Playwrights tend to craft plays because they love drama and writing. But a few accolades never hurt anyone.

English Alternative Theatre begins its 2003-2004 season on the heels of a season in which a record-setting five plays by Kansas University student playwrights advanced to the regional competition of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

One, “Attack of the Asians,” a 10-minute play by fall 2002 KU graduate Tim Macy, went on to compete at the national level.

His play focuses on an older couple with debilitating illnesses whose children disregard their parents once the children have financial and emotional independence. Macy wrote “Attack of the Asians” for a beginning playwriting class taught by Paul Stephen Lim, Conger-Gabel teaching professor of English at KU and artistic director of English Alternative Theatre.

EAT’s last season ended on a popular note with a slight variation of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie.” Audiences liked the show enough that Lim decided to stage encore presentations this fall. It will play at 8 p.m. Oct. 9-10 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H.