Venus
Finalist, Next Generation Playwriting Prize 2012
Reverie Productions, NYC
Venus is a love story loosely based on actual events. It is the story of Lee, a Marine sergeant in Iraq in 2004, and his Iraqi translator, Munira. They fall in love, marry, and return to the States, where they have a child. Lee is depressed and unable to find work and Munira takes a job as a dancer to support the family. The violence they were both forced to absorb during the war inevitably expresses itself in their family life. Their abused child is taken from them and they are sent to counseling. One day Munira simply disappears. The play explores male/female dynamics across cultures, the sociological fallout of war, and the ways in which trauma interacts with love.
Anna Steers as Munira and Lysa Fox as the Nurse
Venus
Finalist, Next Generation Playwriting Prize 2012
Reverie Productions, NYC
Venus is a love story loosely based on actual events. It is the story of Lee, a Marine sergeant in Iraq in 2004, and his Iraqi translator, Munira. They fall in love, marry, and return to the States, where they have a child. Lee is depressed and unable to find work and Munira takes a job as a dancer to support the family. The violence they were both forced to absorb during the war inevitably expresses itself in their family life. Their abused child is taken from them and they are sent to counseling. One day Munira simply disappears. The play explores male/female dynamics across cultures, the sociological fallout of war, and the ways in which trauma interacts with love.
Anna Steers as Munira and Lysa Fox as the Nurse
Venus
Finalist, Next Generation Playwriting Prize 2012
Reverie Productions, NYC
Venus is a love story loosely based on actual events. It is the story of Lee, a Marine sergeant in Iraq in 2004, and his Iraqi translator, Munira. They fall in love, marry, and return to the States, where they have a child. Lee is depressed and unable to find work and Munira takes a job as a dancer to support the family. The violence they were both forced to absorb during the war inevitably expresses itself in their family life. Their abused child is taken from them and they are sent to counseling. One day Munira simply disappears. The play explores male/female dynamics across cultures, the sociological fallout of war, and the ways in which trauma interacts with love.
Anna Steers as Munira and Lysa Fox as the Nurse
Nancy Bell
Theatre Artist and Writer
Spring 2025
Lots of publishing news!
My first published fiction, Pow! will appear in StoryQuarterly, online in May, in print Fall 2025. Many thanks to editors, Stephanie Manuzak and Paul Lisicky, and my amazing mentor at MUW, Mary Miller.
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Also now have two more essays forthcoming, both about nature, science, motherhood, curiosity, wonder and such. Events of a Less Peaceful Character will appear in Flyway Journal and Tendrils in Terrain.
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March 2025
The production of As You Like It I directed last summer at St. Louis Shakespeare Festival is nominated for 10 awards! Much pride and gratitude to the STL Theatre Circle! (Photo, lower left by Phillip Hamer)
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Best Production of a Comedy (We won! Thank you!)
Best Ensemble in a Comedy (We won! Thank you!)
Best Lighting Design: Denisse ChavezDe
Best Costume Design: Dottie Marshall Englis (She won! Bravo, Dottie!)
Best Scenic Design: Scott Neale (He won! Bravo, Scott!)
Best Performances in Comedy: Caroline Amos, Rikki Franklin, Joel Moses and Jasmine Cheri Rush (Rikki won! Bravo, Rikki!)
Best Director: Nancy Bell (I won! THANK YOU!)
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Winners announced in March.
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January 2025
My production of Gracie Gardner's Athena just opened at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Through February 9. Info and link to tickets here. (Photo, top, by John Gitchoff. Jailyn Genyse as Mary Wallace and Isa Venere as Athena)
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October 2024
Just found out my essay, Oakling, will be published in Shenandoah next year. Many thanks to editor DW McKinney. Also opening in The Roommate at Repertory Theatre of St. Louis-plays through November 17th.
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September 2024
My new flash piece, Tomorrowland, was published online and in print in the September issue of Passengers Journal. Many thanks to my amazing fiction professor at MUW, Mary Miller, for her guidance.
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June 2024
A big month for me. A show I directed and a solo show I perform in are happening at the same time at two different Shakespeare festivals. Photo by Phillip Hamer, bottom of the one I directed, As You Like It at St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Pictured are Beth Bombara, Riley Carter Adams, Bianca Sanborn and Wali Jamal Abdullah as Jacques.
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Performing in Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder's solo play, Zelda in the Backyard at Alabama Shakespeare Festival was an absolute delight.
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