Lucas, Howe, Brochu To Judge SAMUEL FRENCH OFF OFF B'WAY SHORT PLAY FEST

Renowned Playwrights, Theatrical Agents and Artistic Directors to be among the judges for the 35th Annual SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. OFF OFF BROADWAY SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL July 13 - 18 at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row

Eighteen of the theatre industry's most highly regarded playwrights, theatrical agents and artistic directors will jury the 40 short plays featured in the 35th Annual SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. OFF OFF BROADWAY SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL beginning July 13th at the Lion Theatre on Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Six winners are chosen to have their plays licensed and published by Samuel French, Inc.

The judges include: Tina Howe (Painting Churches, Coastal Disturbances, Chasing Manet), Craig Lucas (Small Tragedy, Prayer for my Enemy), Jim Brochu (Zero Hour, The Big Voice: God or Merman?), Deborah Zoe Laufer (End Days, Last Schwartz, Out of Sterno), David Adjmi (Stunning) and Carmen Rivera (La Gringa). In addition, the following theatrical agents and artistic directors will round out the panel: Joseph Rosswog (The Gersh Agency), Buddy Thomas (International
Creative Management), Antje Oegel (AO International), Morgan Jenness (Abrams Artists Agency), Corinne Hayoun (Creative Artists Agency), Scott Edwards (Harden-Curtis Associates), Jason Eagan (Ars Nova), Steve Stettler (Weston Playhouse), David Saint (George Street Playhouse), Jeff Zinn (Wellfleet Harbor Theatre), Frances Hill (Urban Stages) and Cara Reichel (Prospect Theatre Company). (All judges are subject to change.)

The 40 plays presented in the festival have been chosen from over 850 submissions by playwriting workshops, university theatre programs, and professional companies from across the country. Plays in the festival will be presented in daily multi-sessions as per the following schedule:

- Tues. July 13. (7:30) A History of Kites, Dance Lessons, Flood (9:00) Smart Phone, Black Meat, Christians Having Sex in Silence, The Delphinium Mansion

- Wed. July 14. (7:30) White Embers, Knuckleheads, Caution (9:00) The Concrete Wall, Skin Deep, Ya Heard Me

- Thrs. July 15. (7:30) Fan-Boy, The More-Than One, Schwarz! (Hansel und Gretel) (9:00) For the Winter, Pigskin, Facing the Window

- Fri. July 16. (7:30) A Different Kind of Animal, Wipe Away, Climb the Smallest Mountain (9:00) Antipasto, Perfect Weather, The Magician and The Memory, What Dies Within Us While We Live

- Sat. July 17. (3:00) The Peacekeeper, The Incident Report, The Mud is Thicker in Mississippi (4:30) Mind Control, The Complicated, Gun Metal Blue Bar, Europeans Kiss on Three Cheeks (7:30) Play #4 or 47 Years of Marriage, The Accidental Tragic Death of Emily Brown, The Pen is Mightier (9:00) Ugly Couples in Los Angeles, A Map of Our Country, Laid Plans, The Bear (a Tragedy)

- Sun. July 18. Finalists performances. Schedule TBA.

The ongoing feature "Forty Days to Forty Plays" continues on the Festival website, www.samuelfrench.com/oobfestival. This playwright expose series highlights each participating playwright and their work leading up to the opening of the Festival.

The Off Off Broadway Festival started in 1975 and is Manhattan's oldest continuous short play festival. Hundreds of theatre companies and schools have participated in the Festival's first thirty-four years, including companies from coast to coast as well as abroad from Canada and England. This festival has served as a doorway to future success for many aspiring writers. Since its inception, 181 plays from the Festival have been published, and many of the participants have become established, award-winning playwrights including Theresa Rebeck, Shirley Lauro, Bekah Brunstetter, Steve Yockey, David Johnston and Sheila Callaghan.

The 35th Annual SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. OFF OFF BROADWAY SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL runs July 13 - July 18 at the Lion Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). All tickets are $18. For more information and ticket call Ticket Central (212) 279 -4200 or log onto www.ticketcentral.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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