Short Play Festival at the Players Theatre Announces Week 1 Winner

There is nothing like a spicy play to chase away those winter blues. With the soon to be released "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie on audiences minds, The Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival - SEX! satisfies our craving for a peak through the keyhole. The festival encourages playwrights to push the boundaries of convention and explore our most basic instincts by producing something new and provocative.

Celebrating its 4th year, "SEX!" opened on February 5 and runs for three weeks. Each week five original short plays, by five separate playwrights and composers will be presented with a "Best of the Week" production being selected by industry judge and audience vote. The winner of week one was Jordan Barsky who's play "Sammy and the Transvestite" dramatized a clandestine meeting between a 12-year old boy and a man reflecting on his last visit to men's room because he is having a sex change in the morning. The production was directed by Catherine Lamm and starred Tim Welsh and Carlos Edgardo Valdez.

Playwrights from all over the country submitted their plays earlier this year. The festival panel selected 15 plays from over 100 submissions for presentation. The playwrights are responsible for their own production and act as producer for their piece. Many of the playwrights have participated in other festivals at the Players Theatre and several were award winners in past years. Artistic Director, Brenda Bell, commented "It was a difficult process narrowing the selection to only 15 plays - we had so many excellent pieces to select from. This year's menu offers everything from a sensual masturbation musical (week 2) to Brad Pitt sightings to Alien Sex. Short and spicy, these 15 minute plays leave you craving more... the perfect date night mood setter!"

The Festival runs February 5th - 22nd at the Players Theatre in the 3rd floor Steve and Marie Sgouros Black Box located at 115 MacDougal Street in the West Village. Performances are Thursday Saturday at 7p and Sunday at 3p. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at: www.shortplaynyc.com or at the box office. A complete listing of the plays is below. The Short Play and Musical Festival (SPF) is presented three times a year. The June theme is NYC and the October theme is horror. Submissions for NYC open February 15th.

Week One - February 5-8
Sammy and the Transvestite by Jordan Barsky
Love Story For Two Players/Four Personalities by Ivan Faute
Distance in Space by Patrick McEnvoy
Happy Escort by Michael Hagins
Feelings: the Future of Communication by Richie Alfson

Week Two - February 12-15
The Desk by Chelsea Holland
The Red Lioness Chris Chaberski
The Collision on Venus & Mars by Lynn-Steven Johanson
Brad Pitt by Michael Long
I Love Myself: The Masturbation Musical by Jaime Summers

Week Three - February 19-22
Early Birds by Natalie Parker-Lawrence
Spring Cleaning by Carol Kahn
We Are Warriors by Patrick Blake
Sodom & Gomorrah by Nancy McClernan
Sex Scene by Jenna Waltuch