And when we awoke. . . tells the story of Katie, a high school senior, whose ambition to attend Harvard leads her to seek a “project” to help someone in need and give her an edge with admission.  After she promises to bring her online pen pal from war-torn Uganda to the United States, she learns that her new friend hasn’t been completely honest about his past.  Jacqmin’s touching and witty play follows the journeys of two teenagers who struggle with honesty, identity and decisions about what kinds of adults they will be.

And when we awoke. . .  won the $25,000 Wasserstein Prize which recognizes outstanding emerging female playwrights.  Jacqmin comes to OU as the Faith Broome Playwright-in-Residence for the Fall 2012 semester.  She teaches playwriting in the School of Drama and collaborates with its students, faculty and staff to produce her play which was selected by a committee of faculty and theatre professionals for the honor.

Jacqmin holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Playwriting from Ohio University and a Bachelors degree from Yale.  She has taught playwriting at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  Recent productions of her plays include Look, We Are Breathing (Sundance Theatre Lab), Two Lakes, Two Rivers (O’Neill Theatre Center) and Ski Dubai (Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago). Her short play Hero Dad premiered at the 2012 Humana Festival of New Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville.  Next January, the Long Wharf Theatre in Connecticut will premiere January Joiner.

The production staff includes Judith Midyett Pender, director; Michael Fain, Scenic Designer; Rebecca Coleman, Costume Designer; Emily Maddox, Lighting Designer; Alan Hiserodt, Sound Designer; Kae Koger, Dramaturg; Rosie DiVincenzo, Stage Manager; Rachel Arditi, Publicity and Tom Huston Orr and Rich Taylor, as Producers.  The cast is comprised of School of Drama students:  Gabrielle Reyes, Michael Turrentine, Marie Skubic, Victoria Hines, Jack Welborn, Jake Lozano, Jeremy Eoff, Christian Black, Connor Bourland, Kat Combs, Terra Dray, Madison Edwards, Gretchen Hahn, Carter Hill, Kamron McClure; De’Onna Prince, Morgan Vesper and Rebecca Bartlett.

The Playwright-in-Residence program is made possible by a generous gift given by Mo and Richard Anderson in memory of Mrs. Anderson’s sister. Faith Broome is dedicated to the creation of new plays and to the development of emerging and established playwrights.  It offers a unique opportunity for Jacqmin to devote time to her writing and to make a significant contribution to new play development within the university and professional theatre communities.

Tickets prices are: $6 student with ID, and $8 adult.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the Fine Arts College Ticket Service at (405) 325-4101, Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  The box office is located in the Catlett Music Center, 500 West Boyd in the OU Arts District.  Tickets may also be purchased at the door with cash or check only. For accommodations on the basis of a disability call (405) 325-4101.

Where: University of Oklahoma
Phone: 325-0311
Address: 660 Parrington Oval
Website: ou.edu