Quo Vadimus Arts Hosts ID America Festival Nov.10-20

Quo Vadimus Arts will kick-off the ID America Festival showcasing 30 plays from 15 different states when playwrights from around the nation convene in New York City, November 10-20 at the Clemente Soto Velez Center (107 Suffolk St.).

Our American identity is formed by the blending of many different people from around the world into something new. It's cell phones, cowboys, American Idol and bar fights. It's something reshaped in the forges of September 11th and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Playwrights from coast to coast examine our cultural differences and search for commonality.

The highly anticipated ID America Festival was inspired by Quo Vadimus Arts' growing concern over the polarization of media in America. News organizations are increasingly biased towards the left or right, and it is rare to find an open forum where differing points of view are given equal weight. QVA searched the country for playwrights to help create a festival that questions, explores, challenges and celebrates what it means to be living in America today.

Plays will be divided into three evenings, American Psyche, American Cultures and American Dreams. Each evening contains eight plays and will perform several times throughout the festival.

QVA put out the call for submissions, looking for playwrights of all ages, of all levels of experience, from all over the country. They received 332 submissions, from 219 playwrights, ages 17 - 83, from 33 states and 6 different countries, including Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland and Nigeria. Visit www.idafestival.org or www.qvarts.org to learn more about the festival, the plays and playwrights. All submissions were considered anonymously and selected by committee.

Tickets are $15 and can be ordered through TheaterMania at 212.352.3110, or on ID America's website, www.idafestival.org.

American Dreams Directed by: Josh Gelb

An evening of 8 short plays from playwrights around the nation

The American dream means something different for everyone. From the nightmare of the notorious Sacco & Vanzetti to the aspirations of an Upper East Side cocker spaniel with eating issues, the dreams we explore in this evening are singularly American. In the course of an evening Irish immigrants, fallen soldiers and heiresses Will Chase their American dreams.

Showtimes: Sat, Nov 10th at 4:00PM; Sun, Nov 11th at 3:00PM; Mon, Nov 12th at 9:00PM; Wed, Nov 14th at 7:00PM; Thurs, Nov 15th at 9:00PM; Sat, Nov 17th at 8:00PM

American Culture Directed by: Kerry Whigham

An evening of 8 short plays from playwrights around the nation

American culture is the blending of many different peoples from around the world into something new. It is cell phones, cowboys, American Idol and bar fights. It is something reshaped and altered in the forges of September 11th and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Playwrights from coast to coast examine our cultural differences and search for commonality.

Showtimes: Sat, Nov 10th at 2:00PM; Sun, Nov 11th at 7:30PM; Tues, Nov 13th at 7:00PM; Wed, Nov 14th at 9:00PM; Fri, Nov 16th at 7:00PM; Sat, Nov 17th at 6:00PM

American Psyche Directed by: Deena Selenow

An evening of 8 short plays from playwrights around the nation

A look into the minds of various Americans reveals a young woman's fear of attack, a couple's voyeuristic tendencies and a teenage girl's medicated struggle with sanity. Some journeys inward reveal inner superheroes while others reveal helplessness and paranoia. Our playwrights reach into their own psyches and present us with uniquely American frames of mind.

Showtimes: Sat, Nov 10th at 8:00PM; Mon, Nov 12th at 7:00PM; Tues, Nov 13th at 9:00PM; Thurs, Nov 15th at 7:00PM; Fri, Nov 16th at 9:00PM; Sat, Nov 17th at 2:00PM

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