Weaver, Rapp, Lucas, Etc. Set for Battle of the Bards

"Battle of the Bards," with a judges panel including Sigourney Weaver, Adam Rapp and Josh Lucas, will be presented on Saturday, April 21 at Studio Mezmor.

According to press notes, the event "is a one-night-only theater competition pitting New York City's hottest emerging theater companies against each other in a stage-fight to the finish. With an audience of over 1000 last year, this benefit for Partial Comfort Productions has rapidly become Off-Off Broadway's biggest annual event."

Each of seven participating theater companies will assemble an artistic team consisting of playwright, director and actors. On April 11th, each team will be given the parameters by which to write, cast, and rehearse a world premiere one-act play. Two weeks later, on April 21st, these plays will be performed publicly at Studio Mezmor (formerly Crobar, located at 530 W. 28th St. between 10th and 11th Ave.) and the winner will be determined by a panel of celebrities and industry professionals. An audience favorite award will also be presented.

The theater companies competing this year are: Ma-Yi, New Georges, Vampire Cowboys, Electric Pear Productions, Resonance Ensemble and Youngblood.  Event judges will be: actors Sigourney Weaver and Josh Lucas; Jim Simpson (founder of the Flea Theater); RoBert Woodruff (formerly of Harvard's ART Theater); playwright Adam Rapp and journalist David Cote. The evening will be hosted by Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents).

All proceeds will benefit Partial Comfort Productions' (www.partialcomfort.org) fifth theatrical seasons.

Doors open at 7pm with complimentary Samuel Adams beer until 8pm. Battle performances run from 8pm -10pm with winners announced at 10:30pm. Guests are invited to stay afterwards for a post-party reception and dancing with music by DJ Rookie Traxx. General admission is $10; VIP tickets at $50/$75/$100 (which include priority seating, VIP gift bag, and cocktails courtesy Charbay Vodka & Turtle Creek Wines) are also available. The first 100 people admitted will also receive a gift bag sponsored by Crunch and US Weekly. For tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit www.TheaterMania.com.

Photo of Adam Rapp by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.