The Drilling Co Presents HAPPINESS 5/12

The Drilling Company will present its twentieth short play project, "Happiness," May 12 to 29. The organization has commissioned eight playwrights to write short works on the subject of the search for happiness. In each of the 12 performances, all eight plays will be presented in quick succession. The Drilling Company has been producing projects like this since 1999, the year of its founding, and this is the twentieth themed compilation. "It is the cornerstone of our work" asserts Founder/Artistic Director Hamilton Clancy, adding "After exploring many themes with a political edge, we decided it would be of interest to direct our playwrights to the mother of all social concerns: the search for happiness." He adds, "We asked writers not about the search for happiness but to write plays about the nature of happiness, which includes its absence, its search and its presence in odd places."

Other themed evenings of note were "Faith," "Honor," Justice" and "Revenge."

The eight short plays in "Happiness" cover a range of ideas and writing styles (see listings below). The participating playwrights are Scott Baker, Stephen Bittrich, Brian Dykstra, Laura Marks, Israela Margalit, Andrea Moon, Deborah Savadge and C. Denby Swanson.

From its short play projects, The Drilling Company has initiated several plays that have been developed into full length works and received wider recognition. These include "Thom Pain (based on nothing)" by Will Eno (recognized by The Pulitzer Prize Committee), "Kuwait" by Vincent Delaney (Heidemann Award, Actors Theatre of Louisville), "Windows on the World" by Peter Killy (world premiere the N.Y. International Fringe Festival 2004), "Clean Alternatives" by Brian Dykstra, "Mutant Sex Party" by Edward Manning (world premiere Drilling Company 2004), "Dealers" by Neil Olson (world premiere Drilling Company 2005), "Over the Line" by P. Seth Bauer (world premiere Drilling Company 2009), "The Boxed Set" by Brian Dykstra, and "Fear and Loathing on the Nile" by Suzanne Bradbeer (developed into a full length play renamed "Shakespeare in Vegas"). In the course of twenty short play projects, of the 270 plays that were commissioned, over 170 have been produced.

THE PLAYS

"No Problem" by Brian Dykstra, directed by Sarah Biesinger
One man, whose happiness depends upon finding conflict and argument, finds he has run into an existensial madness when he can find "no problem" wherever he looks. In his 14th premiere at The Drilling Company, master wordsmith Brian Dykstra skewers the notion of happiness and those who seem to find it only in debate.

"The Age of Feedback" by C. Denby Swanson, directed by Eric Nightengale
An individual gives feedback to a ball point pen company after he has found a use for the pen we would all prefer not to contemplate. An ode to Shakespeare 's Scottish play in 10 minutes with one writing implement.

"Jubilation Mississippi" by Stephen Bittrich, directed by Katie Mc Hugh
In the same style as a 'Twilight Zone " episode, a man is welcomed to a city in which everyone is too enthusiastic.

"A Fugue for Happiness" by Deborah Savadge, directed by Richard Harden
A couple adopting a child from China find themselves in a strange circumstance when their new daughter disappears.

"India" by Laura Marks, directed by Hamilton Clancy
What do you do when friends ask you for gifts to do things you doubt are worth doing? This is a short play about the value of seeking happiness for yourself and finding a way to fundraise for it online through your friends.

"Precarious" by Andrea Moon, directed by Jackson Booker
This play contempltes a couple's happiness in striking a balance between risk and security as they climb a tree.

"Happy at Midnight" by Scott Baker, directed by David Marantz
A collection of cartoon addicts from Disney attempt to go throught the 12-step program intended to cure them of being overly happy.

"On the Bench" by Israel Margalit, directed by Hamilton Clancy
An older couple find happiness when they discover one another waiting at a bus stop where she awaits the return of her grandson from Iraq.

The plays will be acted by Kevin Best, Victoria Campbell, McKey Carpenter, Hamilton Clancy, Anwen Darcy, Rebecca Darke, Keith Fasciani, Dennis Gagomiros and Bill Green. They will be designed Jennifer Varbalow (sets), Miriam Crowe (lighting) and Lisa Renee Jordan (costumes).

"Happiness" will be presented May 12 to 29 by The Drilling Company Theatre, 236 West 78th Street, 3 fl. (one block south of the #1 train at 79th Street). Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM; Sundays at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $18/$15 students and seniors. The box office is Smarttix 212-868-44444, www.smarttix.com.

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