The Drama League Begins DirectorFest 2010

The Drama League proudly announces complete details for DirectorFest 2010, the 27th annual presentation of one-act plays staged by the Fall Fellows of The Drama League Directors Project (Roger Danforth, Artistic Director; Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director).

DirectorFest 2010 offers an exciting glimpse into the future of American theatre by presenting four one-ACT Productions helmed by four of the nation's most talented young directors.

"The Directors Project has helped to develop the careers of 243 young directors - directors who have had a profound effect upon the American theatre," said Artistic Director Roger T. Danforth. "DirectorFest remains one of our most highly anticipated events, and for the 27th time, we are pleased to introduce New York to some of the finest young directors entering the profession today."

The lineup of productions for DirectorFest 2010 includes Poof!, written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Tyrone Brown; Audience, written by Vaclav Havel and directed by Rafael Gallegos; Snow Day, written by Eliza Clark and directed by Lila Neugebauer; and The Furniture Fire, written by Thomas Higgins and directed by Jeremy Bloom.

DirectorFest 2010 runs from Thursday, December 9 through Sunday, December 12, 2010 at the TBG Theatre in midtown Manhattan (312 West 36th Street).

Performances are Thursday, December 9 at 7 p.m.; Friday, December 10 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, December 11 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, December 12 at 3 p.m. There will be a special post-show talkback with all four directors immediately following the 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, December 11.

Tickets for DirectorFest 2010 are $18 each and are available by calling SmartTix.com at 212-868-4444. Each performance consists of all four one-acts presented in succession.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTIONS

POOF!
Written by Lynn Nottage • Directed by Tyrone Brown
Poof! tells the story of a housewife coping with life a few moments after her abusive husband spontaneously combusts, leaving a pile of ash on the kitchen floor. The play confronts the issue of domestic violence, offering a witty perspective on a serious subject: if you really get what you wish for, are you ready to deal with the consequences? Poof! stars Linda Powell as Loureen and Nikki E. Walker as Florence.

AUDIENCE
Written by Vaclav Havel • Directed by Rafael Gallegos
Vanek, a writer working a day job in the brewery, visits the Brewmaster's office to talk about how his job is going at the factory and is offered a promotion if he will inform on himself. Audience stars Doug Wert as the Brewmaster and Stephen Tyrone Williams as Vanek.

SNOW DAY
Written by Eliza Clark • Directed by Lila Neugebauer
Since a failed attempt at living in New York, Nate's been killing time--for a few years now--working at the dingy thrift store in his hometown. When a bomb threat is called in at the local high school and Nate's younger sister Lindsay comes by looking for a ride, her company seems like the last thing he needs. But after a run-in with a girl from the past, Nate and Lindsay are both forced to consider whether they really know what it is they need. A comedy about the pain of being stuck. Snow Day stars Greg Keller as Nate, Julie Jesneck as Carol and Reyna de Courcy as Lindsay.

THE FURNITURE FIRE
Written by Thomas Higgins • Directed by Jeremy Bloom
In an empty house, a married couple, Clark and Jane, explains to the audience how they joined a cult, and found surprising solace in burning all of their earthly possessions in an attempt to burn away the painful memories they represent. Darkly witty on the surface, The Furniture Fire has tragic undertones and touches on themes of death, renewal, purging and burning away the past. The Furniture Fire stars Birgit Huppuch as Jane, Marc Damon Johnson as Clark, Alenka Kraigher as Wanda and Stephen Bradbury as Martie.

ABOUT THE DRAMA LEAGUE DIRECTORS PROJECT

Since its inception in 1984, The Drama League Directors Project has gained an international reputation for nurturing a new generation of exceptional directors.

Noted alumni include Tony winners Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening) and John Rando (Urinetown), Diane Paulus (Hair), Christopher Ashley (Memphis), Mark Brokaw (Cry-Baby), Jonathan Silverstein (The Temperamentals), R.J. Cutler (award-winning director of the film The September Issue) and James Bundy (Dean, Yale School of Drama).

DirectorFest 2010 is the culmination of the Fall Directing Program of The Directors Project, the only career-development program for directors in the nation that guarantees an opportunity to direct a professional production.