MITF Hosts Final Short Play Lab of the Season This Weekend

Join MITF for John Chatterton's final series of new 10-minute works in the May Short Play Lab before he begins his super summer season. MITF's year-round festivals provide New York theatre-goers with a constant supply of new and thought-provoking live theater.

The lab runs this weekend, May 21-22 at The Davenport Theater Black Box, 354 W.45th Street, NYC.

While the skyline currently glitters with theatre festivals, there was a time when the Midtown International Theatre Festival was one of only two! John Chatterton has helped set the gold standard for presenting new and exciting independent theatrical works in New York. This year - with a booming variety section, a prominently-placed Short Play Lab, a burgeoning Short Film Lab, nearly 60 productions - with a record number of musical presentations - as well as an astounding number of international works, the 17th Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival, once again proves itself to be one of the best reasons to stay in New York in July!

Program A, Saturday May 21 7pm - Sunday, May 22 4pm

He Loves Me Not by Amber Kusching, directed by David Grice; starring Cassandra Penna, Dante Brattelli, and Christian Spinella. He Loves Me Not explores the lasting effects of a verbally abusive relationship on one's self-esteem and psyche as the protagonist, Lauren, is left in the push and pull of "he loves me, he loves me not..."

The Perfect Retirement Plan by John Ladd, directed by Eileen Walsh; starring William Giaimo. The Perfect Retirement Plan is a foolproof plan whose returns exceed stocks, bonds, pensions, rental properties- everything- in the planning of your future!"

Sunday Shelter by Adi Eshman, directed by Adi Eshman; starring Josh Krebs, Maverick Monga, and Jonathan Williams. Three people at a soup kitchen in New York share their hopes and dreams, and struggle in a city that doesn't want them.

Six Percent, This is Why (a REAL estate story) by Nick Rafello, directed by Nick Rafello; starring Gary Dooley and Kelly Marie McKenna. Based on true and neurotic events, a hilarious story of how real estate gets done in the big bad city.

La Proposition by Matilda Szydagis, directed by Jessica Lynn Jennings; starring Dean Blakey, Johnny Blaze Leavitt, and Anna Frank-Duval. Lost in Translation meets French Kiss.

Finding Your Orbit by Russell Jordan, directed by Russell Jordan; starring Kevin Cauvin and Shakeerah Fredericks. Small talk reveals big things, forever changing the lives of two lovers.

Flight Of Icarus by Natalie Lifson, directed by Al Romano; starring Stephen Hricko and Lucas Vasquez. A dark twist on the traditional Greek myth of father and son duo Daedalus and Icarus, Flight Of Icarus will make you laugh, make you cry, and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Also showing on this program:
Birds by Victor Vauban Junior, directed by Victor Vauban Junior.

Program B, Saturday May 21 9pm - Sunday, May 22 2pm

Smokin' by James St. Jean, directed by Jared Lee Morgan; starring Mathew DeLuca and Skylar Shaw. Peter tries to get Sal to quit smoking, but for all the wrong reasons.

Cul-de-sac by Gregory Cioffi, directed by Gregory Cioffi; starring Mike O'Toole and Meagan Kolakowski. A religious man's near-death experience shakes the core of his beliefs, forcing him to question the way he and his devout wife have lived their lives thus far.

Eyes like Opaque Gems by Amy Drake, directed by Michael Piatkowski, starring

Katarina Vizina, Albert Baker, Sean Stolzenthaler, and Michael Gibson. Special thanks to THE ALCHEMICAL THEATRE LABORATORY

Daniel's Having a Baby by Crystal Rae, directed by Crystal Rae; starring Adrian Cardell Porter and Crystal Rae. Daniel isn't expecting much when he uses a pregnancy test as a joke- the results, however, are no laughing matter.

Supercop by Allen Jenkins, directed by Allen Jenkins; starring Michael Andrews, Justine J Hall, Delvin Williams, Tiffany Ciandra Williams, and Allen Jenkins. An aging detective finds a unique way to fight crime.

Duet by Mark S. Rosati, directed by Jake Alan King; starring Guy Wellman and Julio Valentin. Two men - one of them a veteran of the suicide experience - have a chance encounter on the ledge of a high-rise building as they prepare to take that last step into eternity.

Also showing on this program:
Mirror Monologues by Elena Grosso, Brandon Grimes, Erin Patrick Miller, JC Sullivan, and Desi Waters.