Photo Flash: Local Playwrights One-Act Showcase for John F Kennedy, DonnaMarie Vaughan, Justin Karcher Set for May 17

The last production of the American Repertory Theater of WNY 2011-12 season features the annual Local Playwrights One-Act Showcase, on May 24 to June 2 at Buffalo East, 1410 Main Street, Buffalo. The showcase has been a highlight of ART's programming for a majority of this young theater's history and reflects the creative side of ART's mission to support a new generation of American Playwrights and to utilize unknown or unproven talent.

Past one-acts featured the works of Mark Humphrey, Mark C Lloyd, Cindy Darling, Michael Votta and Matthew LaChiusa featuring the acting talents of Jacob Albarella, Alania Renee Miller, Drew Piatek, Marie Hasselback Costa, Bryan Patrick Stoyle and others.

This season's showcase features actor turned playwright, John F Kennedy's PEOPLES, two works by WNY playwright DonnaMarie Vaughan entitled SPOILED and AMANDA'S EXPLANATION and modern-day Gen Y Shakespeare, Justin Karcher's DEATH POEM. Finishing the evening's showcase is an absurdist performance piece by Leonard Zoilkowski entitled WHO CHOKED MY CHICKEN.

PEOPLES, directed by WNY repatriate, April A Jones, focuses on a "real slice of life" look at inner-city school kids and the challanges they face. SPOILED is a story about a mother sharing a nasty family secret with her daughter. Directed by ART's Michael Lodick, the other piece featuring DonnaMarie Vaughan's delightful writing style is a monolog, featuring the talented actress Bonnie Jean Taylor, is a monolog entitled AMANDA'S EXPLANATION detailing a woman's thoughts on a missing child. Justin Karcher's DEATH POEM, directed by Drew McCabe, reflects upon friendship in the face of a STD.

The performances schedule is May 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st and June 1st, June 2nd at 7:30 pm.

Tickets are $10 General Admission.

For further information please visit www.artofwny.org or call 716-634-1102 ( 9 am to 4:30 pm) for ticket reservations.