IN THE MIX Will Bring New Plays to Vivid's Mainstage

Vivid Stage, in residence at Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, will present In the Mix, an evening of new short plays that tell the stories of our times, from April 3 through 13. 

This evening of world premiere short plays blends comedy and drama to bring to life the topics that everyone's talking about. Written in the last three months, these plays capture the pulse of the moment through the eyes of seven gifted playwrights. Showcasing the talents and versatility of Vivid's resident ensemble, these thought-provoking plays range from laugh-out-loud comedy to gripping drama. This vibrant evening of theatre speaks eloquently to the world we live in today.

Directed by Laura Ekstrand (Livingston), the cast includes Vivid Stage ensemble members Nicole Callender (West Orange), Clark Carmichael (Hewitt), Harry Patrick Christian (Montclair), Noreen Farley (Clinton), Becca Landis McLarty (Montclair), Scott McGowan (Maplewood), Daria M. Sullivan (Lyndhurst), and Harriett Trangucci (Summit). It also features guests Ciara Chanel (East Orange) and Benjamin Cruz (Dover).

This selection of plays includes Business as Usual, by Daria M. Sullivan, which takes a comedic look at  how one workplace tries to soldier on in the face of increasingly dire natural disasters. Bless Me, Father, by Steve Harper, deals with the tension that develops in a marriage when a couple is divided by their vote. Richard Dresser's play, Parents' Night, is a dark comedy about a parent-teacher conference that goes alarmingly wrong. Pandora Scooter's play, Reba's Tea Party, is “an absurdist romp through the zeitgeist” that depicts a dream shared by two little girls of different political persuasions.

David Lee White's play, Call Center, takes a hilarious look at a senior citizen who is done with being targeted by telemarketers. Suzanne Bradbeer's new play, as yet untitled, explores how relationships between neighbors (and a dog!) can be challenged, or even strengthened, by politics. And Angel J. Rivas' play Forever Machine, gives a chilling look into the future of how technology may be poised to gobble up the humans in its thrall.

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