STAGE TUBE: SPF 2008 Alum Lopez Returns For 2009 Festival

The Summer Play Festival (SPF) stages original new plays and musicals by emerging writers during the summer months at the legendary Public Theater in New York City. Since its inception in 2004, SPF has invested millions of dollars in emerging theatre artists, produced over 500 public performances, and has provided an opportunity for 75 writers, as well as hundreds of directors, designers, actors, stage managers, and interns to present their work in a protected environment.

SPF 2008 Alum Matthew Lopez (Playwright, TIO PEPE) came back to check out SPF 2009, and shares his thoughts in this clip.

The Summer Play Festival (SPF) recently announced casting for the eagerly anticipated 2009 Festival in New York City. Casts include stage and screen actress Ally Sheedy; Ari Graynor, recently seen in NICK AND NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLST; Maulik Pancholy, regular on the Showtime hit WEEDS and NBC's 30 ROCK; Katherine Waterston, who broke out in THE BABYSITTERS; Aya Cash, recently seen in Manhattan Theater Club's FROM UP HERE; and Eddie Kay Thomas, from the AMERICAN PIE movie series.

The 2009 Festival will feature seven new plays and one new musical:

The Chimes by Kevin Christopher Snipes, directed by Adam Immerwahr
Departure Lounge by Dougal Irivine, directed by Christopher Gattelli
The Happy Sad by Ken Urban, directed by Trip Cullman
Reborning by Zayd Dohrn, directed by Kip Fagan
The Sacrifices by Alena Smith, directed by Sam Gold
Tender by Nicki Bloom, directed by Daniella Topol
We Declare You A Terrorist by Tim J. Lord, directed by Niegel Smith
Whore by Rick Viede, directed by Stephen Brackett

Tickets are $10 and available through www.spfnyc.com, 212-967-7555 or The Public Theater Box Office (425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan, on Sunday and Monday from 1PM-6PM and Tuesday through Saturday from 1PM-7:30PM).

Under founder Arielle Tepper Madover (a producer of such shows as Broadway's Mary Stuart, Frost/Nixon, Monty Python's SPAMALOT, The Pillowman, A Raisin in the Sun, and Freak), the not-for-profit organization The Living Room for Artists, Inc./Summer Play Festival provides emerging writers, directors, designers and producers an opportunity to work on their material and their craft in a protected environment, guided by established professionals at no cost to them.

For more information please visit SPF's website www.spfnyc.com.