Fourth Annual Festival of New Student Works to Kick Off Feb. 6

The University of Toledo Department of Theatre and Film will kick off its Festival of New Student Works, showcasing students' original plays and films, on Thursday, Feb. 6.

Performances and screenings for the fourth annual festival are lined up through Saturday, Feb. 15, in the Center for Performing Arts Center Theatre. Each of seven student plays will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, through Saturday, Feb. 8, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. Student films will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, and Saturday, Feb. 15.

Tickets for each day are $10 and can be purchased online through the Tix.com UToledo website or at the box office before the performance.

Visitor parking on campus requires payment via the ParkMobile app, a parking meter or a daily permit via ParkUToledo. Visit the ParkUToledo website for more information.

Each work features students in the roles of writers, directors, actors and costume and set designers as well as cinematographers, grips and managers.

Each also aligns with this year's theme, "We Didn't Start the Fire," with students encouraged to take inspiration from events referenced in the song that famously details significant cultural events in a fast-paced litany. Originally released by Billy Joel in 1989, "We Didn't Start the Fire" was updated by Fall Out Boy in 2023.

"This year's works touch on a wide variety topics, from Y2K to Etsy crystal empires to federal espionage," said Kelly McBane, an associate lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Film and artistic director of the Festival of New Student Works. "The Festival of New Student Works is an exciting opportunity for our students to put in practice what they're learning in their courses, and we always look forward to sharing the results of their hard work."

For more information on the Festival of New Student Works, go to the Department of Theatre and Film website.