Thursday, April 17

8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Registration in the Margaret Goheen Foyer of the William Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Building.

8:00 am - 4:00 pm - Film Festival featuring “Penn Avenue to Broadway” (documentary on Inge) and other Inge films: Splendor in the Grass, Picnic, Bus Stop, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, and Come Back, Little Sheba. Fine Arts Room 114, Fine Arts Building. Free.

8:00 am – 9:00 pm – The William Inge Collection will be open to visitors. College Library, Academic Building.

10:00 am – 12:00 pm – “How to Write a Novel Without Getting Sued By Your Mother”. Writer Faith Sullivan, author of The Cape Ann, discusses her new novel, The Empress of One. Independence Arts Council, 113 West Myrtle

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Tour of “William Inge’s Independence”. Sign up at the Registration desk in the Margaret Goheen Foyer, Fine Arts Building. Fee: $2

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – “Come Back, Little Sheba at the Gogol Theatre in Moscow”. Director Ed Hastings and actors Andrei Alexeyev and Svetlana Bragarnik discuss their production of Come Back, Little Sheba at the Gogol Theatre in Moscow. Lecture Hall, Academic Building.

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Tour of “William Inge’s Independence” Sign up at the Registration desk in the Margaret Goheen Foyer, Fine Arts Building. Fee: $2

7:30 pm – Plaza Suite, Neil Simon’s full-length play performed by Independence community members. Adults $8.00/ Students $5.00 (ICC students free). All seats reserved. William Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Building. (Also performed Wednesday, April 16 at 7:30 pm)

9:30 pm – “Moonglow at The Hotel Booth”. After theatre party at the historic Hotel Booth, 8th and Main, Independence. Listen to the jazz band, Plush, and mingle with Inge Festival special guests. Tickets: $12.00 (Includes light hors d’oeuvres and wine)

Friday, April 18

8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Registration in the Margaret Goheen Foyer of the William Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Building.

8:00 am – 4:00 pm – The William Inge Collection open to visitors. College Library, Academic Building.

8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Film Festival continues in FA114, Fine Arts Building. (Check schedule at Registration Desk) Free

9:00 am – 10:30 am – “A Conversation with Neil Simon”. Mr. Simon will discuss the theatre and respond to questions. Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Building.

10:45 am – 12:00 pm – “Playwrights, Actors, Directors: A View Of Theatre Today”. A panel discussion with playwrights Neil Simon, Robert Anderson, Jerome Lawrence, Mary Hanes, and Joe DiPietro; Director Scott Ellis; and actors Eileen Heckart and Polly Holliday. Moderated by David LeVine, former director of the Dramatists Guild. Inge Theatre, Fine Arts Building.

12:00 pm – “A Moveable Feast” Lunch. A keepsake lunchbag with contents to be eaten at numerous locations. Margaret Goheen Foyer, Fine Arts Bldg. Fee: $7.50

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm – “Polishing Your Craft”. A workshop with actress and jazz singer Queen Bey. Music Hall, Fine Arts Bldg.

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm – “Perspectives On Directing”. A workshop with educator and director Luke Yankee. Cessna Learning Center.

1:15 pm – 4:00 pm – Scholar’s Conference begins. Conference Director: Dr. Jackson Bryer, The University of Maryland. Lecture Hall, Academic Building.

2:15 pm – 3:45 pm – "Acting Workshop With Ken Hanes." Actor Ken Hanes, "Mike Guthrie" on the CBS daytime series The Bold and The Beautiful, conducts a workshop on theatre and film acting techniques. Music Hall, Fine Arts Building.

2:15 pm – 3:45 pm – "Directing On Broadway." Director Scott Ellis discusses the role of the director in a major Broadway production. Cessna Learning Center.

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Tour of "William Inge’s Independence." Sign up at the Registration desk in the Margaret Goheen Foyer, Fine Arts Building. Fee: $2

7:00 pm – "A Gala Dinner With Neil Simon and Friends." A Gala Dinner Party at the Independence Country Club. The awarding of the 1997 Margo Jones Award and Medal. All seats reserved. $50.00 (RESERVE EARLY·LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE)

Saturday, April 19

8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Registration at the Independence Museum, 8th and Myrtle, Independence.

10:00 am – 2:00 pm – The William Inge Collection open to visitors. College Library, Academic Building, ICC campus.

10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Film Festival continues in the College Library, Academic Building.

8:45 am – 10:00 am – “A Retrospective with Eileen Heckart”. A question and answer session and film retrospective with actress Eileen Heckart. Independence Museum, 8th and Myrtle.

10:00 am – 11:45 am – “New Voices In American Theatre: 1997”. Scenes from playwright Joe DiPiertro’s new play Over the River and Through The Woods with discussion afterwards directed by the 1995 “New Voices” playwright Mary Hanes and Best Plays editor Otis Guernsey. Independence Museum, 8th and Myrtle.

11:45 am – 1:00 pm – “Picnic Luncheon” at Riverside Park, 4-H Building. Fee: $7.50

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm – “What’s Serious About Comedy?”. A panel discussion with playwrights Neil Simon, Robert Anderson, and Jerome Lawrence, Dan Sullivan, former theatre critic for the L.A. Times and comedy writer Hoite Caston, Independence Museum, 8th and Myrtle.

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Tour of “William Inge’s Independence”. Sign up at the Registration desk at the Museum. Fee: $2

8:00 pm – “Tribute To Neil Simon”. Presentation of “The William Inge Theatre Festival Award For Distinguished Achievement In The American Theatre”. William Inge Theatre. All seats reserved. $10.00