BWW Previews: SHORTS GONE WILD 5 at City Theatre And Island City Stage

City Theatre and Island City Stage are proud to present Shorts Gone Wild 5 from August 17 - September 10, 2017 at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors. This all-new production marks the fifth season of South Florida's hottest LGBT-themed short play festival that celebrates the LGBT and Progressive communities.

Shorts Gone Wild 5 takes six actors, eight playwrights, four directors and a design team, and let's them loose resulting in eight short, funny, provocative and thoroughly entertaining plays that have become a much-anticipated annual treat. To add to the fun, audience members choose the order of the plays so the show is different every night. Shorts Gone Wild 5 is refreshing summer fun that features brand new plays from local playwrights, in addition to pieces from nationally recognized playwrights. The production is performed up close in South Florida's hottest intimate theatrical space.

The 2017 Play Line-Up Includes:

Déjà vu by Steve Yockey: World Premiere directed by Michael Leeds. When Billy and Jack's third date goes off the rails, it really goes off the rails. Time folds in on itself, trapping the guys in a madcap, internet-fueled loop of "ideas to try in bed." Then Liesel shows up with a cocktail and her gun!

The Adventures of Gay Man: Birth of A Hero by Kris Thompso: Directed by Matt Stabile. A young man with dreams of being a superhero applies at the B.A. HERO Talent Agency where he's offered fame, fortune and the chance of a lifetime. But at what price?

Give Me Space by Spenser Davis: Southeastern Premiere directed by Margaret M. Ledford. On a one-way trip to Mars, the first gay couple in space hurtle into the first gay breakup, and the guacamole isn't the only thing that suffers the surprising consequences!

Carly's Last Call by Michael McKeever: World Premiere directed by Matt Stabile. Old friends bicker, roast and toast each other with pisco sours, and fight with the bartender who wants them to go home, as they celebrate the long tradition of closing down the bar one last time.

Persona by Cassandra Rose: Southeastern Premiere directed by Margaret M. Ledford. Two women flirt with a new romance until they discover a problem that might make this their first and last date!

So a Rabbi, a Priest and a Minister Walk into a Bar, a World Premiere written and directed by Michael Leeds: Will a bartender need a prayer or have the last laugh when a rabbi, a priest and minister walk into his bar?

clarity by Korde Arrington Tuttle: Southeastern Premiere directed by Gladys Ramirez. Winner of the 41st Annual Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival and Finalist in the 2018 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contest. Cameron enjoys rough sex. Which is fine. However, in the final moments leading up to his wedding on the Georgia state coastline, one particular sexual encounter with his fiancé demands he question his sexual preference, racial identity and impending marriage.

Valkyrie in the Roller Disco by Seamus Sullivan: Southeastern Premiere directed by Gladys Ramirez. Finalist in the 2018 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contest. Bridget has survived her roller derby competition, but can she out-maneuver her ex, Hillevi, a Valkyrie determined to win back the friendship of her beloved woman on skates!

City Theatre Artistic Director Margaret M. Ledford leads a company of South Florida's finest artists, directors and designers for Shorts Gone Wild 5. Directed by: Margaret M. Ledford, Michael Leeds, Gladys Ramirez and Matt Stabile. Starring: Larry Buzzeo, Christina Groom, Rita Joe, Marquise Rogers, Sabrina Lynn Gore and Jordon Armstrong. Designers: Michael McClain (Scenic), David Hart (Sound), Ardean Landhuis (Lighting) and Peter A. Lovello (Costumes)

Shorts Gone Wild 5 is made possible with the support of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward County Cultural Council: Regional Investment Program Grant; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Funding Arts Broward and Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson.

City Theatre is an award-winning professional theater company founded in Miami, FL in 1996, that is dedicated to the development and production of new works and programming that entertains, informs and resonates with its diverse audiences. It is the only theatre in the nation producing ten minute plays and musicals year round and for all ages, including its signature SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVALS featuring work by well-known and exciting new writers culled from its City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contests, SHORTS GONE WILD featuring original LGBTQ plays by regional and national playwrights, the CITY SHORTS "Best of the Fest" winter regional tour into local community venues, the SHORT CUTS in-school tour bringing original commissioned work to 25,000 students annually and returning in 2017, WINTER SHORTS.

City Theatre is unique in South Florida for its long standing commitment towards playwrights and their educational and professional development, including its reading series designed to inform and invest audiences in the process of new play development; the NextGen Project; a student mentoring initiative to identify and support the Next Generations of South Florida playwrights; and CityWrights, a year-round series of workshops, readings, panels and a Weekend Convening bringing together regional and national dramatists and theatre industry leaders for artistic collaboration and professional opportunities. City Theatre selects opportunities to produce full-length plays it feels are timely, exciting and impactful to its community and audiences. In 2016, City Theatre was honored by the Carbonell Committee with the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award, which recognizes significant contributions to South Florida theater development by an individual or group, for the company's dedication to the short form play and fostering new play development. Visit www.citytheatre.com for more information.

Island City Stage is a professional regional theatre dedicated to producing new work and recognized plays that explore themes, characters and values of the LGBT and Progressive communities. The company is the recipient of nine Carbonell Awards including two for "Best Production of a Play" for their productions of Dan Clancy's The Timekeepers and Michael McKeever's Daniel's Husband, and 13 Silver Palm Awards in recognition of Island City Stage's outstanding contributions to South Florida theatre. Visit www.islandcitystage.org for more information.

Preview performances of Shorts Gone Wild 5 will be held Thursday, August 17 and Friday, August 18 at Island City Stage, 2304 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. The official Opening Night ceremony will take place on Saturday, August 19 at 8 p.m. Evening performances will be held Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with afternoon matinees on Sunday at 5 p.m. through September 10. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased through the Island City Stage box office by calling (954) 519-2533, or online at www.islandcitystage.org.

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