Playwrights Theatre and NJ State Council on the Arts to Present Literary Artist Fellowship Showcases, 4/27 & 5/4

Playwrights Theatre has partnered with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for prose and poetry readings for the Literary Artist Fellowship Showcases in Long Branch. This is the third set of readings, the first group was presented in October 2013 and the second group was presented in March 2014. All readings will begin at 7:00pm and will take place at New Jersey Repertory Company, 179 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740. Readings are free with a suggested donation of $10. All tickets will be available at the door on the evening of the readings.

"We are happy to be presenting the works of these excellent artists in a venue close to their homes, partnering again with NJ Rep in their comfortable, intimate theatre," said John Pietrowski, Artistic Director of Playwrights Theatre. "Over the past 18 months, the Literary Artist Fellowship Showcase has presented the works of 30 New Jersey writers of poetry, prose and plays. The readings have delighted audiences statewide. We hope people with come out for some great poetry and stories."

April 27, 2014 at 7pm
Toni De Palma, Prose (Toms River)
Curt Leviant, Prose (Edison)
Norman Lock, Prose (Aberdeen)

May 4, 2014 at 7pm
Mihaela Moscaliuc, Poetry (Ocean)
Michael Waters, Poetry (Ocean)

The Literary Artist Fellowship Showcase began in 2001, with subsequent showcases in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. The State Arts Council and Playwrights Theatre cosponsor the series of readings by the poets, playwrights and prose writers that received Council Fellowships. The Fellowships, which may be used to support the professional development of the artist, are highly competitive. The awards are granted to New Jersey artists in 12 different arts disciplines (offered on a three-year rotation) and are awarded solely on the basis of an anonymous independent peer panel review of artistic quality. The program is carried out in partnership with the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

In the fall of 2001, as part of its overall mission to provide presentation and performance opportunities for Fellowship recipients, as well as other New Jersey artists, the Council partnered with Playwrights Theatre to present the works of the literary fellows.

For the poetry readings, authors will present their own work, for prose writing, authors are given the option of reading their own stories or having them read by a professional actor. Playwrights are provided with staged readings of their scripts, always presented with professional actors and a professional director, with a preference given to the wealth of professional actors and theatre artists living in the Garden State.