BoxFest Detroit Announces 2018 Festival Schedule

BoxFest Detroit, an annual theatre festival that showcases and creates opportunities for female-identifying directors, has announced the schedule for its 2018 festival. BoxFest Detroit 2018 runs Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons and evenings, August 17 - 25, at Planet Ant Theatre. Planet Ant Theatre is located at 2357 Caniff, Hamtramck, MI, 48212. Admission is payable by cash and credit cards at the door with day passes for $10. A limited number of festival passes are on sale for $30 and may also be purchased at the door. More information and a link to BoxFest Detroit's annual Indiegogo fundraiser can be found at www.boxfestdetroit.com.

Over the two weekends long festival, BoxFest Detroit 2018 presents the work of 11 local women theatre artists. Directors reshaping the box this year are Kaitlyn Valor Bourque, Charity Clark-Anderson, Mary Conley, Gabriella S. Csapo, Amanda Grace Ewing, Rebecca Godwin, Callie McKee, Kez Settle, Frannie Shepherd-Bates, Michelle Studer, and Megan Wright. The producing team for BoxFest Detroit 2018 includes Amanda Grace Ewing, Kelly Rossi, and Molly McMahon. In addition to the performances, the festival will also feature Talkbacks with the Directors on opening weekend and an Awards Ceremony on closing night.

BoxFest Detroit produces festivals that allow female-identifying directors the opportunities to direct original shows of their choice and win awards to help further their careers in directing. The winning director of the audience vote competition is given the opportunity to direct a show with Planet Ant Theatre's Late Night Series. One director will also be chosen to direct for Tipping Point Theatre's upcoming Sandbox Festival of New Plays. This summer, BoxFest Detroit is expanding its Mentorship Program after its inaugural year during the 2017 festival, and at least one director will receive a mentorship award.

Directors participating in BoxFest Detroit 2018 may apply to the Mentorship Program, which provides them financial support and the opportunity to assistant direct with established, female-identifying directors on upcoming productions at professional theatres in southeastern Michigan. This year's Mentorship Associates are Frannie Shepherd-Bates, Sherrine Azab, Courtney Burkett, Angie Kane Ferrante, Casaundra Freeman, and Lynn Lammers. This year's partner theatres are Tipping Point Theatre, Detroit Public Theatre, A Host of People, Matrix Theatre Company, and Kickshaw Theatre.

"I'm excited about the support we still have, 15 years after launching the festival," said BoxFest Detroit's Artistic Director, Amanda Grace Ewing. "The growth of the Mentorship Program illustrates the dedication of our theatre community to support the work of female-identifying directors and is a testament to the work BoxFest has done over the past 15 years to showcase and advocate for the work of women directors."

"This year, the mix of seasoned and first-time directors is very exciting," said Executive Director, Kelly Rossi. "Our community is incredibly giving, and this generosity is visible through our growing mentorship program, as well as the organic mentorship that happens between directors throughout the festival."

Detailed Schedule for BoxFest Detroit 2018

Box 1:

Sic Semper Trilogy: A Travesty of Ahistoric Proportions; In Three Parts by Jonathan Davidson and Frannie Shepherd-Bates, directed by Frannie Shepherd-Bates

Box 2:

Autour du Lit by Laura King, directed by Gabriella S. Csapo
A Day in the Life of Keasha by Akasha Griffen and Ronnisha Bryant, directed by Amanda Grace Ewing
Getting Unstuck by Scott Mullen, directed by Michelle Studer

Box 3:

Help Me Get Over You by Rollin Jewett, directed by Megan Wright
Weather by Callie McKee, directed by Callie McKee

Box 4:

Advance Directive by Thomas J. Misuraca, directed by Kez Settle
Stars by D. J. Sylvis, directed by Rebecca Godwin
Apple Pie Love by Charity Clark-Anderson, directed by Charity Clark-Anderson

Box 5:
Romancing the Tombstone by Laura King, directed by Mary Conley
The Lady Romeo by Elaine Brousseau, directed by Kaitlyn Valor Bourque

Friday, August 17:

7pm: Cocktail hour

8pm: Box 1
9pm: Box 5
10pm: Talkback with the Directors

Saturday, August 18:

3pm: Box 5

4pm: Box 4
5pm: Box 3

7pm: Cocktail hour

8pm: Box 4

9pm: Box 2
10pm: Talkback with the Directors

Friday, August 24:

7pm: Cocktail hour

8pm: Box 2

9pm: Box 3
10pm: Box 1

Saturday, August 25:

3pm: Box 3

4pm: Box 4
5pm: Box 5

7pm: Cocktail hour

8pm: Box 2

9pm: Box 1

10pm: Awards Ceremony

For 15 years and counting, BoxFest Detroit has produced annual summer theater festivals, which create the space and support for female-identifying directors of all experience levels to share their work with audiences. Learn more about BoxFest Detroit and how to support its programs at www.boxfestdetroit.com. BoxFest Detroit 2018 is sponsored by Planet Ant Theatre.

Photo: (from left to right) Jackie Scott and Angela Roberts-Johnson in Legacy, performed at BoxFest Detroit 2017

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