10x10 Short Play Festival
Local Theatre Thrives in Mainstay Festival
By Taylor Onski
You know the rules. 10 Plays. 10 Minutes. That’s right—the 10x10 Short Play Festival is back to celebrate theatrical talent in the city.
“Every year, it's something different. Different plays, takes on genres, takes on styles, and experimental forms. It is that theatrical smorgasbord of different things that you can dip into, try, and enjoy,” says Jordan Blaxill, Magnus Theatre’s education director and 10x10 facilitator.
This year, jurors received 28 play submissions and narrowed it down to 10, which include two one-person shows, a comedic take on the slasher, and a slew of other stories that audience members then vote on to win best comedy or best drama.
“For the first time in as long as I can remember, there are more dramas than comedies,” says Blaxill. “There are some great comedies, but there's a few that are going to make you think and pass through both comedy and drama.”
As for the people bringing these stories to life, there will be a blend of familiar faces and first-timers onstage and off as playwrights, actors, and directors, with the added mix of previous years’ actors coming back as writers or directors. “10x10 is an opportunity for people to try things, whether that's writing, directing, or acting,” says Blaxill. “The plays are short and the rehearsal period is not long. It’s a good place for people to try and be like, ‘I like this’ or ‘This isn't something I'm interested in. But at least I tried and figured that out.’”
As the kickoff to an ever-growing summer theatre season, 10x10 brings together a community of actors, directors, and writers from many local theatre groups to celebrate the talent and stories of the region. And those relationships may not necessarily end after the festival.
“One of Magnus’s core pillars is play development, and 10x10 fits nicely into that,” says Blaxill. “Sometimes a 10x10 exists in the context one festival, or people take that idea and develop it into a full-length play, and it gets performed either here or elsewhere [such as Amanda Doig’s full-length play, Of Marriage Minded Misses, which premiered at Cambrian Players in 2024], and it spreads the talent we have here all over.”
10x10 hits the Magnus Theatre stage on June 5 at 7:30 pm and June 6 at 2 and 7 pm. To purchase tickets, visit magnustheatre.com or call the Magnus Theatre Box office at 807-345-5552.
