2024 Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights

Saturday, Nov. 02 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights returns to The Acorn! This 10-minute play writing competition is open to writers to bring top-tier original works to our stage.

Welcome our finalists to the Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights. Our reading committee has spoken, and the works of these 6 finalists will be brought to The Acorn’s stage on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024.

With the help of Twin City Players in St. Joseph, the Beckwith Theatre in Dowagiac, and the Tin Shop in Buchanan, we will be bringing the finalist’s work to life on The Acorn stage, bringing in stage talent from our corner of Southwest Michigan, and concluding with an audience vote to determine which one of these playwrights will win our 2024 competition!

Meet the Finalists:

Paul Bowman – Two Guitars
New Albany, IN

Paul wrote his first produced play, Why We Went To War, as an answer to a question his son asked: why do nations go to war? That started a journey that has resulted in one act plays staged in thirteen states, Canada, and Australia. Twenty three of his short stories and four short plays have been published in literary magazines. He has also written screenplays and novels.

Julius Farrell – Heaven’s Receptionist
Chicago, IL

Julius was born in Mississippi and raised on Chicago's North Side. His first job was delivering newspapers throughout downtown Chicago as a child. His steady income helped support his frequent visits to movie houses which helped spark his imagination and love for writing. Julius attended college in Mississippi, where he played football before returning to Chicago. For more than 30 years, Julius worked in protective services security for the Chicago Cubs. He recently returned to Columbia College to obtain his Bachelor’s degree in creative writing. Julius thanks his friends, Pam and Kirk, for inspiring him to submit his work for this competition.

Romney Humphrey – The Bench
Seattle, WA

Romney Humphrey is a former media writer/producer and nationally produced playwright with recent play productions in California, Connecticut, and Oregon. She has received numerous national and international awards for her television and screenplay writing including Best first Time Screenwriter Feature for “20” at the World Film Festival in Cannes and Finalist at the LA Film Festival, 2022 for "Liu".

Mary Donnet Johnson – Are You Really Seeing Me Right Now?
Knoxville, TN

With a spirit of gratitude, determination, and joy, Mary writes plays that challenge beliefs, shed light in the dark places, resonate deeply, and offer fresh perspectives, comfort, inspiration, and plenty of humor. Her work has been widely produced, published in several collections, recognized by national competitions, and commissioned by arts organizations who are dedicated to promoting positive change in their communities through theater-based endeavors.

Rebecca Kane – Dream Meaning
Astoria, NY

Rebecca Kane’s writing has appeared in numerous theatres, festivals, and readings in New York City and beyond, with credits including Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival, Last Frontier Theatre Conference, William Inge New Play Festival, the National Women’s Theatre Festival, and many more. Publications include repeated features in Smith & Kraus’s “Best of 2023” and “Best of 2024” collections and internationally published literary magazines.

Jeff Kaufman – Senseless
Studio City, CA

A play Kaufman wrote, FIRST AID, was a winner of the 2024 Long Beach Playhouse New Works Festival. Now he is submitting a 10-minute play, SENSELESS.

Kaufman directed, produced, & wrote the Emmy-nominated American Masters documentary about playwright and LGBTQ activist Terrence McNally, EVERY ACT OF LIFE (with Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury, Nathan Lane, Chita Rivera, Billy Porter, and others). He also directed / produced a Critics Choice-nominated documentary about Iranian human rights activist and political prisoner Nasrin Sotoudeh (narrated by Olivia Colman), NASRIN. In 2023, Kaufman organized a global women’s rights campaign with Amnesty International, PEN America, RFK Human Rights, MS. Magazine, The Feminist Majority Foundation, and others.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.