costume designer (Cathy Parrott), sound/lighting designer (Søren Olsen), actors, and a response to the production from Rebecca Weaver.
Looking at the performance, adapated and devised by the director (Johanna Kasimow), creative team, and ensemble, this article wonders about the timelessness of Henrik Ibsen's script, An Enemy of the People.by Rebecca E. Weaver, Editor
Performance Response
Costume Design, EotP
Written by Cathy Parrott, Costume Designer
Costume Design, Cathy Parrott, talks about her process of research, conversations, and rendering the costumes for the show, An Enemy of the People.
Lighting/Sound Design, eotp
Written by Søren Olsen, Sound/Lighting Designer
Sound and Lighting Designer, Søren Olsen, talks about his process, goals, and the conversations with the creative team of An Enemy of the People.
A Word from the actors, Alicia Philadelphia
Edited by Rebecca E. Weaver, Editor and Co-founder
A look into the production process from the perspective of MFA Actor, Alicia Philadelphia, who played K. Stockmann.
a Word from the actors, Dale Leonheart
Edited by Rebecca E. Weaver, Editor and Co-founder
A look into An Enemy of the People from the perspective of MFA actor, Dale Leonheart, who played Aslaksen.
Contemplating Legacy
Written by Art Borreca, Artistic Director of NPF
With the retirement of several faculty here at UIowa--Meredith Alexander, Kim Marra, and Dare Clubb, specifically--as well as a recent panel he attended, during which playwriting legend, Athol Fugard, passed away, Borreca contemplates what legacy is and the impact those who come before us have on ourselves and our work.
Adaku by Sixtus Chetachi Igbokwe
Curated by Rebecca E. Weaver, MFA Dramaturg
Sixtus Chetachi Igbokwe, third-year MFA playwright, wrote Adaku about his mother and the trials she faced as a Nigerian/Igbo woman. In these articles you will find a note from the playwright, a note from the director (Josh Turner), words from the actors, a note from the stage manager, as well as a response to the performance from Rebecca Weaver.
Playwright’s Note
Sixtus Chetachi Igbokwe, third-year MFA playwright, wrote Adaku about his mother and the trials she faced as a Nigerian/Igbo woman. In this note from the playwright himself, find out more about what drove Igbokwe to write this play and the process through which it has gone.Written by Sixtus Chetachi Igbokwe
Note from the Director
Josh Turner, a second-year MFA director, speaks on the process of developing Igbokwe's Adaku and the experience he has gained from doing so.Written by Josh Turner, MFA Director
Note from the Stage Manager
Edited by Rebecca Weaver
The Stage Manager for Adaku (Igbokwe), Olivia Jursik, talks about her experience stage managing the development process for the production--her first time as stage manager.
Response to Adaku
Written by Rebecca Weaver
After hearing the first reading of Adaku and seeing a run of the NPF performance, MFA Dramaturg, Rebecca Weaver, responds to the script and performance.
A Word from the actors, Kayla Leacock
Edited by Rebecca Weaver
An interview with actress, Kayla Leacock, who plays Mma.
A Word from the actors, E’mma Camara
Edited by Rebecca Weaver
An interview with actress, E'mma Camara, who plays the titular character, Adaku.
3 CubeS AND A GHOSTLIGHT
Curated by Rebecca Weaver
This collection of articles surrounds the undergraduate workshop production, 3 Cubes and Ghostlight.A Letter from the Director
Written by Michael C. Flores, MFA Director
Michael C. Flores talks about the process of working with 13 undergraduate playwrights to create a piece that is made up of 13 stories.
A Word from a playwright
Written by Jasper Rood
A quick word from undergraduate playwright, Jasper Rood, about writing his scene and collaborating with other playwrights.An Interview/the Stage Manager, Addy Taylor
Edited by Rebecca Weaver
Addy Taylor, UG, talks about stage managing 3 Cubes and a Ghostlight for NPF.
Performance Response
Written by Rebecca Weaver
Having no context for this performance other than the title, MFA dramaturg, Rebecca Weaver, attended a run of 3 Cubes and a Ghostlight. These are her thoughts.
A Word from the actors, Zoe Mae Nolte
Edited by Rebecca Weaver
An interview with undergraduate actress, Zoe Mae Nolte, who plays a variety of roles in this performance of 3 Cubes and a Ghostlight.
A Word from the actors, Thomas McCarthy
Edited by Rebecca Weaver
An interview with undergraduate actor, Thomas McCarthy, who plays a variety of roles in this performance of 3 Cubes and a Ghostlight.
salt tongue by Eli Campbell
Curated by Rebecca Weaver, MFA Dramaturg
This collection follows third-year MFA playwright, Eli Campbell's thesis production, salt tongue. It contains a note from the playwright, the dramaturg's note, an interview w/the asst. stage manager, as well as quick notes from the lighting and sound designers.
Playwright’s Note
Written by Eli Campbell
This note is from the playwright of salt tongue, Eli Campbell. It tells of the genesis of their thesis play, how it developed for them, as well as the process for this production at NPF.
Dramaturg’s Note
Written by Rebecca Weaver
The following is a note from the production dramaturg, Rebecca Weaver. They talk about their time working with Eli for the past three years as well as the process of working on salt tongue.
An Interview w/the Asst. Stage Manager
Edited by Rebecca Weaver
This article is an interview with the assistant stage manager of salt tongue, Sammi Lewis. Sammi is an undergrad student who aided greatly in the process, alongside our Stage Manager Reed Davis.
Words from the lighting and Sound Designers
Edited by Rebecca Weaver
The following articles are notes from the lighting designer, Gabby Johnson, and the sound designer, Marisa Rodriguez, for this production of Eli Campbell's salt tongue.
The Words of Ants by Xiaoyan Kang
Curated by Rebecca Weaver
This collection follows third-year MFA playwright, Xiaoyan Kang's thesis production, The Words of Ants. It contains a note from the playwright, a letter from the director, a note from the dramaturg, a performance response, a look into both the lighting and costume design, as well as words from two of the actors. 
Playwright’s Note
Written by Xiaoyan Kang
The following is a note from the playwright, Xiaoyan Kang, as she talks about the genesis and process of developing her thesis play, The Words of Ants.
A Letter from the director
Written by Meredith G. Healy
The following is a letter from the director of The Words of Ants, Meredith G. Healy (MFA Director), as she worked with the playwright and dramaturg throughout the process--including their use of shadow puppetry and foley sounds.
A Letter from the Dramaturg
Written by Ani Jilavyan
The following is a letter from the production dramaturg, Ani Jilavyan. She talks about the process of working with the Healy (director) and Kang (playwright) as a translator, with the focus being on the women-only language, Nushu.
Performance Response
Written by Rebecca Weaver
The following, written by third-year MFA dramaturg, Rebecca Weaver, talks about the impact of the development process, especially for The Words of Ants. Considering their history with the play, Weaver talks about the changes made since Kang first brought a draft to workshop.Words from the Designers
Edited by Rebecca Weaver
The following are interviews with the lighting designer, Meredith Onions, and with the costume designer, Chelsea Ann.
A word w/the actors, Roxy Glave
Edited by Rebecca Weaver
The following is an interview with undergraduate actress, Roxy Glave, who plays Ling Ling.
A word w/the actors, alyssa benitez
Edited by Rebecca Weaver
The following is an interview with MFA actress, Alyssa Benitez, who plays Ouyang.
Reading Series
Curated by Rebecca Weaver
The following is a collection of information on the Reading Series for NPF as well as a note from some on the genesis of their play.The following playwrights are featured: Cianon Jones, Randy Jackson-Alvarenga,Emily Kaufman-Bell, Darrin Terpstra, Adrian Enzastiga, and Poonam Dhir.Festival Guest Artists
Curated by Rebecca Weaver
Every year, we invite guests to attend the festival to provide crucial feedback to our playwrights as well as provide first-hand professional advice for post-graduation.
