PENS AND STRINGS performance video

PENS AND STRINGS performance photos

PENS & STRINGS premieres in Austin

For playwrights and childhood buddies Jeff Hernandez and Brad McEntire PENS AND; STRINGS marks their first collaboration together on a written piece for the stage. Drawing on an original idea by Hernandez and a smattering of the life experiences of both writers, the one-act became a funny, intimate exploration of one character's real and imagined relationships with two immediate women in his life... the ex-girlfriend of his recent past and the attractive waitress right in front of him.

Director Ruth Engel, a veteran of staging the works of McEntire and a friend of both playwrights assembled a small cast of talented actors - including Rasa Hollender, Angela Parsons and Oscar Contreras - to tackle the meta-theatrical piece. It was presented on January 16th at Austin's Hyde Park Theatre as part of the 2009 FronteraFest.

Despite some last minute worry that the piece would be under-rehearsed, it went over very well and the audience response was great.

To see a video of the performance click here...

Director Ruth Engel gives the cast notes.

PENS AND STRINGS is in rehearsals. If you're in the Austin area, don't forget to come out and see the show. Plays 7 PM January 16th at the Hyde Park Theatre (43rd at Guadalupe) as part of the 16th Annual FronteraFest.

After a cast change (these things happen... Jamie Marchi and Audacity parted ways while the excellent Ms. Angela Parsons stepped in to play a bit). The creative team has been hard at work at ATL's luxurious rehearsal studios (i.e. Ruth's apartment) and can't wait to present this short one-act about a writer with ideas... who have ideas of their own.

PENS & STRINGS in development...

ATL's Jeff Hernandez and Brad McEntire have been collaborating on an original one-act play for the 2009 FronterFest at Austin's Hyde Park Theatre.

The piece about a heart-broken writer, his ideas with ideas of their own and the exploration of the subtle differences between creation and manipulation will be directed by ATL Managing Director Ruth A. Engel.

The cast - just announced - will include Ms. Jamie Marchi, Ms. Rasa Hollander and Mr. Oscar Contreres.
We will be holding our first informal reading of the play October 26th with the full cast. Hernandez and McEntire continue to turn out drafts.
Details on the production, including performance dates and times, will be posted soon.