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MIDWINTER MADNESS SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL Set for 2/10-3/2
By: Tyler Peterson Jan. 26, 2014
The Midwinter Madness Short Play Festival, like its more intimate sibling, the Short Play Lab, presents one-act works no more than 60 minutes in length, presented in repertory over a three-week period, at Roy Arias Studios Stage II, 300 W. 43rd St. 4th fl., New York City beginning Monday, February 10 through Sunday, March 2.
This year's selection is a diverse group of more than three dozen plays and musicals, some with controversial subject matter and themes as well as a group of musicals designed for children.
Tickets are on sale at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/27845.
The unique line-up includes works of fantasy - light and dark - like:
o ALIEN ADVENTURE, THE ADVENTURE: A misfit crew goes on a mission to sign a treaty with the Zogs, who'd rather eat them.
o BEAUTIFUL DREAMER: Scarlett is a porcelain doll who has been abandoned in a house for 45 years. To keep from being lonely she befriends the bugs in the attic.
o I NEVER MISS A Larry Kramer MUSICAL: A parody chat with Bette Midler.
o LIZZIE BORDEN'S PARTY: Produced by Provincetown Fringe Festival. Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother 40 whacks. Come to her party and find out: did she or didn't she?
o AN ALLY AND AN ENEMY (on the same bill as CAN ONE LIVE THIS WAY?): Following the outbreak of a deadly virus, a blind eight-year-old must fend for herself until a rescue convoy can reach her at dawn.
o THE POE PROJECT: Based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe
Works based on actual events:
o BLACK TRIANGLE: A tale of NYC's horrific Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and one woman who had enough.
o DENIALS: A school staff struggles to prevent a disaster.
o CAN ONE LIVE THIS WAY? (on the same bill as AN ALLY AND AN ENEMY): An answer to Govorukhin's 1990 much-publicized documentary We Can't Live Like This, a film highly critical of Soviet society
Intimate subject matter:
o ANOTHER ONE DARLING: Last call? Make it neat, no chaser.
o THE GREY: An unconventional love story that reveals just how perfect imperfect love can be.
o THE LIFERS: In their first year out of college, four best friends struggle to hold onto each other - and themselves.
o STELLAR EVOLUTION: A nihilistic physicist meets an idealistic artist.
o THE TRUE MARTINI: An innocent cocktail party turns into the less-than-heartwarming story of a young man and the couple who seek to seduce him.
o PROVINCETOWN: Dean and Patrick confront technology, sex, the meaning of time, and the tenuous line between friendship and love on a vacation in Provincetown.
o I'M SORRY: Or are we?
o HIGHER GROUND: What happens when you say those three magical words - and then take them back?
o NOSCE TE IPSUM: Know Thyself
o IN YOUR MOTHER'S GARDEN: Who is there to disappoint when you have no one to lead you?
And larger-than-life topics:
o CONFESSIONS OF A RABBI'S DAUGHTER: A musical.
o THAT L-WORD: What's love got to do with it? Evidently, a lot!
o TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY: Without a ticket, map, or guidebook, Vera takes us with her through Russia on the longest railway in the entire world.
o VIRGINS LIKE DRAKE TOO: It's time to take everything you know about virgins and throw it out the window.
The festival also includes a group of children's musicals:
o CURSE ON SUMMIT ROCK: An interactive children's musical for the entire family about protecting New York City's most precious art work - Central Park.
o THE DOOPLES IN THE LAND OF DOO: A children's musical
o EEEK! A MOUSICAL - DYVILLE & John Stutte: A children's musical about a City Mouse & a Country Mouse.
o QUASIMANGO, THE LUNCHBOX OF NOTRE DAME, a musical
o JIMMIE-JAMES-JIM: A children's show
o WELCOME TO TOURETTAVILLE: A children's show.
Other festival entries include:
o BURIED BLACK LEGACY
o COMING HOME
o THE HALLELUJAH MALL
o SEA CLOUD PARK
o THEME NIGHT
o THE TOWEL
Prolific producer John Chatterton has been a fixture of the Manhattan theatre scene for two decades. The Midtown International Theatre Festival is a leader in presenting powerful works from around the world - and one of the best reasons to come to New York in the summer. Year 2014 marks Year 15 for the MITF, and John Chatterton is celebrating in a big way. Visit www.midtownFestival.org to learn about the Short Play Lab, the Midwinter Madness Short Play Festival, the founding Midtown International Theatre Festival, the new MITF Children's Theatre Festival, and the Commercial Division.
Visit www.midtownfestival.org for performance schedule.
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