The Monroe Theatre Guild recently announced the upcoming presentation of its inaugural One-Act Festival featuring four original one-act plays written by local playwrights. All four short plays — “The Beauty Contest: An Afternoon on Mt. Olympus,” written by Green County native Genia Allard; “Diedre” and “The Audition,” written by Steven E. Smith of Albany; and “Wilt,” written by Mylee Evonovich, a 2026 graduate of Monroe High School — will be presented for one weekend only on MTG’s Colony Brands Stage, July 18 and 19.
The one-act play idea began with an inquiry from Mylee Evonovich when she was still a high school student. She approached the MTG Board of Directors early in 2025 to ask them to consider presenting an original one-act play she was writing. Board members encouraged Evonovich to continue her work on the play and to update them on her progress.
In December, she reported that her play was ready for an initial read-through. After two workshop sessions with local actors reading the play and providing feedback, the one-act play Wilt evolved and was ready for the stage. Evonovich will direct her play, an enlightening story about what we take for granted in life and the precious time lost when we fail to treasure what makes our lives whole.
As the Board of Directors looked ahead to their 2026 season, they saw a new opportunity to expand this single short play into a summer festival of one-act plays. Monroe Theatre Guild is committed to bringing fresh prospects in the performing arts to the community. With a refreshed outlook, the idea of a festival grew to include other local playwrights and their short plays.
Genia Allard, an actress with a strong background in musical theatre, made her MTG acting debut in the March production of Making Sweet Tea and Other Secrets. Allard proposed directing her original one-act play, The Beauty Contest: An Afternoon on Mt. Olympus. Her play, based on a concept by Lewy Olfsen, is a clever little comedy about four bored goddesses, one resourceful working goddess, and one unsuspecting human who come together to create some hilarious celestial drama.
Steven E. Smith, a popular local actor and director recently seen in MTG’s 2024 production of Lend Me a Tenor and who also directed the 2025 production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, proposed directing two of his original plays. His first one-act play, The Audition, brings together a group of local actors interested in securing roles in a community theatre’s next production. However, as they banter among themselves for prized roles, the introduction of a new person on this day sparks some revealing dialogue.
Smith’s second play, Diedre, is a deceptive drama about a mysterious stranger who shows up at the home of an elderly woman seeking information about his past.
MTG is inviting the community to take part in their inaugural one-act festival and to support our local playwrights for their creativity and daring as they share their original works with the public. The One-Act Festival takes place at Monroe Theatre Guild, 910 16th Avenue in Monroe, on the Colony Brands Stage for one weekend only. Performances will be Saturday, July 18 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 19 at 2 p.m.. Reserved seating tickets are now on sale on the Monroe Theatre Guild website, monroetheatre.com or by calling the MTG office at 608-325-1111 to reserve tickets.All four short plays — “The Beauty Contest: An Afternoon on Mt. Olympus,” written by Green County native Genia Allard; “Diedre” and “The Audition,” written by Steven E. Smith of Albany; and “Wilt,” written by Mylee Evonovich, a 2026 graduate of Monroe High School — will be presented for one weekend only on MTG’s Colony Brands Stage, July 18 and 19.
The one-act play idea began with an inquiry from Mylee Evonovich when she was still a high school student. She approached the MTG Board of Directors early in 2025 to ask them to consider presenting an original one-act play she was writing. Board members encouraged Evonovich to continue her work on the play and to update them on her progress.
In December, she reported that her play was ready for an initial read-through. After two workshop sessions with local actors reading the play and providing feedback, the one-act play Wilt evolved and was ready for the stage. Evonovich will direct her play, an enlightening story about what we take for granted in life and the precious time lost when we fail to treasure what makes our lives whole.
As the Board of Directors looked ahead to their 2026 season, they saw a new opportunity to expand this single short play into a summer festival of one-act plays. Monroe Theatre Guild is committed to bringing fresh prospects in the performing arts to the community. With a refreshed outlook, the idea of a festival grew to include other local playwrights and their short plays.
Genia Allard, an actress with a strong background in musical theatre, made her MTG acting debut in the March production of Making Sweet Tea and Other Secrets. Allard proposed directing her original one-act play, The Beauty Contest: An Afternoon on Mt. Olympus. Her play, based on a concept by Lewy Olfsen, is a clever little comedy about four bored goddesses, one resourceful working goddess, and one unsuspecting human who come together to create some hilarious celestial drama.
Steven E. Smith, a popular local actor and director recently seen in MTG’s 2024 production of Lend Me a Tenor and who also directed the 2025 production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, proposed directing two of his original plays. His first one-act play, The Audition, brings together a group of local actors interested in securing roles in a community theatre’s next production. However, as they banter among themselves for prized roles, the introduction of a new person on this day sparks some revealing dialogue.
Smith’s second play, Diedre, is a deceptive drama about a mysterious stranger who shows up at the home of an elderly woman seeking information about his past.
MTG is inviting the community to take part in their inaugural one-act festival and to support our local playwrights for their creativity and daring as they share their original works with the public. The One-Act Festival takes place at Monroe Theatre Guild, 910 16th Avenue in Monroe, on the Colony Brands Stage for one weekend only. Performances will be Saturday, July 18 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 19 at 2 p.m.. Reserved seating tickets are now on sale on the Monroe Theatre Guild website, monroetheatre.com or by calling the MTG office at 608-325-1111 to reserve tickets.
