City Theatre's Summer Shorts XXII Opens Next Week at the Arsht Center

City Theatre and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County invite audiences to celebrate 22 years of the SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL from June 1 - July 2, 2017 at the Carnival Studio Theater (Ziff Ballet Opera House).

The Carbonell Award-winning festival is a nationally recognized event that puts audiences up close with a company of chameleon-like actors playing multiple characters in a series of eight short plays and musicals, running between eight and fifteen minutes each. SUMMER SHORTS: America's Short Play Festival has built its reputation on featuring the top short plays from the country's best playwrights with a 2017 line-up that boasts two world premiere plays and six Southeastern premieres, including Tony Award-winning triple threat Lin-Manuel Miranda's 21 CHUMP STREET, a tuneful cautionary tale of love and consequences. Written prior to HAMILTON, the music will delight current and new fans alike.

The 2017 SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL line-up includes:

21 Chump Street by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Southeastern Premiere directed by Margaret M. Ledford - 2016 Finalist for the City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting

A true story set to music about a young student in Boca who will do anything for the new girl at school who can only bring him heartache with secrets of her own.

Adorable Kitten Image Collapse by Steve Yockey, World Premiere directed by Paul Tei.

Fur flies and roles are reversed when an Internet troll's victim-turned-stalker comes seeking her own revenge.

Choosing Love by Chisa Hutchinson, Southeastern Premiere directed by Jessica Farr.

Jason literally blows into psychic Kadian's salon where she seems to have been waiting for him, and the opportunity to change both of their futures.

Just Desserts by David MacGregor, Southeastern Premiere directed by David Nail.

To catch a co-worker who's been stealing food from the communal kitchen, Joyce plants a nasty surprise. Will the culprit take the bait?

The Best Seller by Susan J. Westfall, Southeastern Premiere directed by Jessica Farr.

Lily, a writer down on her luck, escapes from a bookstore and into a bar. She's followed by her least favorite author in need of a drink. Mia the bartender has problems herself - an inexperienced barmaid in training. The plot thickens as the characters search for the words that might mean they miss or connect.

Missing Karma by Timothy Huang, Southeastern Premiere directed by Margaret M. Ledford.

At the wake of their beloved dog, a couple realizes more change is about to come.

Baked Goods by Charlie Cohen, Helen Park and Christyn Budyzna, World Premiere directed by Paul Tei

A girl scout who cannot sell cookies is befriended by a boy with a talent for sales. Teaming up to earn a badge they hit the road with tasty treats finding hilarious failure and delicious success.

Real Art by Louise Wigglesworth, Southeastern Premiere directed by Margaret M. Ledford.

At a prestigious art competition Abigail Bolton, a painter about to finally achieve recognition and reward for her art, is blindsided by Loretta Faggle, a woman who will not take no for the answer when Abigail refuses to sell her the prize painting.

City Theatre Artistic Director Margaret M. Ledford leads a company of South Florida's finest artists, directors and designers for SUMMER SHORTS XXII.

The Directors: City Theatre Artistic Director Margaret M. Ledford, Jessica Farr, Paul Tei and David Nail.

The Acting Ensemble: Irene Adjan, Thiana Berrick, Lindsay Lavin, Brian Reiff, Phillip Andrew Santiago, Karen Stephens, Robert Strain and Cassandra Zepeda.

The Creative Team: Caryl Fantel (Musical Director), Naomi Zapata (Production Stage Manager), David Radunsky (Production Manager), Eric Nelson (Lighting Design), Ellis Tillman (Costume Design), Jodi Dellaventura (Scenic Design), StEve Shapiro (Sound Design), David Nail (Properties Design and Assistant Production Manager), Paul Tei (Properties Design), Amanda Holtzman (Assistant Stage Manager), and Kirrin Tubo, Benjamin Underhill, Lauren DeLeon, Davalous Wynn (Crew).

City Theatre's venerable short-play festival returns to its home for the past ten years, the Arsht Center's Carnival Studio Theater, whose stage has been named the Susan Westfall Playwrights Stage, in honor of City Theatre's Literary Director and Co-Founder.

Evening performances will be held Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with afternoon matinees on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. An additional 7:30 p.m. performance will take place on Wednesday, June 28.

Tickets may be purchased through the Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org. Groups of ten or more call (786) 468-2326 or email groups@arshtcenter.org for special discounts.

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