MANSFIELD – By definition, an alchemist is a person who practices alchemy – a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way.
In this fashion, a brand-new group of local playwrights calling themselves The Alchemists hopes to transform the local theatre scene by adding its voice to the mix.
“This isn’t Rogers and Hammerstein,” said playwright Bryan Gladden. “It’s not the things that are being done in the theatre community at this time and in this area.
“It’s a little more contemporary, a little more edgy. It’s pushing a little bit out of the comfort zone.”
The group of five playwrights came together this spring in hopes of creating a support group for other like-minded theatre aficionados. The purpose is to create, write, edit and share original works with each other and the local theatre-loving community.
“Any time you have a rich arts community, you have to keep evolving and growing,” said Gretchen Ashbrook, known among writers as “Gertrude Brooke” and founder of the group. “We have these artists coming up in other ways, and most people I’ve talked to have a desire to be exposed to this, finding things that are going in different directions from the establishment.”
Other original members of The Alchemists include playwrights Mark Sebastian Jordan, Nancy Nixon and Russ Stitch. All have been involved with theatre locally, either at the Renaissance Theatre, the Mansfield Playhouse or The Ohio State University Mansfield Campus program.
However, all also have a need to push the boundaries a bit with their writing and performances. The Alchemists provide that outlet without the pressure of ticket sales that traditional theaters have.
“Traditional theatres have to get butts in seats to pay the rent,” said Jordan. “We’re not saddled with the kind of overhead that would restrict what we do. It’s a form for writers to put stuff out there as a test run and get audience feedback.”
Ashbrook added that freedom extends to actors looking to experiment with non-traditional staging and scripts.
“We’re creating opportunities for writers, actors and audiences to see something different,” she said. “Most of the time, if I want to see experimental theatre I’m going to Cleveland or Columbus.”
One such opportunity to see The Alchemists’ new brand of theatre comes this weekend with their Independent Playwright Showcase. Opening at 8 p.m. on Thursday, the showcase will run Thursday through Saturday at the North Central State College Urban Center, located at 134 N. Main St. in Mansfield.
The showcase runs the gamut with material, from comic sketches to dramatic monologues. One piece explores the concept of dolls having dreams, another examines the absurdities of working in a dead-end job with insane managers. Yet another encourages audiences to imagine the possibility of fish eavesdropping on a conversation between lovers.
“It’s exciting to be around voices we haven’t heard before, whether writers or directors or actors,” Ashbrook said.
Additional information about The Alchemists can be found on their Facebook page, including information about how to attend the Independent Playwright Showcase. More than encouraging attendance at the show, the group encourages more “alchemists” to join.
“There’s been a real spark happening in Mansfield as the town begins to re-invent itself as a post-Rust Belt city,” Jordan said. “This new spark of life is happening and the arts are very much involved in it. Now is exactly the time for something like this.”
