ND Playwright's Co-op invites writers to meetings When asked to comment on 2008, North Dakota Playwrights Co-op President Adonica Schultz Aune released a satisfied sigh, then said, “We had another productive year, both as writers and as a producing agency for new work.” The co-op, founded in 2004 by John Thompson, Adonica Schultz Aune, and Kathy Coudle King, had a busy year. They kicked off with a production of King’s award-winning play, "Trees," at the Firehall Theatre in Grand Forks in February. The play ran two weeks and raised $3,000 for the North Dakota Breast Cancer Coalition and Filling the Gap. September was a busy month for the co-op, as they were invited to produce new work at WomanSong in Grand Rapids, Minn. Among the six short plays, written by Thompson, King, and Aune, was a piece by a new playwright, Debra Pflughoeft Hassett. Performing at the event were Charlottte Helgeson, Kate Sweney, Ruby Grove (newcomer), Cynthia Prom, as well as 13-year old Kelly King. Two of these pieces, “The Happily Ever After” and “Wishing Away in Margaritaville,” were later performed at the September Art & Wine Walk in Grand Forks. The co-op then rounded out the year at the First Night Celebration when they produced five new pieces at the Firehall Theatre Cabaret, including a monologue by Rick Forsgren of Northwood, N.D. The co-op invites working playwrights and aspiring playwrights to join them in 2009 as they craft, revise, and submit new plays. They offer roundtable readings, discussion, and practical tips on the art and craft of writing plays. Themes have been selected to help get the creative juices flowing; however, writers are encouraged to bring whatever it is they’re working on, up to 10 pages, typed. Meetings are from 2 to 4 p.m. on designated Sundays at Barnes & Noble in Grand Forks. It is free and open to the public. Following are the dates from February to May. * March 1, 2 p.m.: Revisions of celebration scripts and/or bride plays, and what is considered proper protocol for submitting plays * March 15, 2 p.m.: (deadline for celebration scripts) - "Fireworks" is today's theme. * April 5, 2 p.m.: Revisions of plays, theme TBA * April 19, 2 p.m.: TBA * May 3, 2 p.m.: TBA * May 17, 2 p.m.: TBA Questions? Contact Kathy Coudle-King at katking@dakotalit.com or 701-330-1637. -- Kathleen King, Sr. Lecturer , English & Women Studies, kathleen_king@und.nodak.edu, 777-2787