Howard Community College's Student Arts Collective (formerly known as Student-Alumni Arts) began its journey exploring, developing, writing, and mounting original works with the turn of the millennium.  That magical first team of artists learned, as did those that followed; there is nothing more euphoric an artist can experience than knowing the journey of things born through this kind of collaboration, community, freedom, ownership... and the million things in the inbetween.  
  
The original goal included sharing our work by touring local high schools, libraries... within the community as well as within HCC's theatres... (while offering artists involved the option of gaining college credit along the way)!  Our name: "PASSING THRU PLAYHOUSE PRODUCTIONS."  And tour we did, especially with our very successful children's piece, CHEESY SILLY TALES, in the fall and summer of 2002! 
   
Over time, (more specifically, with our 2003 original production of BEYOND DICK & JANE,) our focus  changed, evolved, and became a new entity: "ACTORS' STUDIO; WORKS IN PROGRESS." 
 
Now, eight years later, the scope is broader... inviting in even greater freedom for the voices and stories needing to be heard.  We deliver them to you by mounting our own original productions as well as honoring the works written by Student, Alumni, and Local Playwrights via our SAArts PLAY READING SERIES.  Right here, in our Theatre Outback.
 

  
LETTERS TO S.A.N.T.A. ~ D E C  2 - 1 7
 
AC's 5th ORIGINAL PRODUCTION, written and developed by The Company and Writing Team, directed by SUSAN G. KRAMER. 
 
"Letters to S.A.N.T.A." is a sassy, wacky, and warm holiday fairytale... for "Big Kids!"  It's a story about the mysterious and magical inner-workings of the North Pole and the outrageously quirky folks who work for Mr. (AND MRS.) Claus... year 'round!

CLICK HERE for MORE DETAILS & TO MEET THE CAST & CREATIVES!

AC's Production History
 

ORIGINAL WORKS.

VOICES.

ONE BARE STAGE.

IN HCC'S
THEATRE OUTBACK

...THIS FALL!

 

Inspiring, thought-provoking and edge-cutting were the many Voices and Genres represented during this summer's AC's SEARCH for Original Works!
Also inspiring; the number of scripts submitted, (which tripled last spring's PRS submissions)!
3 ADDITIONAL DATES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED for this fall's PRS!
  
CLICK HERE to visit our AC's PRS Page!

CLICK HERE for Synopses, Director Info, Bios, Cast Lists, Tickets... !

SAARTS' PLAY READING SERIES; Fall, 2005
■  1st WEEKEND

• SAT, 9/24:  STAGOLEE, a Lie in 3 Acts, by TERENCE COOPER
• SUN, 9/25:  THE LEFT HAND OF JUSTICE, an Historical Play in 2 Acts, by ERNIE JOSELOVITZ

■  2nd WEEKEND

• SAT, 10/1:  NO NEWS IS GOOD, a 1-Act Play, by WILLIAM STANLEY and...  MARTHA'S CHOICE, a Short Play, by RICH ESPEY  
• SUN, 10/2:  REGRETS LIKE OURS, a Play in 2 Acts, by BRIAN McDERMOTT

■  3rd WEEKEND

• SAT, 10/8:  HIRED GUN, a Play in 2 Acts, by MARK SCHARF
• SUN, 10/9:  DEAD & BREAKFAST, a Dark Comedy, by CASEY JONES
   

FOR PLAY SYNOPSES, BIOS, & CAST LISTS from last spring's 1st PRS- CLICK HERE

SAArts mounted its first Play Reading Series in March, 2005, in Howard Community College's blackbox theatre, the Theatre Outback.  It was a journey that exceeded all expectations; SIX intriguing original 1-ACT PLAYS written by local Playwrights, directed and performed by HCC Students, Alumni, and Guest Artists inspired large audiences, positive responses, lively feedback sessions... and returning crowds! 

CLICK HERE to Revisit last spring's PRS Webworld...  

K U R T    R A E N A R D  ,   N O T A R Y    P U B L I C  -   by DANIEL DUNCAN GORON
  
a Comedy Noir Directed by ST. JOHNN BLONDELL
 

C O W  -  by PETER BOYER
 
a Tragicomedy Directed by ADAM GRABAU
 

N O T   I N   S E R V I C E  -  by SUSAN MIDDAUGH
 
a Dramatic Comedy Directed by DONNA MILLIKEN
 

R A I N  -  by KATY NEWCOMB
 
a Drama Directed by JIM KNIPPLE
  

B L O W I N G    U P   M O U N T A I N S   and   S O   L O N G  ,   S I D N E Y
 
by BILL STANLEY
  
2 Comedies Directed by MICHAEL AVOLIO
 

B E Y O N D   D I C K   &   J A N E
Fall, 2003

FEATURING:  Jesse Bare, Leah Bassett, Kelley Burke, Miles Gannett, John Grove, Sherrie Hunt, Caitlyn James, KeiLyn Durrell Jones, Lindsey Nixon, Ryan D. Shinholt, Gavin Shown, Mary Beth Wood.

SAArts first FULL-LENGTH original production, developed through the improvisational process by the director, Susan G. Kramer, and the ensemble, (listed above,) about the mysteries and complexities of sexual identity.  Collaborative design of set, lights, sound, costumes and choreography were provided by the director, ensemble, and SAArts' production staff: Nischom Silverman, Michael Wood, Janelle Cree, and Julia Tokarcik.
 

C H E E S Y   S I L L Y   T A L E S
Fall, 2002 - Summer, 2003

FEATURING:  Dustin Almond, Joey Amaral, Ashanti Cooper, Janelle Cree, Erica McLaughlin, Melissa Paper.

A children's piece inspired by The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, which performed a VERY successful tour within Howard County's elementary and middle schools, as well as several performances on HCC's campus.  We mixed life lessons among twisted, raucous fairy tale themes/ ideas... a lovely mix of classic story telling and Saturday Night Live (Old School)... This original work enjoys calls to this day to "come back and perform for us!"
 

T H E   H U M   (Revisited)
Fall, 2001

FEATURING:  Joey Amaral, Michael Avolio, Mario Cherry, Ashanti Cooper, Kenny Fisher, Vanessa Kinsey, Jessica Mather, Philip Merced, Tanya Swire, Michael Wood.

A revisit here was as necessary as if we had no choice... following the amazing lessons learned during THE HUM's previous mounting, we were re-drawn to its home.  THE HUM could not rest until it was stirred awake into a re-vamped, re-mounted, and re-cast version of the original 2000 production.  Scenes and characters were honed, polished, and perfected - THE HUM soared even higher... and was received beautifully by new Theatre Outback audiences.
 

T H E   H U M
Summer and Fall, 2000

FEATURING:  Karen Barger, St. Johnn Blondell, Christopher Bramer, Coby Kay Callahan, Janelle Cree, Marquis Fair, Tanya Swire, Scott Terrill.

Our jumping-off place; our first one-act play.  A magical piece, which explored the mystery of the cycle of life through nine scenes; passing through from birth to death.  Each life-cycle was represented in a variety of artistic ways: movement, drama, comedy, song, and dance… all within 50-minutes!  We opened in the Theatre Outback to open arms and standing ovations, along side another first; HCC's Improv Group, Yo' Mama's Cookin'.  Both Groups broke ground that year.  SAArts grew up that year.