University of Arkansas at Little Rock students will stage their original plays and performance pieces during the university’s Fringe Festival, taking place April 2-5.

Performances will begin nightly at 7:30 p.m. in the Haislip Theatre in the Center for the Performing Arts on the UA Little Rock campus. Doors open at 7 p.m., and admission is free and open to the public with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.

This year’s festival – presented by the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance – includes 12 new plays, monologues, and choreographic work from 11 playwrights. The festival is divided into two events: “PG to OMG” will be presented April 2 and April 4, and “Women’s Voices” will be presented April 3 and April 5.

Many of the students created their work during the special topics course “Page to Stage” taught last fall. The student playwrights and directors have revised their written work this semester and brought the pieces to life onstage. Other work in the festival was generated in Dr. Lawrence Smith’s Introduction to Theatre and Dance course and by student majors interested in poetry and creative writing.

“The works in the festival offer a range of content and theatrical styles,” said Stacy Pendergraft, associate professor and artistic director for the Fringe Festival. “Students have been free to explore subject matter that inspires and challenges their ideas of theatre-making.”

Fringe V is directed by students and alumni, and for the first time the festival has a design component. Theatre major Thomas Jackson’s scenic design serves as his senior capstone project. In addition, Conor Van Lierop serves as lighting designer, and Blake Morris serves as sound designer. Students Mykenzie Gordon, Jessi Ley, Thomas Jackson, and Conor Van Lierop received Signature Experience Awards to support their creative works.

UA Little Rock freshman Gage Pipkin wrote and directed an original 10-minute play called “Prisoners,” which will be staged on two nights of the festival.

“I am so glad to be involved with something that is presenting unconventional works,” Pipkin said. “A ton of work has been put in by all of those involved, and much of the work is student driven from the page to the stage.”

The festival is for mature audiences age 18 and older because of adult themes, strong language, and sexual content.