“Earth, I Want to Stay” is BU Players’ newest student-driven project, written by senior Theatre Arts major Emily M. Shaffer and directed by senior Theatre Arts major Colin Search. The concert reading will show Saturday, April 5 from 2-4 p.m. in the Theatre Lab in Arts and Administration 036.
The play tells the story of Zarp, an alien who crash lands on Earth during a flight exam for the Vline Space Invader Institute, and befriends two humans in the hopes of fixing their ship. During Zarp’s time spent on Earth, they are forced to confront their past opinion of humanity, and must face the likelihood of staying permanently on Earth.
“Writing this story has been a moment of discovery for both Zarp and the playwright,” Shaffer states. The longstanding character connects their college-aged self to their high school self. “I’m bringing little Em with me.” Shaffer is excited to share Zarp with the world. Since 2018, they’ve spent 7 years perfecting the character, and began workshopping their story in 2023. As both an artist and writer, they have always been fascinated with the supernatural, and have created multiple painted and sculpted artworks featuring Zarp. Other than this upcoming production, they are most proud of their colorful 4.5 by 5 ft painting “Zarp Saves the Universe”; a 2 ft clay sculpture recognizing Zarp’s eventual objective to save the planet Earth; a handmade card deck; and a four-panel comic strip they created in high school, which served as the initial inspiration for “Earth, I Want to Stay.”
The playwright’s first student-driven project was “You Make Your Own Family,” and they have also been involved in the past three years of BU Players productions, including playing Chorus 8 in the recent “These Women of Troy,” and currently works as stage manager for the 14th Annual Dance Minor Concert. They will be graduating from CU-Bloomsburg in May 2025 and will pursue an MFA in Screenwriting and Playwriting at Point Park University in the Fall.
“It’s been a treat to share Zarp with an audience,” Shaffer says. Writing “Earth, I Want to Stay” has been a milestone in Shaffer’s artistic career, and serves as an exceptional conclusion to their undergraduate career of new play development.
The project’s Mentor is Professor David A. Miller, and its Director is Colin Search. Kalie Peterson is the play’s Stage Manager, and Abbey Bowman is its Designer. There will be 6 student actors for the concert reading, and Kalie Peterson and Juliana Lupo will be ASL interpreting the concert reading. Rehearsals for the play begin on March 30 until April 4, running a new page of the script every day from 6:30-9 p.m.
Admission to the performance is free, but there is limited seating available. “Earth, I Want to Stay” is not intended for children, and contains mature language and content.
