Location: Welsbacher Black Box Theatre
Date: September 17-19th, 2026 @ 7:30 PM
Guest Director: Jane Gabbert
Description:
DINNERTIME: A Play in Seven Courses, is about a woman who invites a man over to her house, ostensibly for a simple dinner
date. The night takes a turn for the strange when she reveals her carnivorous intent
and veers into pure absurdity when he decides to stay. Over seven courses, all with
their own unique culinary constituents, the two deliberate over several philosophies:
the tenets of truth and beauty, what should and should not be edible, and the undeniable
pull of carnal desire. The play culminates in the ultimate act of sin and sacrifice.
Rated: PG
Tickets: $15 general seating
About the Winner
The School of Performing Arts at Wichita State University is pleased to announce that
Anna Halza, a writer, actor, and theatremaker in Norman, Oklahoma has been named the
winner of the 2026 Bela Kiralyfalvi National Student Playwriting Competition for her
original play, DINNERTIME: A Play in Seven Courses.
Halza is a fourth-year student at Oklahoma University and will graduate in Spring
2027 with a BFA in Drama and a BA in Professional Writing. She is the co-writer of
two devised works with Co.Arts Theater Co., titled How To Smoke Three Cigarettes At Once and This City Will Eat You Alive, the latter of which she is also starring in. She is the recipient of the 2024 UReCA
Grant, which supported the development of her short play, Another Beginning. Some of her favorite acting credits include: Susan, The Secretaries (2025 UReCA), Sarah, Camp Contrition (SHEDFW), and Phyllis, Body Awareness (OU Student Theater Council).
From Anna’s website, she writes, “As an artist, I am deeply dedicated to creating visceral, exciting experiences for new audiences. My work is boldly unapologetic- as is my dedication to bringing art to nontraditional spaces.” Check out more about her at annahalza.com.
