‘Old Ties’ wins Festival of New Plays

Original play by Rex Knowles will be presented at Chattanooga Theatre Centre; three runners-up to have staged readings

A friend’s story shared over breakfast in a New York deli sparked the idea for a play that won the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s Biennial Festival of New Plays.

“She told a story about a distant relative whose spouse had died and the police had to go over and wait with them until the medical examiner arrived to declare the person dead,” says Rex Knowles, who turned that into his winning work, “Old Ties.”

He entwined that idea with Alzheimer’s complications he and wife Sherry Landrum have dealt with caring for their parents along with his parents’ World War II experiences.

For winning the grand prize in the CTC’s Biennial Festival of New Plays, Knowles receives $ 1,000 and his play will be presented in full production in the CTC Circle Theatre over three weekends of performances beginning Friday, April 21.

Playwrights in Tennessee and others who lived within 100 miles of Chattanooga in surrounding states were invited to submit original plays. “Old Ties” won from among 25 submissions.

Knowles is the author of “Rosemary Leaves,” “The Night Reginald Filbert Called It Quits” (2006 winner of the Festival of New Plays), and “The Nutcracker Christmas Carol” (with Landrum and Allan Ledford). He is executive director of the Professional Actor Training Program at Chattanooga State Community College.

Three runners- up were chosen and those plays will be presented as staged readings. Those playwrights received $250 each.

Knowles describes “Old Ties” as a drama with comedic moments. While waiting for the medical examiner to arrive following the death of his wife of 62 years, Hank (the husband), two cops and a distant relative discover how complex it is to love, to live and to leave.

“It really is about this man expressing this particular part of his life through the cousin and policemen. They end up becoming friends and sharing each other’s lives as the man works through his grief and this big change in his life. To me, it’s very touching, very emotional,” says Knowles.

One week into rehearsals, the actor cast as Hank had to withdraw from the show. In true show- must- go- on spir- it, Knowles stepped into the role. Landrum is directing and Angie Griffin is serving as stage manager.

The staged readings have been scheduled so that patrons may catch a4 p.m. show, go out to dinner and return to the theater in time for a second reading at 8 p. m., says CTC spokeswoman Jan Belk. Tickets for the staged readings are $5. See the accompanying box for a description and show times of each.