LOGAN – The play reading series by the Performing Arts Department at Utah State University will continue with a reading of With You on Friday, Mar. 20.
The recent work by Utah playwright Jamie Wilcox will also be read on Saturday, Mar. 21. Both performances are slated for 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre on the USU campus.
Ms. Wilcox is a 2004 graduate of the Actor Training Program at the University of Utah, where she stayed for eight years as an instructor for the UofU Youth Theatre.
After moving to London to pursue a Master’s Degree at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama there, Wilcox returned to Utah to become director of the YouTheatre at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City.
The goal of the play reading series at Utah State is to give young thespians the opportunity to connect with the works of contemporary playwrights, according to Richie Call, the chair of the USU Theatre Arts Department. With You certainly qualifies as a recent effort.
With You is a one-act drama focusing on an odd love/friendship triangle set in Salt Lake City in the early 2000’s.
While struggling to create a life for themselves in the arts differing from their shared religious upbringing, Georgia and Christopher are best friends until Dustin appears.
After falling in love with Dustin, Georgia must navigate the confusion of adding another person in her life, which is complicated by Dustin’s mental health challenges.
When the show debuted at the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival in 2022, With You was hailed as being “startlingly raw” while still beautiful.
USU officials advise audience members that the content of With You would draw the equivalent of an R movie rating, with trigger warnings for strong language and adult themes.
Admission to the scheduled play readings on Mar. 20 and 21 are free, but seating will be limited in the Black Box Theatre.
The Black Box Theatre is located in the Chase Fine Arts Center on the USU campus.