Columbia Stages Holds M.F.A Playwrighting 09 Class' NEW VOICES NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

Columbia University School of the Arts Theatre Arts Program and Columbia Stages Present NEW VOICES NEW PLAY FESTIVAL, The final chapter of SPRING, a Series of Three Springtime Events Celebrating, Columbia's M.F.A. Playwriting Class of 2009.

Columbia University School of the Arts Theatre Arts Program and Columbia Stages present NEW VOICES NEW PLAY FESTIVAL, the final event in SPRING, a celebration in three parts of Columbia's M.F.A. Playwriting Class of 2009. In NEW VOICES NEW PLAY FESTIVAL, each playwright presents a 60-minute play at The Riverside Theatre in New York City.

SPRING consists of three unique events: THE FOUR SEASONS, MASTERPIECES, and NEW VOICES NEW PLAY FESTIVAL, and takes place between February and April of 2009 in venues located throughout New York City. 2008-2009 marks the inaugural year of the Theatre Arts' Playwright Mentoring Program, a new initiative that pairs every third-year M.F.A. playwriting candidate with a playwright of his or her choosing.

Columbia's M.F.A. Playwriting Class of 2009 includes: Steven Gridley, Tariq Hamami, Joshua Hill, Ken Kaissar, Josh Koenigsberg, Harrison David Rivers, E. Dale Smith and Melisa Tien.

The playwrights were mentored over the course of this year by Edward Albee, Deborah Brevoort, Christopher Durang, David Grimm, John Guare, David Henry Hwang, Kenneth Lonergan, Charles L. Mee, Dael Orlandersmith, Theresa Rebeck, Kate E. Ryan and Kelly Stuart.

For more information about Columbia University School of the Arts, please visit http://arts.columbia.edu. For more information about Columbia Stages, the producing arm of Columbia University School of the Arts' Theatre Arts Program, please visit http://www.ColumbiaStages.com.

Information about NEW VOICES NEW PLAY FESTIVAL follows:

NEW VOICES NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

Al's Business Cards
A comedy by Josh Koenigsberg
Directed by Ken Kaissar
Thursday, April 16th at 8:30PM
Sunday, April 19th at 8:00PM
Wednesday, April 22nd at 8:00PM

When New Jersey gaffing assistant Al Gurvis gets his new business cards accidentally swapped with those of real-estate agent Eileen Lee, he's mildly annoyed. Little does he know that this tiny mix up has sparked a chain reaction which will ultimately ruin his life.

The Beginning and the End
By Tariq Hamami
Directed by Tariq Hamami
Saturday, April 18th at 8:00PM
Thursday, April 23rd at 8:00PM
Saturday, April 25th at 2:00PM

Melanie, trying to escape a wake taking place in her house, flees to her bedroom. She is visited by a curious group of people who only identify themselves as Funny, Scared, Dreamer, and Tamara. Feeling forgotten and alone, Melanie relives moments of her past in order to remember the importance of the present.

Bench
By Harrison David Rivers
Directed by Theresa Buchheister
Friday, April 17th at 8:00PM
Sunday, April 19th at 2:00PM
Saturday, April 25th at 8:00PM

two men. a novel. and a park bench... remember?

Leda's Swan
By Steven Gridley
Directed by Andres Munar
Wednesday, April 15th at 8:00PM
Saturday, April 18th at 2:00PM
Friday, April 24th at 8:00PM

A dying man, abandoned and shunned for maintaining multiple lovers in a quasi-polygamous relationship, is visited in the hospital by Sylvia, his proclaimed favorite.

A Modest Suggestion
A comedy by Ken Kaissar
Directed by Amy Kaissar
Thursday, April 16th at 8:30PM
Sunday, April 19th at 8:00PM
Wednesday, April 22nd at 8:00PM

In world where corporate think tanks dictate public policy, a cold and calculated approach always yields the most sensible result . . .except when the wrong questions get processed.

The Secret Life of the Office Worker
By Melisa Tien
Directed by Andrea Ferran
Saturday, April 18th at 8:00PM
Thursday, April 23rd at 8:00PM
Saturday, April 25th at 2:00PM

April, a hard-working Personal Assistant, wakes up on her 30th birthday feeling dissatisfied with her life. Eager to pretend she isn't another year older, she diligently goes about her day. When her boss asks her to deliver a mysterious package, she thinks nothing of it. But what starts as a simple errand quickly becomes a series of misadventures. The Secret Life of the Office Worker is a darkly comic tale of self-discovery where in 24 hours April goes from dutiful Assistant to Drug-dealer, Prostitute, and Street Fighter.

Stella Man
By E. Dale Smith
Directed by E. Dale Smith
Friday, April 17th at 8:00PM
Sunday, April 19th at 2:00PM
Saturday, April 25th at 8:00PM

On a chilly Halloween, Stella Mann finds herself stranded at a bus stop as the people of the city flicker through her consciousness. But what is a queen to do when one annoying flicker refuses to go away?

NEW VOICES NEW PLAY FESTIVAL plays two weeks only with evening performances

Wednesday - Saturday, April 15th - 25th at 8:00PM

(with the exception of Thursday, April 16th, which is at 8:30PM)

and two matinee performances on Saturday, April 18th and Saturday, April 25th at 2:00PM.

All tickets to NEW VOICES NEW PLAY FESTIVAL are FREE. To reserve a ticket, please email newplays@columbiastages.com.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, April 15th at8:00PM

Leda's Swan

Thursday, April 16th at 8:30PM

Al's Business Cards

A Modest Suggestion

Friday, April 17th at 8:00PM

Stella Man

Bench

Saturday, April 18th 2:00PM

Leda's Swan

Saturday, April 18th at 8:00PM

The Beginning and the End

The Secret Life of the Office Worker

Sunday, April 19th at 2:00PM

Stella Man

Bench

Sunday, April 19th at 8:00PM

Al's Business Cards

A Modest Suggestion

Wednesday, April 22nd 8:00PM

Al's Business Cards

A Modest Suggestion

Thursday, April 23rd at 8:00PM

The Beginning and the End

The Secret Life of the Office Worker

Friday, April 24th at 8:00PM

Leda's Swan

Saturday, April 25th at 2:00PM

The Beginning and the End

The Secret Life of the Office Worker

Saturday, April 25th at 8:00PM

Stella Man

Bench

The creative team also includes: scenic designer Jian Jung; costume designer Melissa Trn; lighting designer Nick Hung; sound designer Amy Altadonna; general managers Andy Donald and Liz Halakan and production stage managers Joanna Congalton and Alexis Qualls.

For detailed information about the plays and writers featured in NEW VOICES NEW PLAY FESTIVAL, and all SPRING events, please visit http://www.ColumbiaStages.com/Spring.html.