Oswego Players Showcase New One-Act Plays

The annual Don McCann Memorial Playwrighting Showcase features two world premieres at the Frances Marion Brown Theater.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The Oswego Players theater group is hosting its annual Don McCann Memorial Playwrighting Showcase, featuring two never-before-performed one-act plays selected from nearly 150 submissions. The showcase will run for one weekend only, March 6-8, at the Frances Marion Brown Theater in Oswego, New York.

Why it matters

The Oswego Players have a long history of supporting new and emerging playwrights in the local community. The one-act showcase provides an important platform for these writers to have their work performed and receive feedback from live audiences, which can help them develop the stories into full-length plays.

The details

The two winning one-act plays are "Gun Shy" by Chris Woodworth, a provocative drama about a college student's interactions with a gun shop owner, and "Good Guys" by Keith Whalen, a comedy about a woman helping her friend find the right romantic partner. Both plays will be directed by local theater veterans Shanya Sims and Sherri Metz, respectively.

  • The 2026 Oswego Players 88th Season will kick off with the one-act showcase on March 6-8, 2026.
  • Showtimes are 7:30pm on Friday and Saturday, and 2:00pm on Sunday.

The players

Norman Berlin III

The contest coordinator for the Don McCann Memorial Playwrighting Showcase.

Chris Woodworth

Playwright of the one-act play "Gun Shy".

Shanya Sims

Director of the one-act play "Gun Shy".

Keith Whalen

Playwright of the one-act play "Good Guys".

Sherri Metz

Director of the one-act play "Good Guys".

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What they’re saying

“These vignettes explore emotions, confront us, challenge our perceptions and provide some good-natured humor.”

— Norman Berlin III, Contest Coordinator (oswegocountytoday.com)

“Audience reaction is an essential part of providing feedback to the playwrights and can often entice them to develop the story into a full-length play.”

— Norman Berlin III, Contest Coordinator (oswegocountytoday.com)

What’s next

The 2026 Oswego Players 88th Season will kick off with the one-act showcase on March 6-8, 2026.

The takeaway

The Oswego Players' annual one-act showcase provides an important platform for new and emerging playwrights in the local community, helping to nurture the development of their work and foster creative expression in the theater arts.