John Cariani and Christopher Innvar Among Playwrights Set for Barrington Stage's '10X10' Festival, Now thru 3/1

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, announces the 10-minute plays for the 4th Annual 10X10 New Play Festival, part of the 2015 10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival.

Performances of BSC's New Play Festival are today, February 12-March 1, 2015, at BSC's St. Germain Stage, located at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street. The press opening will be Sunday, February 15 at 3pm. Tickets go on sale January 8.

The 10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival returns to downtown Pittsfield for the fourth year from February 12-22, 2014, and features music, theatre, dance, film, visual art, spoken word, comedy and more, including BSC's 10X10 New Play Festival.

Directors for the 10X10 New Play Festival are BSC Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Artistic Associate and Director of New Play Development Stephanie Yankwitt.

BSC's 2015 10X10 New Play Festival titles and playwrights:

VISITING DAD by Emily Taplin Boyd
A woman shares her complicated feelings about the unconventional way in which her science-minded father chose to be remembered. (Boyd performed in the 2012 and 2013 10X10 New Play Festival.) Directed by Stephanie Yankwitt.

CUDDLE by Bekah Brunstetter
Two lonely coworkers make a connection -- until one of them takes it too far. (Playwright debut) Directed by Stephanie Yankwitt.

STAT! by Ron Burch
Jeff and Belinda attempt to find love in the most unusual of places. (Burch's play The Possethsion was part of the 2014 10X10 New Play Festival.) Directed by Julianne Boyd.

A WISH by John Cariani
A stranger appears in a small northern town on a midwinter night -- and finds what she's looking for. (Cariani's Uh-Ohwas performed in the 2014 10X10 Play Festival. At BSC he starred in the world premiere of Dancing Lessons and was 'Dogberry' in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. He is the author of the popular play Almost, Maine.) Directed by Julianne Boyd.

WEDDING BELLES by Brett Hursey
Charlie's wedding day is suddenly put in jeopardy by her groom's fashion faux pas. (Hursey's The Stand-In was part of the 2013 10X10 New Play Festival.) Directed by Julianne Boyd.

EXHILARATION by Christopher Innvar
An elderly couple clash with time, technology and relevance in solving the eternal question: How will we get to our daughter's house on Thanksgiving? (Innvar is a BSC Associate Artist who directed in the 2013 and 2014 10X10 New Play Festivals; he also wrote Higher Ground for the 2013 10X10 New Play Festival.) Directed by Julianne Boyd.

FOR UNTO US by Stephen Kaplan
Mary and Joseph, two 5-year-olds, discuss religion, different kinds of families and gender roles as they play with Mary's new Christmas present, a doll. (Playwright debut) Directed by Julianne Boyd.

BROKEN by James McLindon
Two political prisoners. One cell. A regime fighting for its life. Who can you trust when the only rule is, trust no one? (McLindon's play Sweetheart Roland was part of the 2014 10X10 New Play Festival and The Wilderness, was part of the 2013 10X10 New Play Festival.) Directed by Stephanie Yankwitt.

JUST FRIENDS by Chris Newbound
A comic look at a couple of confused coworkers and 'just friends' who have spent a little too much time with one another outside the office. (Newbound is a BSC PMP Playwright, he wrote Lunch with Amanda for the 2012 New Play Festival). Directed by Stephanie Yankwitt.

MANDATE by Kelly Younger
Forced into a guys' night out by their wives, a stay-at-home dad and a stay-in-his-cubicle accountant go on a 'first date.' (Playwright debut) Directed by Stephanie Yankwitt.

Megan Dieterle is Producer, Dylan Uremovich is lighting designer, Emily King is costume designer, Beth Lake is sound designer and Renee Lutz is production stage manager.

Tickets to the 10X10 New Play Festival go on sale January 8. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $25 Thursday evening and Saturday/Sundaymatinees; $30 Friday and Saturday evening. Added performance Sunday evening March 1 at 7:30pm. The first two low-priced preview performances on February 12 and 13 at 7:30pm are $15 for all tickets. Reserved seating. For more information, call the Barrington Stage Box Office at 413-236-8888 or visit www.barringtonstageco.org.

About 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festiva - The festival is a collaborative effort spearheaded by Barrington Stage Company and the City of Pittsfield and coordinated through a steering committee that includes the Beacon Cinema, Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF), Berkshire Museum, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts and the City of Pittsfield. Berkshire Gas is the lead sponsor of the 2015 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival. For more information, visit discoverpittsfield.com/10×10, find 10×10 Upstreet on Facebook, or contact the City of Pittsfield's Office of Cultural Development at 413-499-9348.

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