Ars Nova Presents THE URBAN DICTIONARY PLAYS, 2/1-11

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) kicks off its 2012 season with The Urban Dictionary Plays, by Ars Nova's Play Group.

Set to play 10 performances only from February 1-11, this year's incarnation of Ars Nova's annual Play Group production redefines the short play genre, featuring original short plays and live music inspired by the irreverent entries on urbandictionary.com.

About the event: "Each year, members of Ars Nova's vibrant and eclectic writers' group Play Group create an original evening of work related to a theme collaboratively devised by the group. This annual Play Group production kicked off with The Wikipedia Plays, and was followed with Playlist, Missed Connections NYC, and last year's hit, The Wii Plays. Play Group gathers twice a month at Ars Nova to share new work and get peer feedback, affording its members the opportunity to develop their plays with peer support, form collaborative relationships, and build a strong sense of community within Ars Nova."

The Urban Dictionary Plays features new works by Joshua Allen, Chad Beckim, Rachel Bonds, Jenny Connell, Kara Lee Corthron, Jon Kern, Josh Koenigsberg, Molly Smith Metzler, Michael Mitnick, Kim Rosenstock, Sharyn Rothstein and Joe Tracz. (Bios below)

Directed by Oliver Butler, Wes Grantom, Kate Pines and Laura Savia. (Bios below)

Costume Design is by Tilly Grimes. Lighting Design is by Driscoll Otto. Projection Design is by Dan Scully. Sound Design is by Asa Wember. Music Direction is by Arthur Lewis. The Production Stage Manager is E. Sarah Barnes.

The show features performances by Peter Benson, CAndy Buckley, Nick Choksi, Sas Goldberg, Meredith Holzman, Keith Nobbs, Zach Shaffer and Susan Kelechi Watson.

The Urban Dictionary Plays are as follows (each evening features the full slate of plays):
Humble Brag by Josh Koenigsberg, directed by Oliver Butler
Business Shower by Kim Rosenstock, directed by Laura Savia
Gunt by Jon Kern, directed by Oliver Butler
Olympic Narcolepsy by Rachel Bonds, directed by Wes Grantom
Tooth Fairy by Joshua Allen, directed by Laura Savia
Blue Waffle by Kara Lee Corthron, directed by Kate Pines
Food Douche by Molly Smith Metzler, directed by Wes Grantom
The Fluffer by Chad Beckim, directed by Laura Savia
Body Language by Jenny Connell, directed by Kate Pines
Lunchblocked by Sharyn Rothstein, directed by Kate Pines
Porky Pig by Joe Tracz, directed by Oliver Butler
Subway Gymnastics by Michael Mitnick, directed by Wes Grantom

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Art Works.

About Ars Nova:
Ars Nova is committed to developing and producing theater, comedy and music artists in the Early Stages of their professional careers. Its unique development programs are designed to support outside-the-box thinking and encourage innovative, genre-bending work. By providing a safe environment where risk-taking and collaboration are paramount, Ars Nova gives voice to a new generation of artists and audiences, pushing the boundaries of live entertainment by nurturing creative ideas into smart, surprising new work.

Past producing credits include: ANT Fest, The Lapsburgh Layover, Be a Good Little Widow, The Wii Plays, Now Circa Then, Bloodsong of Love, Missed Connections NYC, Sax & Dixon: We Thee Wed, Mel & El: Show & Tell, Two Girls for Five Bucks and the Ten Dollar Heartbreakers, Playlist, Jollyship the Whiz-Bang, boom, From Up Here, The Wikipedia Plays, Dixie?s Tupperware Party, At Least It?s Pink, 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, Holy Cross Sucks!, Freestyle Love Supreme and The Wau Wau Sisters.

For more information on Ars Nova's programs, visit www.arsnovanyc.com. Ars Nova was founded in memory of Gabe Wiener.

The Urban Dictionary Plays schedule: Wednesday, February 1 through Saturday, February 11 (no performance Sunday). All performances 8:00 PM.

Tickets are $15 and are available at www.arsnovanyc.com, 212-352-3101 or the Ars Nova box office starting 30 minutes prior to each show (subject to availability).

To post a comment, you must register and login.