Quarantine Players, A New Play Podcast.| We'll Keep the Ghostlight on For You! – Details, episodes & analysis

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A group of people gathers for a songwriters' retreat in the Rocky Mountains in the mid-2000s. Their "mentor" is an abrasive, charismatic country singer/songwriter named Kyle Samperson. He humiliates some for their songwriting, personally offends some and clashes about politics with others. By the time Kyle turns up dead in Act Two, everyone has a motive for killing him. Snowed in, without internet or phone, the other characters size each other up and wonder whodunit.  

Judy Klass, Playwright,  A. J. Campbell
Producer Katy Blake, Director
Clint Aphin as Brice, Laurie Canaan as Roberta, Lane Wright as Charlie, Jack E. Chambers as Kyle, Kathy Kerns as Martha, Sophia Sutton as Tiffany, Judy Jackson as Denise, Alyssa Borg as Li,  Robert Beard as Ed

This play has an Iguana for a Protagonist by Liz Dooley
In the aftermath of a massive miscommunication about biology, iguana Arthur comes to the conclusion that his best friend, a human named Mari, must be dying. He makes up his mind to take the most “noble” course of action—whether Mari likes it or not. Part madcap comedy, part menstrual health PSA.  

The play with an Iguana has a Sequel by Liz Dooley
Since the last… adventure, Arthur the iguana has done everything in his power to research human biology so he doesn’t make any more big mistakes. Armed with his newfound information, he sets out to protect Mari from a new threat: himself. But was she ever really in danger? And is she actually any safer now? Part madcap comedy, part menstrual health PSA—part two.  

Followed by a talkback with the cast and writer  
Directed by Monica Cross Produced by A. J. Campbell, Quarantine Players  

Cast
Voice of Iguana:  Scott Sickles
The puppeteer is Clayton Bauldree
Elizabeth Rossen as Mari
Draper Harris as Jeff
Stage Direction:  Gayle Grimes  

About Liz Dooley
Liz Dooley is an asexual- and female-identifying theatre artist based in Atlanta. Her Young Adult Play, FIDGET AND TILDY, has been featured at Synchronicity Theatre through Working Title Playwright’s First Light Series, and her work (WHEREVER) has been featured at Actor’s Express as part of the One-Minute Play Festival. In addition, her short play THIS PLAY HAS AN IGUANA FOR A PROTAGONIST has been produced across the country, including through Quarantine Players and as part of Iowa State University’s Undergrad Director Showcase. She is an active member of Working Title Playwrights and a founding member of the Cultivators, an Atlanta-based new-work development organization for theatre and film. Liz graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2014 with a dual major BA in Theatre Arts and Psychology. She studied as a playwriting apprentice at Horizon Theatre during the 2014-2015 season, under Addae Moon. https://newplayexchange.org/users/28626/liz-dooley

About the Quarantine Players  
Website   https://quarantineplayers.org/
Podcast:  https://anchor.fm/qplayers
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/QuarantinePl...
Twitter:    https://twitter.com/q_players
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Amazon Fire TV APP: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VJHBT8W/

We can all sit around and list off the problems with modern theater so I won’t bore you with a recitation of facts we all largely agree upon. The Quarantine Players are a scrappy theater start-up that is in a position to break all the rules. We were told we can’t put out new work all the time. Yes, we can you just have to treat playwrights like they matter, make them part of the process, and value our input.  We are your source for new plays from amazing playwrights. Each week we choose a new play to read for you. We are different because we involve the playwright in every step of the process. Most of our writers will attend all the rehearsals and provide feedback along the way. We don't just honor playwrights by waiting till their work goes into the Public domain so we don't have to pay them. We prefer our playwrights to still have their pulse.

A gang of criminals under the leadership of Polyxena have gathered at her bar in the lead up to an impending heist. A stranger named Mikey drinks at the bar and arouses the suspicions of the crooks. Brooklyn, the brash, foul-mouthed, and increasingly erratic technical expert attempts to seduce Mikey to determine if he’s an undercover cop, or simply some schmuck in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The third gang member, who goes by the moniker Soccer Mom, arrives with a very young new girlfriend in tow. When Brooklyn takes Mikey off to a hotel room, Soccer Mom convinces Polyxena to replace Brooklyn in the criminal string due to Brooklyn’s reckless behavior and substance abuse. Her new partner, Katie, it turns out, is a criminal, too, with the same skill set as Brooklyn.

Written by Michael R. McGuire

Directed by Sophia Menconi

Produced by A. J. Campbell, The Quarantine Players

CAST

Brooklyn...............................................KeeKee Funches

Polyxena.........................................................Judy Lewis

Mikey..........................................Cameron Lee Conlan

Soccer Mom.................................................Lori Brooks

Katie.......................................................Mikayla Trimpey

Stage Direction..............................Adam Frost-Venrick

Find out more about the Quarantine Players at

QuarantinePlayers.org

We work with playwrights to develop great new plays.  

Check us out.

About the Playwright:

Michael R. McGuire

McGuire’s play "It Comes From Beyond!" was produced in NYC in 2012 by Horse Trade Theater. His play "Persephone Rules!" is published by Brooklyn Publishers. He was awarded a 2005 CT Artist Fellowship for his play "The New Girl." His plays have been workshopped and produced at The Lark, Theater for the New City, Slant of Light Theater, Hygienic Theaterwerks, Valley Rep, and Heartland Theater as well as others.

https://newplayexchange.org/users/23698/michael-r-mcguire

See his books at https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&contributor=Michael+R.+McGuire&page=1&pageSize=10

About Quarantine Players

https://www.facebook.com/QuarantinePlayers

https://quarantineplayers.org/

https://twitter.com/q_players

https://www.instagram.com/quarantineplayers/channel/

When we started, there was no template for creating theater over the internet, which turned out to be perfect because we could remove all the obstacles that held us back.

At the time, we didn’t know what zoom was or how we could use it. Would people even know how to use it? How much would it cost? And what the heck is a virtual background?

We had so many questions, but we watched all of our productions canceled in those horrible first days of Spring 2020.

We didn’t have to create a “season” of plays; we could choose any plays we wanted to do. It gave us a kind of freedom to select the best work we can find without appeasing a particular audience. We choose the plays, cast the roles, then we find an audience.

Based loosely on the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, a classic tale of redemption, love, and forgiveness.  If that what you are looking for keep going.  Our story is about truth.  

It's December 24th, 2020 The President of the United States, Donald J Trump is alone wandering around the oval office.  His niece Mary Trump approaches him with a book deal as a way for him to tell the truth to the American people, score a huge payday (bigger than Obama's). Over the course of the evening, the President is visited by a Rabbi, Michael Cohen, and three Ghost Writers.  The Ghostwriters meet with Trump to see if he has found redemption and if they can, get the truth out of him.    

This play uses explicit language:  the F'bomb and references to sex.  

This is a work of fiction and fantasy.  We are pretty sure Trump would never tell the truth no matter how big the book deal.  

Directed by Doug Henderson 

Written by A. J. Campbell 

Performed by the Quarantine Players (QuarantinePlayers.org)  

Our Actors  Ethan McAtee......Donald Trump 

Jacqueline Jones .....The Publisher 

Scott Olson.....Bob Cratchet/First Ghost Writer/Fred Sr. 

Adam Ressa...Michael Cohen/Reporter 

Byron Allen....Rabbi/Second Ghost Writer 

Mikayla Trimpery....Third Ghost Writer/Reporter 

Kerri Peters.....Mary Trump  

Thank you to the Quarantine Players 

Adaptation of "Silent Night" sung by Kerri Peters, Lyrics by A. J. Campbell “Silent Night” music by Franz Xaver Gruber, lyrics by Joseph Mohr (1818) Song is in the Public Domain

Part 1 of 2
Adapted from the novel by the same name, written by Agatha Christie in 1923.
Christie's most famous detective, Hercule Poirot receives an urgent letter from Paul Renauld, summoning him to France. When he arrives, Poirot and his companion Hastings find that they were too late to save M. Renauld, as he now lies dead, face down in a grave on the edge of the golf course he was building. Soon, the story circulates that he was taken in the middle of the night by masked foreigners after a "secret" But certain facts do not add up. Why is his overcoat too long? Who wrote the love letter found in his pocket? Why is the broken watch running two hours fast? The case is further complicated by the discovery of another body, which has apparently been stabbed in an impossible way. All the while, Poirot must participate in a tête-à-tête with a rival, Inspector Giraud, who sees the case completely differently and refuses to cooperate. Hastings, meanwhile, has fallen in love with a girl who refuses to give her name. This fantastic story, beautifully crafted by Agatha Christie, has been faithfully and cleverly adapted to the stage for the first time. Script freely available upon request.

Directed by Scott Olson
Produced by A. J. Campbell, Quarantine Players

Cast

Hercule Poirot .....Ricardo Padilla

Hastings....Ian Mead Moore

Gerard.....Tyler Brown

Lucien Bexs......Cameron Lee Conlan

Madame Renault...Carol Frysinger

Jack/George....Adam Frost-Venerick

Madame DeBrue....Carole Preston

Marte....Arlyss Hayes

Stoner/Lawyer...Adam Ressa

Cinderella/Bella....Judy Lewis

Denise/Jeanne...Cait Sioebon Kiley

Francois.....Barry Alguire

Dr Durant/Arnold....D.Scott Grahm

Waiter/Hiram.....Gary Mason

Scott Olson  Director

A.J. Campbell Producer, Quarantine Players

Arthur Gramm is a St. Louis based playwright, adapter, and improviser. His love of playwriting was discovered by accident when, after being brought in to consult on stage combat for a new adaption of The Call of the Wild, he was asked to rewrite the entire play. From then on, the previously unknown interest developed into a full-fledged passion. While working on his BA in theatre and communication, Arthur wrote a collection of one-act plays for a staged reading, including one work that experimented with nonlinear, randomized storytelling, ALL IN THE TIMING. He has also volunteered with the Intersect Arts Center teaching theatre and playwrighting to kids in downtown St. Louis. His 10-minute One-Act play, JOY, was a semi-finalist at The End of the Road New Play Festival in 2018. He has also written two legal mystery one-acts, both of which were produced locally in Nebraska. His greatest passion lies with works that have the ability to surprise both the audience and the author. He has written two full-length plays; AFTER THE FACT, an original work, and THE MURDER ON THE LINKS, adapted from the Agatha Christie novel of the same name. The latter was first performed by the Quarantine Players in 2020. He is currently working on his master’s degree.

New Play Exchange:  https://newplayexchange.org/plays/420758/murder-links

Website: https://www.facebook.com/Arthur-Gramm-110409654197581

Twitter: @grammarthur

When the resident theatre at a Jewish Community Center commissions a new play about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a half-Jewish/half-Jordanian playwright, the Center finds itself pulled in several directions. The playwright was sent on a trip to Israel and came back with a story that only explored one side of the Westbank conflict.  The playwright's narrative, told to them by a Palestinian family.  Questioning the premise of the story and the balance of it becomes a point of conflict within the organization.  One of the Center’s major donors, the Center’s Board President, the theatre’s Artistic Director, and the playwright each fight for a different outcome, while the Center’s Executive Director tries to keep the institution from falling off its foundation. SETTLEMENTS examines conflicts inside the Jewish community, the radicalization of young people's thoughts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and how existing Jewish institutions are coping with these new realities.

To see a video of this production:  https://youtu.be/nnygZz3U3HE

Playbill: https://www.playbillder.com/show/vip/Quarantine_Players_A_Virtual_Theater_Company/2020/SETTLEMENTS_85144

Website:  QuarantinePlayers.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuarantinePlayers/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/q_players
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quarantineplayers/

Genre: drama, political
Subject Matter Keywords: Jewish, Israel-Palestine, Israel, theatre, Politics, artist, art
Age Appropriateness: ages 18 and up
Narrative Attributes: Centers Female Characters

Directed by Leslie Ross
Produced by A. J. Campbell, Quarantine Players

Characters:

NOAH 44, (Timothy Lynch) Jewish; Artistic Director of the theatre

JUDITH 52, (Lori Muhlstein) Jewish, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center that houses the theatre

YASMIN 28, (Tarnim Bybee) half-Jewish/half-Jordanian, playwright

MARION 65, (Barrie Alguire) Jewish, President of the Board of the Jewish Community Center

CAESAR: 76, (D. Scott Graham) Jewish, a retired opthalmologist-turned-major-philanthropist

Seth Rozin

Seth is the author of numerous plays, including SETTLEMENTS, HUMAN RITES (produced at Phoenix Theatre, 2017; InterAct Theatre Company, 2018), THE THREE CHRISTS OF MANHATTAN (InterAct, 2015), TWO JEWS WALK INTO A WAR... (National New Play Network rolling world premieres at Florida Stage, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey and New Jersey Rep, plus productions at Shadowlands Theater, Merrimack Rep, Unicorn Theatre, InterAct, Florida Studio Theatre, GEVA Theater, Barter Theater, Jewish Theatre of Grand Rapids and New Repertory Theatre; published by Playscripts.com), BLACK GOLD (NNPN rolling world premieres at InterAct, Phoenix Theatre, PROP Thr, Arts West Playhouse), REINVENTING EDEN (InterAct), MISSING LINK (InterAct, Civic Theatre of Schenectady), THE SPACE BETWEEN US (readings at Abington Theatre, Philadelphia Art Alliance) and MEN OF STONE (Theater Catalyst; published by Playscripts.com). He is also the composer, lyricist and book writer of A PASSING WIND a musical about history's greatest "fartiste" that premiered at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts' inaugural Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts in 2011. Seth is the winner of two playwriting fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the 2006 Smith Prize (awarded by the National New Play Network), a 2002 Commission from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture, and two Barrymore Award nominations for Outstanding New Play.

https://newplayexchange.org/users/226/seth-rozin

Representation, Susan Gurman, susan@gurmanagency.com

4 Short Stories about Jewish life at Christmas

“Welcome to Our Holiday Show”  starring Kerri Peters.  A frazzled teacher emcee's the opening of their school's holiday show.  

“The Music Man’s Son Goes Yiddish” starring Shayne Gardner as Christine, Taifa Harris as Mayo, A.J. Campbell as the Rabbi

“THE DAY SANTA IGNORED US” Starring Gayle Grimes as Mother, Ethan McAtee as Santa Barry, Adam Ressa as Son. A mother and son are shopping for a Hanukkah gift for the dad when they are insulted by a department store Santa who has just recognized them.

“It’s Not Such A Wonderful Life” starring, Kenneth Boys as George, Gary Payne as Clarance, We return to the bridge where George and Clarance meet at the beginning point of A Wonderful life, to find a different sort of arrangement.  It's a story about life and sub-prime lending.  

“Thank You For Coming to Our Holiday Show” starring Kerri Peters, Our frazzled teacher returns after a devastatingly bad performance by the kids.

Hank Kimmel

Hank Kimmel (also known as Henry W. Kimmel) is an Atlanta-based playwright who is a founding member and serves as board president for Working Title Playwrights, an Atlanta-based theatre company dedicated to the development of playwrights and new plays. Hank also serves as the board president for the Alliance for Jewish Theatre (www.alljewishtheatre.org). Hank has been a long-time member of the Dramatists Guild. Always aspiring to craft deeper and more meaningful work, Hank has written dozens of plays of various lengths, mostly addressing people's obsession with status and money, including his own. Hank also works as a dramaturg.

New Play Exchange:  https://newplayexchange.org/users/2311/hank-kimmel

Website: http://www.hankkimmel.com

About the Quarantine Players

Website:  QuarantinePlayers.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuarantinePlayers/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/q_players Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quarantineplayers/

When we started, there was no template for creating theater over the internet, which turned out to be perfect because we could remove all the obstacles that held us back.

At the time, we didn’t know what zoom was or how we could use it. Would people even know how to use it? How much would it cost? And what the heck is a virtual background?  We had so many questions, but we watched all of our productions canceled in those horrible first days of Spring 2020.

We didn’t have to create a “season” of plays; we could choose any plays we wanted to do. It gave us a kind of freedom. We choose the plays, cast the roles, then we find an audience. We can create theater for a specific audience, for example, 25 -30-year-old parents in Des Moines, Iowa. We can do that.

Join us every week for a new play.  

Performed by the Quarantine Players
Directed by Leslie Ross
Produced by A. J. Campbell, Quarantine Players

HAPPY THANKSGIVING is a full-length play set on Thanksgiving Day, 2016, two weeks after the highly divisive U.S. presidential election.

A Michigan-state (Blue state turned Red!) married couple, two conservative Republican parents, are holding their annual Thanksgiving dinner for their three adult children coming back to Jackson, Michigan (often branded as the birthplace of the Republican party): their first-born, a liberal firebrand Hillary-supporting daughter, along with their middle child, a gay Republican son, and the baby of the family, a Sandernista democratic socialist daughter.

Annual Thanksgiving family gatherings are normally fraught with enough anxiety for this diverse and politically-conscious family, but after the long and contentious presidential campaign of 2016, this post-election turkey get-together threatens to be a disaster in the making. One American family and their binds of marriage, parenthood, brother and sisterhood will all be tested as the family members are challenged to answer the ultimate question, which comes first, party, candidate, country or family?

ARTHUR HOLDEN - (D. Scott Graham)  Early 60's. Family patriarch. Old school traditionalist. Still, open-minded. Steely. With a soft side.

BEV HOLDEN -(Lori Balash Muhlstein) Early 60's. The real family boss. Simple but wise.Path-of-least resistance peacemaker personality. Hidden rebel.

DEBORAH HOLDEN GONZALEZ (Caty Nicholson)  Early to mid 30's. Daughter. Liberal firebrand, passionate to the point of neuroses. Glass half-empty.

ROBERT HOLDEN - (Matthew Marcus) Mid 30's. Son. Conservative. Republican. Gay.  Later 20's. Baby of the family. Bernie Sanders acolyte. Socially engaged. Still, a realist.

HECTOR GONZALEZ - (Ricardo Padillo.) Mid-30's. Latino. Husband to Deborah. Progressive liberal. Less fiery than his wife. Glass half-full.

MALIK HENDERSON - (Chaz Pando) Later 20's-Early 30's. Black. Husband to Sarah. Very well-read. An anarchist at heart. Passionate, playful, humble.

About the Quarantine Players

https://anchor.fm/qplayers
https://www.facebook.com/QuarantinePlayers

Quarantine Players are a group of directors, playwrights, actors, and technicians from all over the U.S. who have gathered to keep the ghost light on for you. We work to create weekly podcasts and video readings of new plays so you can get your theatre fix!  Till we are back in our seat with you, we will leave the ghostlight on.  

About The Playwright, Tim Boland
https://newplayexchange.org/users/3542/tim-boland

TIM BOLAND is an award-winning playwright, who has written for theatre, film and television. His original play, IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE, was selected as the national contest winner of the Acme Acting Company's Third Annual New Play Festival, where it received its World Premiere at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach. IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE received its West Coast premiere at The Road Theatre Company of Los Angeles. He subsequently adapted his play IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE for film for CBS Productions, which produced it, starring Scott Bakula, Amy Madigan and Richard Thomas. His one-act ACCEPTANCE SPEECH was part of an evening bill of one-acts called TAKE THREE, directed by Paul Lazarus, that played at the No Smoking Playhouse in NYC. ACCEPTANCE SPEECH was subsequently produced as part of a production of the author’s one-acts, NIGHT VOICES, staged in San Francisco at Shelton Studio Theatre.

The Washington Squares is a political game show parody where media, popular culture icons, and politicians lie or tell the truth.  Reminiscent of a popular game show, this version is anything but basic.

Send us some love and support: https://cash.app/$QPlayers

Playwright:  A. J. Campbell
Directed by Doug Henderson
Performed by the Quarantine Players
facebook.com/QuarantinePlayers

“We Will Survive”  Parody Lyrics by A.J Campbell & Judy Lewis, Performed by Cameron Lee Conlan

No Politicos were harmed during the making of this episode

OUR POLITICO “CELEBRITY” IMPERSONATORS

Announcer...........................................................Eric Verchot

Chris “Hardball” Matthews......................Tori Clay

Senator Mitch McConnell........................Doug Henderson

Rep. Nancy Pelosi..............................Judy Lewis

Vp Mike Pence..................................D. Scott Grahm

VP Joe Biden...................................Scott Olson

President Trump................................Ethan McAtee

Dr. Rachel Maddow..............................Sarah Mackenzie Baron

Randy Rainbow..................................Cameron Lee Conlan

Claudia Conway.................................Kitty Murphy

Rep. Katie Porter..............................Gayle Grimes

Joy Reid.......................................Keekee Funches

Stephen Miller.................................Adam Ressa

The White Board of Truth and the Dry Erase Marker of Destiny played themselves

All rights reserved

Video Performance Available:   facebook.com/QuarantinePlayers

About the Play

Karen’s a klutz. After getting into another car accident (on Halloween), her insurance agent gives unusual advice: she should visit a famous astrologer to find out why she’s so accident-prone.  The hunky astrologer tries to convince Karen that they are meant to be together.  Should Karen believe him?  And what about her again off again booty call Nick?  Find out who Karen chooses, why her sister can't choose a paint color, and why it is a really bad idea to propose to someone on a baseball field.  Watch Ditching Destiny on Halloween by Laura Lewis Barr.

Script Available on New Play Exchange:  https://newplayexchange.org/plays/12295/ditching-destiny-halloween-or-bride-cant-decide

Director:  A.J. Campbell

The Cast

Karen - Stacy McCargo
Laurie - Mikayal Trimpey
Richard - Spencer Dooley
Nick - Richardo Padilla
Ethan - Cameron Lee Conlan
Charles/Mark Doug Henderson
Stage Direction/Patti/Reporter/Becky/Attractive Fan - Barrie Alguire
Usher & Stage Direction- A.J. Campbell

About the Playwright

New Play Exchange:  https://newplayexchange.org/users/1430/laura-lewis-barr

Laura Lewis-Barr has been writing, directing, performing and teaching theatre for over 15 years. Laura’s play Chernobyl's Fire won the Playwrights First Award and was a finalist in the O'Neill Theatre Center National Playwrights Conference Competition and Steppenwolf Theatre’s “First Look.” Marvelous Tales, was recently published by YouthPlays and The Vase is published with Heartland Plays. Her play, Cloistered Honey was recently made into a low budget film through Inspirare Productions. "Cloistered Honey" has been an official selection at the Red Dirt International Film Festival (nominated for Best Writing - Drama) and the Eugene International Film Festival (Awarded Best Screenplay – Feature.) It was recently picked up for distribution by The Bosko Group. Cloistered Honey (early draft) was seen as part of “The Next Big Thing Festival” in NY. Darwin’s Dilemma was seen in Circle Theatre’s New Play Fest. Darwin was also featured in the St. Tammany One-Act Competition and Steel Beam Theatre’s “New Play Series.” Recent productions of Laura’s work include: Chernobyl’s Fire; Addicted to Mars (Pittsburgh New Works Festival—“intriguing and carefully drawn…. Lewis-Barr’s writing drives the production.” Pittsburgh Post Gazette); Golden Chalices (LoveCreek Productions and The Riant Theatre in New York); Dove Killers (the side project in Chicago-- “riveting” Windy City Times). A dozen other plays, including Re-writing History thru a Fly’s Eye, The Vase, and The Dangers of Catnip have had readings and productions in Chicago and California. Laura’s Masters Degree in Drama is from San Francisco State University. Before her move to the country, (to work as Artistic Director/Theatre Professor at Sauk Valley College) Laura was a member of the Playwrights Collective and Chicago Dramatists.

About the Quarantine Players

Video:   facebook.com/QuarantinePlayers

Podcast: anchor.fm/qplayers (available on iTunes, Stitcher, Breaker, Spotify, google podcast and more.)

Quarantine Players are a group of directors, playwrights, actors, and technicians from all over the U.S. who have gathered to keep the ghost light on for you. We work to create weekly podcasts and video staged readings of NEW plays.  We work hard to put the spotlight on new playwrights and actors.