Indio Melendez Wins Top Prize At DUTF

Downtown Urban Theater Festival (DUTF) is pleased to announce the honored plays from its 2011 season that ran from April 13 to 23, 2011 at the MMAC Theater in NYC. DUTF Awards went to:

BEST PLAY - Indiosyncrasy
Written and performed by Indio Melendez
A coming-out story about "Nene" and his emotional journey of leaving his wife and family, falling into addiction and finding redemption

BEST SHORT - Steps
Written and performed by Brinae Ali
A mother's story of hope and inspiration about her rights of passage into motherhood and process of healing and survival after her daughter's accident

BEST AUDIENCE - The XX Chromosome Genome Project
By S. Ann Johnson
Performed by Abby Cocke, Carine Eyoum, Danae Lyneer Truhart, Jasmine Guillermo, Lauren Blackwell, Naelis Ervin and Ya?mur Müftüo?lu
A multicultural choreopoem that explores similarities and differences between American women

HONORABLE MENTION:
Resurrection by Subrina Moorley (Play)
Crush by Dominic Colon (Short)

During this 9th Annual season, DUTF produced 12 new plays by a cross-section of playwrights and reached a 100th play-produced milestone with its Closing Night production. Reg E. Gaines, Tony-nominee, returned as the Artistic Director and Nilo Cruz, winner of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, was honored with the first-ever DUTF Playwright Master's Award.

DUTF has been recognized as one of the world's best festivals for new works and described as "not only prestigious, but a slice of heaven for playwrights who want the chance to freely express themselves." (Theater Festivals, 2005) From an inclusive, multicultural perspective, it presents works that echo the true spirit of urban life and speak to a whole new generation whose lives defy categorizing along conventional lines.

Visit DUTF online at www.facebook.com/pages/Downtown-Urban-Theater-Festival/152194641470752, www.twitter.com/DUTFNYC and https://www.youtube.com/user/dutfnyc.