In its seventeenth year, Central Ohio's longest running shorts festival presents 3 very distinct nights of new works rotating over 3 weekends culminating in the final day when all 3 nights of programming are performed.
Showtimes: 8 p.m. except for May 28th when they are at 2, 4, and 8 p.m., Thursday May 12, Friday May 13, and Saturday May 14, Thursday May 19, Friday May 20 and Saturday May 21, Thursday May 26, Friday May 27 and Saturday May 28
Tickets: $15, $13 for students and senior citizens, $10 for MadLab members http://madlab.net/tickets.html
The Community Arts Fund of Columbus Foundation, GCAC, and OAC support MadLab throughout the year.
Back with their 17th annual Theatre Roulette, MadLab continues to crank out Columbus' longest running shorts festival. This year the festival you can bet on any of three distinct nights of programming:
Green - This night is dedicated to the works of one playwright. This year it is Erik Sternberger, whose sci-fi themed collection of short plays includes time travel, aliens, portals to alternate dimensions, cloning, and, of course, the difficulties of dating in the modern age. Directed by Stephen Woosley. Performances on Saturday May 14th, Thursday May 19th, Friday May 27 at 8 p.m. and Saturday May 28 at 4 p.m.
Black - Featuring 7 selections including 2 by perennial Roulette favorite Mark Harvey Levine and tales of awkward lovers, nervous cows, odd podcasts and more. Directed by Amanda Bauer with assistance from Chad Hewitt. Performances on May 12th, Friday May 20th, and Saturday May 28th at 8 p.m.
Red -- Featuring 7 selections including 2 by Roulette newcomer Matthew Weaver and stories about old army buddies, the joys of gift giving and lots and lots of kissing. Directed by Audrey Rush. Performances on Friday May 13th, Saturday May 21st and Thursday May 26 at 8 p.m. and Saturday May 28th at 2 p.m.
Auditions were held on January 23. 30 actors were cast in 68 roles. 6 of them will make their MadLab debuts, 13 have worked previously with MadLab and 11 are ensemble members.
GREEN NIGHT
But It's Not About That... by Erik Sternberger
Directed by Stephen Woosley
Synopsis:
", but It's Not About That." is a collection of comedic short plays exploring the various relationships that matter to us in our life with each one centered around science fiction elements that don't matter. Our relationships with friends, family, government, love, religion and death are explored through: First contact with aliens by a Poison tribute band, cloning important characters, accidentally creating a portal to a hell dimension, finding love by algorithm, time traveling to create a cult and discovering you're a video game character. Each play is also named after a 90's grunge band song, but it's not about that.
The collection includes:
The Opener
Dr. Granderson - Scott Clay
BLACK NIGHT
IN THE JAR by Mark Harvey Levine
Synopsis: Life's tough when you're serving time. It's even harder when you're a bug and you're serving time in a small glass jar.
THE PRODIGAL COW by Mark Harvey Levine
Directed by Chad Hewitt
Synopsis: A familiar story, told from a slightly more bovine point of view.
ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE by Bella Poynton
Synopsis: Sam and Anna run Absolutely Unbelievable! The radio show that makes you rub your eyes in surprise! Their guest this week is Larry-a guy from 5 years in the future! He is definitely the show's most amazing guest yet. Sam and Anna can barely contain their excitement, and want to hear about all of the amazing futuristic things to come... but Larry isn't exactly what Sam and Anna had in mind... and it turns out the future isn't quite as amazing as they imagined.
A COUPLE OF INAPPROPRIATE JOKES by Kelly Lusk
Synopsis: A man gets a portion of the evening to give a speech from a podium to the public. Perhaps this isn't the type of man who should be given a platform such as this. Maybe he is the perfect man for this sort of opportunity. Maybe he is the perfect man. Period. Maybe he has some issues he needs to work out too. Maybe his issues are just like the issues I'm having. Or you're having. Maybe we are all just terribly terribly sad.
DATE #3 by Alex Dremman
Synopsis: At the end of their third date, Lynne and Ethan are trapped in a long hug goodnight that could decide their future.
MOOMAID by Rick Park
Synopsis: Mitchell is like any other dad, talking about his precocious four year old daughter who is obsessed with the Disney Princesses. Outstandingly proud of Abigail ("Not Abby--she hates that"), Mitchell regales us with a moral problem Abigail picks up on while watching The Little Mermaid as he prepares to go back to work at a job with its own moral quandaries.
THE LOVERS by Kirsten Easton
Synopsis: Inspired by Magritte's painting by the same name, two lovers recount the first and last time they ever met. The only problem is, they have very different memories of what that night was like.
RED NIGHT
TANGO MIKE by Aleks Merilo
VARIATIONS ON A FIRST KISS by Matthew Weaver
Synopsis: Azalea can't believe Christopher has never kissed a girl before. But a lot can go wrong when Christopher finally makes the first move ...
TRUE LOVE'S KISS by Matthew Weaver
Synopsis: The witch Prunetoria has cast a spell on Princess Honeysuckle. Prince Darling, Prince Dashing and Prince Ruggedly Handsome have gone through a lot to wake her up.
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