THE GAY PLAY SERIES Returns to The Ringwald Theatre, Now thru 6/25

The Ringwald Theatre is proud to announce the 3rd installment of its wildly popular Gay Play Series (GPS). Last year's outing was attended by hundreds of people over a ten day festival period. This year the program will run over two consecutive weekends that will feature a one-time only event, music shows and, at the centerpiece, performances of 11 new, one act LGBT plays.

GPS will run today, June 15th-June 25th, 2012 at The Ringwald Theatre in beautiful downtown Ferndale.

"I am so pleased to be doing GPS for the 3rd year in a row," said artistic director Joe Bailey. "The response has been so positive and after receiving 17 one act submissions in our first year and 44 last year, this year we received 175 submissions from around the world from places as far flung as Australia and the UK! This year we have enough fun stuff on deck to wet everyone's whistle."

The 2012 GPS kicks off tonight, June 15 at 8:00 PM with a special one-night only performance of Ronnie Larsen's classic play, Making Porn. The rollicking, side-splittingly funny comedy roared onto the scene in 1995 and took off-Broadway by storm and has starred such renowned gay porn stars Matthew Rush, Blake Harper, Chris Steele, and many others. Shortly after its New York production it's played around the world (including stints in Boston, Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and San Diego starring Ringwald artistic director Joe Bailey). The Ringwald production will feature Bailey, Michael Lopetrone (Southern Baptist Sissies), Lisa Melinn, Richard Payton, Joe Plambeck, and Jamie Richards. Please Note: Making Porn contains nudity and adult situations.

The original One Act Festival will commence on Saturday, June 16 at 8pm with Block A and continue on Sunday, June 17 at 3pm with Block B.

Block A will feature:
· Defrost by Tony Foster; Directed by PJ Jacokes
· Queer/Trek by Brian Walker; Directed by Gary Lehman
· Turnaround by Joe Bailey; Directed by Jamie Richards
· Mate Trade by Laura Witkowski & Cara Trautman; Directed by Topher Payne
· Fanny Packs & Hanky Codes by Kristian O'Hare; DirectEd Matthew Turner Shelton
· Homochondria by Brad Baron; Directed by Michelle Leroy

Block B features:
· Ask Me! Tell Me! by Andrew Charles Lark; Directed by Nancy Arnfield
· Pocket Universe by Duncan Pflaster; Directed by Lisa Melinn
· Ten Picnics by Mark Harvey Levine; Directed by Joe Plambeck
· A Streetcar Named Viagra by Daniel Curzon; Directed by Sean McClellan
· Break Your Face on My Hand by Daniel Talbott; Directed by Joe Bailey

Block A will perform subsequently Friday, June 22 at 8PM and Sunday, June 24 at 2PM.
Block B will perform subsequently Saturday, June 23 at 8PM and Sunday, June 24 at 5PM.

As always, audience members will be voting for their favorite script. The winning script will receive an additional performance at the closing ceremonies on Monday, June 25 at 8PM and will subsequently receive a full production at The Ringwald Theatre. Audience members will also be asked to vote for a favorite actor and director.

On Monday, June 18, Vince Kelley will recreate Judy Garland's Carnegie Hall Concert at 8:00PM. Judy's concert appearance, on the night of April 23, 1961, has been called "the greatest night in show business history." Garland's live performances were big successes at the time and her record company wanted to capture that energy onto a recording. The double album became a hit, both critically and commercially. Powerhouse vocalist Vince Kelley will lend his considerable talents to recreating the
immensely popular Carnegie Hall concert in what is sure to be an electrifying, unforgettable evening!

GPS will come to a close on Monday, June 25. In addition to the encore presentation of the winning script, the audience favorite Motor City Miscast Cabaret returns with men singing songs traditionally sung by women and vice versa. This year's theme is Miscast Goes to the Movies and we'll have a fun bunch of folks on hand for what is always a thoroughly entertaining evening!

· Admission for Making Porn will be $20. With purchase of a Making Porn ticket, A Rest-of-the-Fest Pass may also be purchased for an additional $20, which provides admittance to the rest of the programming.
· A $25 Fest Pass (which does not include a ticket to Making Porn) will also be available.
· Single admission to the rest of the programs (excluding Making Porn) is $10 per event.

Tickets can be purchased at www.TheRingwald.com or at the theatre box office. The Ringwald box office opens 45 minutes before performances and tickets can be purchased with cash or Visa/Mastercard. The Ringwald Theatre is located at 22742 Woodward Avenue in the Times Square of downtown Ferndale.

2012 GPS Calendar of Events

Friday, June 15, 2012, 8PM: Opening Ceremonies, Making Porn
Saturday, June 16, 2012, 8PM: Block A of the One-Act Play Festival
Sunday, June 17, 3PM: Block B of the One-Act Play Festival
Monday, June 18, 8PM: Vince Kelley recreates Judy Garland's Carnegie Hall Concert

Friday, June 22, 8PM: Block A of the One-Act Play Festival
Saturday, June 23, 8PM: Block B of the One-Act Play Festival
Sunday, June 24, 1PM: Block A of the One-Act Play Festival
Sunday, June 24, 5PM: Block B of the One-Act Play Festival
Monday, June 25, 8PM: Closing ceremonies/Encore performance of winning play/
Motown MisCast Cabaret: MisCast Goes to the Movies

The Ringwald opened their doors five years ago on May 11, 2007 with Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy and quickly became a mainstay of Detroit's theatre community. Past Productions include:The Facts of Life: The Lost Episode, The Bad Seed, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Die! Mommie! Die!, The Book of Liz, Rent, and Thank You for Being a Friend. The Ringwald was named 2009 and 2012 Best Theatrical Troupe by Real Detroit and Best Place to See Local Theatre for 2010-2012 by the readers of Metro Times.

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