A former southwest Kansan’s play is Broadway-bound.
As The Hutch News reports, 31-year-old Shane Howard grew up on the dry high plains of western Kansas, where he tapped a reservoir of inspiration for his play, “In Pursuit of Peace,” for the upcoming Broadway Bound Theater Festival in New York City.
Howard told The Hutch News the play has a western Kansas theme.
“This is a love story between a father and son, and how they deal with their relationship,” he said.
Despite being separated for many years because of an unhappy divorce, the father and son use a scrapbook as a means of maintaining their connection.
Inspiration for Howard’s work comes from his childhood growing up in Dighton, about 50 miles northeast of Garden City. He is the son of Gene Howard, Dighton, and Denise LaRosh, Tonganoxie.
One of 20 playwrights selected for the event, Howard is in pre-production, settling on a director and cast of four. His play is scheduled to open in August at the 14th Street Y in the East Village.
Howard is raising money for the play through the crowd funding website, indiegogo, where a video about the play is also available.