Pigs Do Fly Present 'FIFTY PLUS' at Empire Stage, Now thru 5/11

The plays have been chosen and casting is complete for Pigs Do Fly Productions' very first production - Fifty Plus - A Celebration of Life... As We Know It. Producer Ellen Wacher, along with directors Marjorie O'Neill-Butler and Beverly Blanchette and a committee made up of members of the South Florida theatrical community, spent several months weeding through the 353 short plays they received in response to their call for submissions. The final seven were selected at a marathon read through at Empire Stage on March 3rd.

Fifty Plus - A Celebration of Life... As We Know It will run at Empire Stage from today, May 1st through May 11th.

Wacher was extremely specific in her search for just the right plays: "We looked for scripts that resonated with us; for situations that will strike a chord with our audiences; and of course, for humor," she explains. "I'm really excited to be flying (pun intended!) this concept for the first time in South Florida. It's definitely an idea whose time has come."

Pigs Do Fly Productions' mission is to produce plays that highlight the actor over 50 as a viable, fully involved, full of life character; the company's goal is to tap into the 100 million plus Americans who are over age 50 and are under recognized by the marketers of products and entertainment - with theatre that reflects their world and resonates with them.

"Ellen told me she wanted to produce plays, and we agreed that she should produce plays about people over 50 since she is always discussing the lack of work for more mature actors," says Marjorie O'Neill-Butler. "I suggested the short play format; she came up with the idea of making the plays about people who are fit and happy." O'Neill-Butler will direct four of the seven plays, Beverly Blanchette will direct three.

Todd Caster, Mark Kroczynski , Kitt Marsh, Troy J. Stanley, Carol Sussman, and Janet Weakly will all be featured in the production. Several of the actors, all of whom fall within the demographic Wacher hopes to attract, had signed on even before the plays were chosen. "However," she stresses, "I have absolutely no doubt these plays will appeal to everyone. They're funny, and witty, and touching, and will resonate with anyone who sees them."

The seven 10-minute plays selected will be mounted in the following order (see below for playwright bios):
Flight Fright by Marjorie O'Neill-Butler
Kiss Her Goodbye by Mike Vogel
Theater In the Red byJoan Broadman
Mrs. Jensen Isn't Here Now by Steve Korbar
Spice by David Susman
Poison Control by Rebecca Gorman O'Neill
How Nice of You to Ask by Rich Rubin

Tickets for Fifty Plus - A Celebration of Life... As We Know it are $25 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com, or by calling 866-811-4111.

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