Kayenta New Play Lab
Christmas is Canceled
by Matthew Ivan Bennett (Salt Lake City, UT)
Saturday, August 17th 7:30pm & Sunday, August 18th 4:00pm
The Lorraine Boccardo Theater
We are thrilled to announce the return of the Kayenta New Play Lab, a unique opportunity for theater artists and audiences to converge to create and witness the development of new work. Six playwrights have been selected to participate by a panel of local and nationally-recognized experts. Following a 10-day development residency, each play will be presented as a staged reading for our summer audiences, followed by engaging discussions and opportunities to meet the artists. This dynamic New Play Lab fosters creativity, connection, and an unforgettable artistic journey. Join us in celebrating new, original work, full of inspiration and camaraderie!
About the Play:
A local theater company led by new hot-shot producer and director Fitz gather together to put on an adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Drama heightens and hilarity ensues when small town theater politics get in the way and gossip spreads.
About the Playwright:
Matthew Ivan Bennett has been a resident of Plan-B Theatre since 2007, where he’s premiered several plays, including RADIO HOUR EPISODE 17: SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE FINAL PROBLEM (2023) and the forthcoming JUST ADD WATER (written with Elaine Jarvik) for the fall of 2025. His play ERIC(A) won Best Drama at United Solo Theatre Festival in New York. His feature film THE WHOLE LOT (directed by Connor Rickman) was an Official Selection at the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival and the New York City International Reel Film Festival (2022-23). Locally, he’s collaborated with Pioneer Theatre, Utah Shakespeare, SLAC, Pygmalion, and Sackerson. His short plays recently appeared with Pacific Play Co. in Seattle. His poetry has been published with Sugar House Review and Western Humanities. Matt is a member of the Dramatists Guild and will be a writer in residence in Taos, New Mexico this fall under the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation.
This reading of Christmas is Canceled is directed by Scott Knowles, and is performed by:
Paul Turbiak
Maren Smith
Jerry Harris
Latoya Cameron
Douglas Caputo
Austin Roy
Maya Williams
SCOTT C. KNOWLES, PhD, (he/him) is an associate professor in the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration at Southern Utah University (SUU). His scholarship focuses on the intersections between cognitive science, emotion, and theatre, with specific emphasis in directing and dramaturgy. His directing work focuses primarily on theatre for social change, working to involve audience, company, and community in issues beyond the walls of the theatre through a variety of outreach approaches. Most recently, he has served as a dramaturg for Lyric Repertory Company, Kayenta Center for the Arts’ New Play Lab, and Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival. In 2017, Scott was honored with SUU’s Distinguished Faculty for Diversity and Inclusion Award based on his work with The Laramie Project. He has published in Etudes, A Critical Companion to Lynn Nottage, and Theatre Topics.
This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Kayenta New Play Lab is sponsored by Douglas Caputo / Desert Dweller at Equity Real Estate
