Playwright S. Karlan Returns To 13th Street Repertory Theatre

Strange situations and encounters are something that happens in many of S. Karlan's short plays. A strange connection here, a misunderstood relationship there, the question of love and gender, robotic partners, and pretty much anything that leaves you wondering what the hell is really going on make up some of his stories. For audience members, there is always one play that stands out the most, and usually you hear them talking about it on the way out. "He should have just loved her," said one older man after one of his shows last March. "So what if he wasn't sure that she was a man or a woman." People have vastly wide opinions about the material. But if the idea is to create a dialogue, S. Karlan's play do just that.

Last March, the playwright introduced a series of short plays under the main title of Betrayed By The Mind at the historic 13th Street Repertory Theatre in Greenwich Village. The plays all had one thing in common, the notion that what one sometimes think is happening, may actually be something completely different. How we read and identify situations was at the core of these plays. And that is what S. Karlan wants. "I want the material to talk for itself," he said.

The production, this time in collaboration with Alliance Media Theatricals, was the second time a series of his plays took on the "Betrayed By The Mind" theme, and was so well received by audiences, that this November, another series of his plays returns to the stage at renovated 13th Street Repertory Theatre.

"This time around, there will be new material, perhaps quirkier, more challenging for both the actors and the audiences, but certainly worthy of discussion," said co-producer/director, R. G. Madruga. "Karlan's work is very psychological and what is happening on stage comes with many layers, some quite clear, some not so much. Even in the translation from page to stage, for both the actors and the directors, the end result could take on many shapes. One production could look very different from another." The new version is still in pre-production, and a Working Title involving the Betrayed By The Mind brand is still being decided. The goal is to create interest primarily for the material.

For the playwright, that's part of the appeal in writing. S Karlan is a nom de plume. His real identity and name remain a secret. The playwright, a government civil servant who prefers to remain anonymous, has written dozens of plays, including a full length play that won Best Play at a New York City theatre festival, The Thespis, two years ago. The play, Second Seat, tackled the subject of a young assistant District Attorney, finding corruption in her new job at the DA's office. The play included a cast of over 30, was done almost purely in improvisational acting, and had the feel of a television show that to some purists deemed controversial. But still, it was intriguing, entertaining, visually stimulating and it won first prize. The playwright is looking to bring another version of the play back to the stage.

But for now, the plays being selected for this November's production will set the stage for something new and exciting that has been discussed since the last production, the idea that S. Karlan's material could serve as the inspiration for a Short Play Theatre Festival dedicated solely to this type of material, short, thought-provoking plays that could be quirky, different in style, and ideally leave audiences talking long after the final bow.

"I can see this next series of plays evolving into a festival that draws together talent from around the world with a similar approach to writing," says R.G. Madruga. "Our hope is to launch the festival directly from this next production, begin soliciting short plays and immediately begin production on the festival. The festival will, of course, always feature one or two of Mr. Karlan's short plays, but the emphasis would be on inviting new artists. In the plan, of course, is to bring all of S. Karlan's work to production, too"

As for the Mr. Karlan's growing body of work, the plan is to also explore short films, full length productions, and maybe a webseries.

Auditions for the S. Karlan November production at the 13th Street Repertory Theatre will be announced shortly, as will a call for directors, and a new crowdfunding campaign. Dates have been locked in for November 19th through December 2nd, 2018, with an opening date scheduled for Thursday, November 23 (Black Friday). For more information, please email actor.rgmadruga@gmail.com.

Photo: March production of Betrayed by The Mind.

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