On March 23, The New School for Drama and Samuel French held a staged reading event honoring 2007 graduate Bekah Brunstetter. Brunstetter was one of the winners of the 33rd Annual Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival last year for her play F*cking Art. To continue the relationship between Drama’s playwrights and Samuel French, the two collaborated to present excerpts of Brunstetter’s newest play, Oohrah!, for an invited audience of theater producers, literary agents, and guests. Both Drama and Samuel French hope to make this an annual event, which will highlight and support the work of Drama’s emerging alumni playwrights.

Introductory remarks were given by President Bob Kerrey, who spoke of the continued success of the Drama program, as well as comments from Drama Director Robert LuPone, Playwright Chair Pippin Parker, and Leon Embry, president of Samuel French. The reading, directed by Parker, also featured Drama alumni Eleanor Handley (’08) and Federico Trigo (’08).

The story of two sisters seeking stability in Fayetteville, North Carolina—home to one of the South's largest military bases—Oohrah! asks how we can remain true to ourselves when the pressures of domestic and military expectation threaten all. Oohrah! was originally workshopped at the Ars Nova, New York City, and is currently playing at the Finborough Theater, London, as part of the Old Vic / New Voices play series.

In addition to being a two-time winner of the Samuel French Short Play Festival, Brunstetter is also a winner of the New York Innovative Theater Award for Best Original Full-Length Play. Her work has received acclaim across the United States and has been produced at Boston Theatre Works, the Ohio Theater, The Alliance Theatre, and many others.