While we are still feeling a bit of a shiver from the spooky tales brought to life at Winter Hauntings, let’s turn our attention to another great theatrical endeavor that will take place this Saturday, March 15, 2025: the Elysian Players Ten Minute Play Festival.

As 2024 wound down, Elysian Players, in conjunction with Carteret Writers, hosted a Ten Minute Play Script Writing Contest. There were quite a few entries, and discerning judges whittled it down to three winners in two categories. In the Adult Division, Erika Jennings, Emily Saunders and Rachel Jacob wrote tightly worded dramatic tales that will take you on short romps around the emotional race track.

“Mortem Obire” by Erika Jennings explores the rough and raw edges between adult siblings after the loss of a parent. In “Connecting Flight” by Emily Saunders, we see what it can mean to meet your spouse’s former love. “Comedy of Errors” by Rachel Jacob takes Shakespeare and turns it on its head to talk about what the classics mean in today’s world. All three playwrights have managed in ten minutes to give us slices of humanity that will have you salivating for more of the pie.

But there’s more to titillate the taste buds! Prepare to be amazed by the winners in the High School Division. Daniel Henderson’s “The Case of the Clear-Cut Culprit” is a romp through murder and mystery. “The Forgotten Room” by Keylee Shield will leave you on the edge of your seat as you follow a group of teens as they explore the darker side of their school. And the creative team of Drusilla DeLaCruz, Elisa Herrara and Luka Risovaite created ten minutes of drama that will have you exhaling a “Whoo-wee” when you reach the twist at the end with their play, “Beneath the Sheets.”

If you’ve been paying attention to the local theater scene, you know that we are lucky to have many talented thespians here in Carteret County. The directors and actors that will be presenting these original plays are representative of the dramatic expertise that is found on the Crystal Coast. You won’t regret coming out to the Elysian Performing Arts Center at 5058 Highway 70 West in Morehead City on Saturday, March 15th at 7:30 pm to see these original plays performed on one night only!

Winners

High School Division

• “The Case of the Clear-Cut Culprit” by Daniel Henderson (Directed by Emily Hopkins)
• “The Forgotten Room” by Keylee Shield (Directed by Chandra Rambo)
• “Beneath the Sheets” by Drusilla DeLaCruz, Elisa Herrara and Luka Risovaite (Directed by Bobbi Jo Scott)

Adult Division

• “Mortem Obire” by Erika Jennings (Directed by Leslie Goff)
• “Connecting Flight” by Emily Saunders (Directed by Catherine Edwards)
• “Comedy of Errors” by Rachel Jacob (Directed by Deanna Heald)