MITF Sets Works for 2015 Festival

Year 2015 is the sweet 16th year for the MITF. Prolific producer John Chatterton's brainchild, The Midtown International Theatre Festival - presenting powerful plays and musicals from around the world - is steadily marching toward 20 years as one of the best reasons to come to New York in the summer. This year, the diverse Midtown International will present quality live theater PLUS a series of cutting-edge short works, children's theater, dance productions, one-person shows, cabaret, vaudeville & burlesque style entertainment.

Productions come from as near as around the corner to as far as Australia. One of this year's entries also serves as a fundraiser for Safe Horizon, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Crisis Center.

Here's what to expect this summer from John Chatterton and the M*I*T*F:

The 16th Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival
Monday, July 13 - Sunday, August 2
Davenport Theatre, 354 West 45th Street, (Between 8th & 9th avenues)

6 ACTORS IN SEARCH OF A CHARACTER written and directed by Edward Eriksson; starring Nolan Charles, Katrina Clairvoyant, Sean Dowling, Sean Koslorowski, Estrella Mundos, and Krisbel Brenes Sandi. Who isn't an actor? Pirandello, lie still. It's only a farce. Performance Schedule: Fri 7/17, 8:00pm; Sat 7/18, 4:30pm; Sun 7/19, 2:00pm; Tues 7/21, 7:00pm; Mon 7/27, 7:00pm

A MINOR MID-CAREER RETROSPECTIVE by James Judd, directed by Madeline Saidenburg; starring James Judd. NPR's Snap Judgment favorite James Judd tells new stories and greatest hits in under an hour. Different stories at each show. Performance Dates: Wed 7/22, 6:45pm; Fri 7/24, 8:00pm; Sat 7/25, 4:00pm

AN EVENING OF NAUGHTY THOUGHTS written and directed by Luke Krueger; starring Paul Christiano and Christina Eltvedt. A dance/theatre mash-up of two one act plays. In one, Hilda interrogates her imaginary friend pancake, whom she believes is the source of her off-color jokes, and other darker thoughts. The second play stars Paul Christiano, Tarah Brown-Hartung, Paula Frasz and John Schmidtz. Based on Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," Louise Mallard quietly celebrates her freedom in the wake of her husband's death. Performance Dates: Thurs 7/30, 8:30pm; Sat 8/01, 7:00pm; Sun 8/02, 5:30pm

BIBLICALLY SPEAKING by Lucy Blood, directed by Deborah Lane; starring Lucy Blood. Six women, one message: in Biblically Speaking, Lucy Blood shatters the "women can't be ministers" rule as she channels her inner preacher to bring life to five Bible women that speak about life, death, and sex. Performance Dates: Mon 7/20, 7:00pm; Sat 7/25, 1:30pm; Sun 7/26, 2:30pm

CARMEN-CHOREODRAMA by Prosper Merimee, directed by Konstantin Purtseladze; starring Ana Aleksishvili, Bezhan Chachibaia, Archil Sologhashvili, Giorgi Toriashvili, Ana Javakhishvili, Ana Tseretili, Ketevan Asatiani, Ekaterine Demeradze, Nutsa Guchashvili, Givi Karseladze, Giorgi Bakhutashvili, and Levan Kakheli. Nominated for Best Dance Theatre Performance of Fringe World Festival, Perth, Australia. Performance Dates: Tues 7/21, 8:30pm; Wed 7/22, 6:30pm; Sat 7/25, 6:30pm

DEATH OF THE PERSIAN PRINCE written and directed by Dewey Moss; starring Pooya Mohseni, George Faya, and Gopal Divan. Death of the Persian Prince is a powerful new play that sheds light on the growing practice of gay Iranians being forced into sex changes in order to avoid legal execution. Having fled Iran and now living in New York City, Samantha is forced to deal with the consequences of her hidden past when she receives an unwelcome visit from her brother. Performance Dates: Thurs 7/23, 8:00pm; Sat 7/25, 5:30pm; Sun 7/26, 1:00pm

FAR FROM THE TREE: Three Tales of Parents, Kids, and Insanity by Andrew Rothkin, directed by Art Brown, Isaac Scranton, and Anthony Valbiro; starring Anthony Barresi, Jr., Sarah Doudna, Bryan Fitzgerald, Rebecca Lovett, Maureen O'Boyle, Joseph Salvatore Knippe, Misti Tindiglia. Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, spouses, lovers and exes. These are the harbingers of joy and pain, of laughter and tears, of bewilderment, wonder and insanity! Performance Dates: Wed 7/29, 8:30pm; Sat 8/1, 4:30pm; Sun 8/2, 5:30pm

GOOD COMPANY by S. Karlan, directed by Cristhian Andrews and Ruya Koman; starring Ruya Koman, Gregory Davis, and Brian Kelly. When a man buys companionship, he gets more than he bargained for. Performance Dates: Mon 7/13, 7:30pm; Fri 7/17, 6:45pm; Sun 7/19, 12:45pm

HERE COMES ALICE! by Mark Schofield, directed Chelsea Thaler. A man must defend himself against unspecified crimes related to the failed love affair that haunts him. Performance Dates: Mon 7/27, 6:15pm; Thurs 7/30, 8:30pm; Fri 7/31, 6:45pm; Sat 8/1, 6:45pm

INDIGO by Casandra Powell, directed by Herman Spearman; starring Tunisia S. North, Jarryn Bingham, Asante Williams, Cassandra Powell, Tanya Freeman, Justin Smith and Danee'ta Shine. In the 1970s era of social and political unrest, the Black Panther Party of Southside, Chicago goes under fire after its prominent leader is charged with murder. The case takes a mysterious twist, and Indigo is forced to choose between love and the movement. Performance Dates: Sat 7/25, 9:00pm; Sun 7/26, 6:30pm

INTESTINAL PULCHRITUDE by Doug DuBrin, directed by Constantine Tariloff; starring Brendan Byrne and Stephen Bauder. Sal (short for Salvador), an android, is undergoing an abdominal cleansing by his keeper, Cal (short for Calvin): during the process, Sal begins to exhibit evidence of sentience, and consequently, a thirst for liberation. Performance Dates: Wed 7/29, 7:30pm; Fri 7/31, 8:30pm; Sun 8/2, 4:00pm

MESSAGES by Matthew Gasda, directed by Christopher Carter Sanderson. Maisie and Emily begin a conversation about love and try not to end their friendship. Performance Dates: Thurs 7/16, 6:30pm; Sun 7/19, 6:30pm; Wed 7/22. 8:00pm; Sat 7/25, 2:30pm

PEARL by CB Murray, directed by Ben Harney, musical direction by Charles Czarnecki; starring Jennie Harney, Dewitt Fleming Jr., Stephen Dexter, Thaddeus McCants, and Sean Gorski. PEARL transports us through the Great Depression, WWII, Civil Rights and Vietnam, all by the magic of Music and Love. A new musical based on the life of Pearl Bailey. Performance Dates: Tues 7/14, 6:00pm; Sat 7/18, 4:30pm; Tues 7/21, 6:00pm; Sat 7/25, 8:00pm; Sun 8/2, 7:00pm

PUZZLE THE WILL by Shakespeare as adapted by Lauretta Pope, directed by Lauretta Pope; starring Keith Chandler, Lyn Kagen, Zak Kamin, Lauretta Pope, Deb Radloff, Damron Russel Armstrong, Kate Shine, and Brett Warnke. Beginning where Hamlet ends, with a mess of dead bodies and the court of Denmark in shock, Puzzle the Will reassembles Shakespeare's tale like a puzzle. Performance Dates: Mon 7/13, 6:30pm; Sat 7/18, 9pm; Sun 7/26, 12:30pm; Mon 7/27 7:30; Sat 8/1, 2:30pm

RISE OF THE USHER by Jessica Elkin, directed by Armando Merlo; starring Jessica Elkin. Come see what one usher will do to rise to the top of an ant hill. Performance Dates: Tues 7/14, 8pm; Wed 7/15, 8:30pm; Sat 7/18, 3:00pm; Thurs 7/23, 6:30; Sun 7/26, 4:00pm

ROCK N'ROLL MOTHER GOOSE by Judi Lewis Ockler, directed by Judi Lewis Ockler; starring Judi Lewis Ockler. A rollicking, interactive, storytelling adventure for kids and families. Performance Dates: Fri 7/31, 7pm; Sat 8/1, 11:30am; Sun 8/02, 11:30am

SINGLE LADIES by Paige Strothmann, directed by Paige Strothmann. This riotous show tells the tale of 5 women and their war stories from the battlefields of love and dating. Based on true experiences in online dating and other ill-advised attempts at finding love. Performance Dates: Tues 7/14, 8:30pm; Sun 7/19, 2:30pm; Thurs 7/23, 8:30pm

SONS OF JOHNNY JOHNSON by Robert F. Bradford, directed by Jamil Mangan; starring Angela Trotter, Carol Copper, Jarvis Smith, Brandon Mellette, Adeyinka Adebola, Lamar K. Cheston, Tomike Ogugua, and Omar M'Sai. "A contemporary black family faces itself..." Performance Dates: Sun 7/19, 4:30pm; Mon 7/20, 8:30pm; Sat 7/25, 4:30pm; Tues 7/28, 6:30pm; Sat 8/1, 8:00pm

SUPER! by Aaron Michael Krueger, directed by Lexie Fennell Frare; starring Adam Keller, Derek Speedy, Jessica Dorcey, Keith Milkie, Stephanie Estep, Paul Mitchell, Alex Ariotta, Adam Salazar, Dan Galyon, Triona O'Callaghan, Misy Singson, and Chelsea Moss. "A hero promises to be there, for heroes answer the helpless prayer"...and now Mark must become the hero the world needs. Performance Dates: Wed 7/15, 7pm; Fri 7/17, 8:00pm; Thurs 7/23, 6:00pm; Sun 7/26, 4:30pm; Sun 8/2, 1:00pm

THE BODY IS A LEGAL DRUG by Daniel F. McNeill, directed by Albert Baker. Loving the one you're with can come back to haunt you. A new comedy about finding your true identity. Performance Dates: Sat 7/18, 2:30pm; Mon 7/20, 6:30pm; Fri 7/24, 6:30pm; Sun 7/26, 7:00pm; Tues 7/28; Fri 7/31, 8:00pm; Sun 8/2, 3:30pm

THE DEAD FOR BREAKFAST by Doug DuBrin, directed by Dan Swern. The Dead For Breakfast, as pitch-black as comedy can be, serves up the picked-over entrails of the disemboweled alliance between the mighty U.S. and the hapless Canada. Performance Dates: Mon 7/13, 8:30pm; Thurs 7/16, 8:30pm; Fri 7/24, 8:30pm; Sun 7/26, 2:30pm; Wed 7/29, 6:30pm; Thurs 7/30, 6:30pm

THE DINNER by Darryl Reuben Hall with Artistic support from Tony Award nominee Hope Clarke, Roumel Reaux, Ken Crutchfield, and Harlan Penn; starring Darryl Reuben Hall. "Booker T. Washington of Tuskegee, Alabama, dined with the President last evening"-The White House. The dinner was tasty and informative but the aftermath and furor spread like wildfire and provoked an outpouring of vulgarities and racial hatred by White southerners, politicians, and noted press. Performance Dates: Wed 7/15, 6:30pm; Sat 7/18, 1:00pm; Sun 7/19, 5:00pm; Wed 7/22, 8:00pm; Sat 7/25, 7:00pm

THE ENFORCER by Glynn Borders, directed by Glynn Borders and Herbert Quinones; starring Glynn Borders. Thangs ain't always as they seem. Performance Dates: Mon 7/13, 6:30pm; Thurs 7/16, 9:00pm; Fri 7/17, 9:45pm

UNDER THE ONE-TIME SKY by Susan Jennifer Polese, directed by Leta Tremblay; starring Michelle Concha Herko and Adam La Faci. The sky is the same along with everything under it and there is only one thing Dwight knows for sure: there is no hiding in memory. UNDER THE ONE-TIME SKY is being performed as a fundraiser for Safe Horizon, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Crisis Center. Performance Dates: Fri 7/24, 7:00pm; Sat 7/25, 3:00pm; Sun 7/26, 5:30pm

UNIVERSAL DAD by PJ Landers, directed by Anthony Grasso; starring PJ Landers. The story of a man who goes on an incredible and emotional journey in search of his father at age 29. Performance Dates: Wed 7/29, 6:00pm; Sat 8/1, 8:30pm; Sun 8/2, 2:30pm

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IMPROV

GOOD CATCH COMEDY Good Catch is a musical improv team that takes a suggestion from the audience and creates a completely made-up musical narrative through original songs, scenes, and dances for a unique, fun, and one-of-a-kind performance! Sat 8/1, 3:00pm

ROBOCOP NYC's high energy hip hop improv team! See what happens when the beat kicks in and we freestyle our way through our improv sets! Sat 7/18, 6:15pm

STANDUP

LATE NIGHT LIVE Late Night Live is a live comedy show hosted by comedians Mike Vincent and James "Murf" Murphy. The show will feature a night of stand-up comedy from some of New York's most talented comedians and comedy writers, along with special guest interviews. This is a show you don't want to miss! Sat 7/18, 9:15pm

ZACH ERWIN A stand-up comic with and absurdist sense of humor. Sat 7/18, 8:15pm

CABARET

LENALENALENA! Lena Moy-Borgen brings you the story of a Chinese Jew from Oakland, California with the soul of a chorus girl crossed with Mel Brooks' sense of humor. Expect show tunes, stories and lots of fun with Katy Pfaffl at the piano. Sat 7/18, 7:15pm

The Byron Freeman Experience LIVE! Covers of all kinds of your favorite music from the best R&B to the most popular songs off of the radio to the greatest show tunes that ever hit the Broadway stage. Come out, have some fun and enjoy some great singing! Tue 7/28, 7:30pm

THE MYSTERIOUS A CAPPELLA MURDER CABARET In this reality-theatre tale, four female vocalists meet in fierce competition, surmount their backstage backstabs, form the a cappella group Cabaret Sauvignon, and allegedly murder their manager! Sun 8/2, 1:00pm

VICKIE Keeping alive the summery breeze side of Jaques Brel, Kurt Weill and Aznavour, Vickie and music director Gerry Dieffenbach gathered rave reviews from New York Critics and won the 2014 Bistro Award for song interpretation. Thu 7/16, 8:00pm