Faith King, a proud member of Trinity Hall’s Class of 2021, is making incredible strides in the theater world. A recent graduate of West Virginia University, Faith earned a prestigious honor this spring: her original play, “Dead and Gone”, received a Broadway Licensing New Works Grant. This highly competitive award supports new theatrical works, and for Faith, it meant her play was professionally produced by the West Virginia Public Theatre. From April 25-27, “Dead and Gone” took the stage in the Antoinette Falbo Theater at the Canady Creative Arts Center at WVU, marking the first time Faith saw one of her original plays fully staged.
“This play is the third original play that I have written,” Faith shared, “but the first to be produced professionally, making this my playwriting and directorial debut!”
Faith, who earned a degree in acting at WVU, has already found success as a playwright. Another of her original works, Floor Five, was presented in a staged reading closer to home with the Stone Church Players in Atlantic Highlands from April 25–26.
Reflecting on her time at Trinity Hall, Faith credits her high school experience with giving her the foundational skills needed to thrive in creative fields. She joked that Trinity Hall taught her how to “write a good email,” but went on to explain how her writing and presentation skills, developed during high school, proved invaluable when pitching her plays.
“I had to write my own pitch, which included a detailed breakdown of the play as well as a full production budget and an analysis of why I thought the play was a good fit for this grant,” Faith explained. “My presentation skills helped me when I reached the final round of pitches and had to make my case in person over Zoom in front of the grant committee.”
Beyond technical skills, Faith says Trinity Hall helped her define her leadership style: “When given the chance to direct this piece, I try to make sure everyone’s voice is heard and everyone feels safe in the space and excited to come play.”
As she looks ahead to a future in acting, playwriting, and directing, Faith continues to embody the spirit of creativity, collaboration, and determination that defines a Trinity Hall alumna.