National Playwriting Festival Premieres at Center for the Performing Arts Bonita Springs

A dozen plays from the inaugural Stage It! 10-Minute Play Festival will premiere at the Center for the Performing Arts of Bonita Springs this Saturday and Sunday, February 18 and 19. The event in includes a Book Release Party to celebrate the publication of the winners.

Local actors are collaborating with Center staff to take the stage at the Hinman Auditorium, presenting a broad range of topics and styles ranging from absurdist comedies to refugee dramas, from romantic comedies to psychological dramas.

A total of 126 plays were received from around the nation and the UK. A total of 26 judges from around the country came together online to critique the plays three times each, from three different judges. Upon tabulating those results, 40 plays moved to the semi-final stage which included live table readings with actors. Thirteen plays were selected for the book.

Though the competition involved a blind-judging process and the 26 judges represent eight states and Canada, two winners are local. First-time playwright Mary Lescoe-Long will see the world premiere of her play THE PROMISE, about a widow facing her inner demon, literally. Another local, Delvyn Case, Jr., had two of his plays selected, LIFE JACKET and EVERYONE'S CHILD. Case has presented dozens of his plays around the world.

Other winners include William Newkirk (THE NUDE), Denise Hinson (THE PROFESSOR AND THE FLEA), the UK's Trevor Suthers (TOIL & TROUBLE), Brooklyn's Judd Lear Silverman (VIOLATING UNCLE PIGGY and THE LAST HOLDOUT), Californian's Rod McFadden (COUNTING ON LOVE and THE DATING GAME), Sean Patrick Nill (AN ORDINARY WOMAN), and Ethan Warren (ODE ON A DONUT SHOP).

Local actors include Ginger Allen, Leslie Anderson, Brooks Applegate, Presley Bryan, Lucas Bueno, Judith Devine, Dolores Di Teresi, Alexandra Dorofeev, Janelle Ferraro, Don Fox, Melissa Hennig, Debbie Iamarino, Simon Kaplan, Bob Kessler, Linda Mizeur, Lena Neal, Camilla Obidova, Laura Schueneman, and Janice Thomson.

Directors include Hanny Zúñiga Fallas, Frank Blocker, Delvyn Case, Jr., Don Fox, Simon Kaplan and Laura Schueneman. The book was edited by Blocker and Ann Wagner.

Tickets are $12 and can purchased in advance at the Centers website or by calling 239-495-8989. Performances are February 18 & 19 at 8:00 pm in the Hinman Auditorium on the Centers for the Performing Arts campus at 10150 Bonita Beach Road.