The New School for Drama Presents NEW VOICES PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

The New School for Drama presents the New Voices Playwrights Festival, a series featuring six original plays performed in repertory March 30-April 2 and April 6-9 at The New School for Drama Theater. Highlighting innovative, original work by the program's graduating MFA playwrights, directors, and actors, this New Voices is advised by influential producer-director Kate Loewald, founding producer of The Play Company and faculty member of The New School for Drama. Loewald, the subject of a recent profile in American Theatre, is renown for her hands-on work with emerging dramatic artists.

"The professional quality of our students' writing, directing and acting deserves professional-quality advising-and that's what makes Kate such a great fit," said Robert LuPone, program director of The New School for Drama. "Along with the best of our student work, New Vision showcases Kate's expertise in bringing new plays and new talent into the spotlight. She serves not only as a professional model to our students, but as an artistic collaborator and a trusted advisor."

"It is a pleasure to be working with the directors in my class on these productions, and to join The New School for Drama community," said Loewald. "Directing the first production of a play is a very particular undertaking. As we move forward through the semester, and through the process of putting up these new works, we're looking at the many different aspects of the director's job as they come into play. I'm enjoying this opportunity for practical teaching."

Loewald currently teaches "Directing the First Production" to third-year MFA directing students. To her festival advising and regular teaching duties, she brings experience working with the world's most noted and influential playwrights. In 1998 Loewald co-founded The Play Company with Mike Ockrent and Jack Temchin. The company has since produced world, American and New York premieres of plays from Sweden, Poland, Japan, Romania, India, Germany, Russia, France, Great Briatin and the United States. As head of the literary department at the Manhattan Theatre Club, she oversaw programming and creative development and collaborated with many playwrights and directors on new plays, including Terrence McNally, Jon Robin Baitz, Richard Greenberg, Donald Margulies, Elizabeth Swados, Cheryl West, Kia Corthron, Joe Mantello, Mark Brokaw and Nicholas Martin, among many others.

All New Voices Playwrights Festival performances are free. RSVP at 212.279.4200 or tickets.ticketcentral.com.

NEW VOICES PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
March 30-April 2 and April 6-9

MOURNING BREADTH by George Lopercio, directed by Mason Beggs
March 30, 7:00 p.m.; April 1, 9:30 p.m.; April 2, 3:00 p.m.
Estranged siblings Gaaron and Fran are forced together in order to sell their only inheritance: a century-old estate on the Mississippi River that they never knew existed. A menacing stranger, a bloody dress and an antique diving suit collide to create a seemingly unsolvable mystery and ultimately prove that while blood is thicker than water, wood and bodies float on both.

OFF THE REALNESS by Nick Gandiello, directed by Lucia A. Peters
March 30, 9:30 p.m.; March 31, 7:00 p.m.; April 2, 7:00 p.m.
When Addy, a white rapper from the suburbs, has a shot at a record deal, he tries to lure his estranged brother Ty back into the violent world of the gangster image and re-form their rap duo for an upcoming concert. But when Ty questions the violence in Addy's lyrics and life, Ty pushes Addy to reveal truths that challenge the brothers' identities, authenticity, and the nature of Hip Hop itself. With the mics checked and the crowd watching, Addy must decide how far he will go to prove he is "real."

IRIS by Judith Goudsmit, directed by Elizabeth Carlson
March 31, 9:30 p.m.; April 1, 7:00 p.m.; April 2, 9:30 p.m.
When Iris, a politician's wife, is left alone with the mourning 17-year-old Felix, she is overtaken by an uncontrollable passion. Her love and lust for the boy turn the entire household upside down and, until her husband returns, the carefully decorated walls around her start to crumble as she is forced to face the painful secret she has been trying to avoid.

adulteration by Josh Beerman, directed by Paul Takacs
April 6, 7:00 p.m.; April 8, 9:30 p.m.; April 9, 3:00 p.m.
At a crossroads in his life, Tim returns to his hometown for his high school reunion. Secrets are revealed and lies uncovered as he decides which memories are genuine and which are polluted. adulteration explores the sometimes painful difference between truth and perception.

YOU DON'T KNOW JACK by Dara Levendosky, directed by Katie McHugh
April 6, 9:30 p.m.; April 7, 7:00 p.m.; April 9, 7:00 p.m.
A college student's moral compass is turned upside down when she is asked to go before her advisor's tenure board. She must decide whether to sing his praises or disclose information that will hurt him.

THIS IS MY GUN by Dan Bernitt, directed by Tim Butterfield
April 7, 9:30 p.m.; April 8, 7:00 p.m.; April 9, 9:30 p.m.
In 1970, Matt, a recent addition to a gay squatter's commune in the East Village, inadvertently gets involved in a love triangle with Andrew and Lucian. When the Vietnam War draft summons Andrew, the three band together and devise a plan to prevent his induction. But when rash decisions are made, many questions go unresolved until 15 years later when a new war begins to claim more lives.

New Voices Playwrights Festival takes place at The New School for Drama Theater, 151 Bank Street, 3rd floor. The performances are free but reservations are recommended. Call Ticket Central at 212.279.4200 or visit www.ticketcentral.com.