FESTIVAL51 to Shine Spotlight on Women Writers, 7/31-8/31

According to recent studies, of all the plays produced in theaters across America, only 17 percent are by women playwrights. Adding even more weight to that number is that according to the Theater Communications Group, these numbers have not changed significantly over the past twenty years. The facts stand that women make up 51 percent of the population and only 17 percent of theater productions are female-authored.

This is where the new Rhode Island-based theater group Festival51 comes in. Taking their name from the undeniable fact that women make up 51 percent of the population, Festival51 aims to put women playwrights center stage and (literally) change the face of American theater. The brainchild of actress and director Leann Heath and her co-producer actor/director Terry Shea, Festival51, will produce their first annual original play festival focused solely on developing the work of emerging female writers July through August at Mixed Magic Theatre's new venue in the former Lorraine Mills in Pawtucket, RI.

This past spring, Festival51 put out the call for new and emerging New England writers to submit their work for consideration in the first annual festival. The five winning plays will be presented on rotating Friday and Saturday evenings starting July 31st and running through August 15th at the Mixed Magic Theatre in Pawtucket. RI. Festival51 opens Friday, July 31st and runs every Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30PM through August 15th. Tickets are $10 general admission and available online now at www.festival51.org.

After receiving dozens of short play submissions from female writers throughout the country, the producers selected five winning playwrights for production in the inaugural 2015 Festival:

• The Waitress by Ainslie Caswell
  Directed by Amy Lee Connell
  An absurdist exploration on the questions of value and human nature. This world premiere absurdist farce was specially written for this competition. New England-based Caswell is currently working on a full-length play, and an autobiographical look at a year in her life "spent making questionable decisions." Ainslie is also a regular contributor to Medium (medium.com/@ainscas).
• Bone To Pick by Eugenie Chan
  directed by Leann Heath
  A postmodern adaptation of the myth of Ariadne. Chan's work has been produced at such places as the Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, and she is a member of New Dramatists and Playwrights Foundation.
• Hope Throws Her Heart Away by Susan Goodell
  Directed by Christina Marin
  A look at one woman's life and loves as seen simultaneously through her id, ego and superego. Goodell's work has been seen at Virginia Stage Company, Abingdon Theatre and The Barrow Group. After this world premiere at Festival51, Hope Throws Her Heart Away will be produced in Chicago at Genesis Theatrical Productions.
• Echoes on the Peaks by Deborah DeGeorge Harbin
  Directed by Paige Barry
  New Hampshire playwright DeGeorge Harbin weaves a tale about those who look to escape civilization in the Appalachian wilderness. Harbin is a playwright and instructor based in Manchester, NH. She received the Marc A. Klein Student Playwriting Award for her first play, Constellations and subsequent work has been staged by the NY's Emerging Artist Theatre, the Run of the Mill Theatre, Stone Soup Theatre, Mountain State Rep and Asheville Fringe Festival.
• Therapy a short film written by Shannon McLoud
  directed and filmed by Chris Ferreira
  A tongue-in-cheek glimpse of fairy tale characters faced with their true nature. McLoud has been involved in the arts in Rhode Island for almost 20 years, first as an actor, then director and now, playwright. Recent work includes Writer's Block, a piece that she co-authored for the 2nd Annual Providence Fringe Festival, and two film scripts for the 48-Hour Providence Film Festival.

Co-producer Leann Heath says, "Through Festival51, we are seeking to not only give an opportunity to women playwrights but to spark a conversation about these voices that are missing from our stages...and all the while showcasing the wealth of writing, acting and directing talent housed right here in Rhode Island."

DETAILS:

WHAT: FESTIVAL51: WOMEN'S PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL

WHEN: July 31- August 15 , Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30PM

REP SCHEDULE:
Friday, July 31 at 7:30PM presenting: Bone to Pick, The Waitress and Therapy (film)
Saturday, August 1 at 7:30PM presenting: Echoes on the Peaks, Hope Throws Her Heart Away and Therapy (film) Friday, August 7 at 7:30PM presenting: Echoes on the Peaks, Hope Throws Her Heart Away and Therapy (film)
Saturday, August 8 at 7:30PM presenting: Bone to Pick, The Waitress, and Therapy (film) Friday, August 14 at 7:30PM presenting: Bone to Pick, The Waitress, and Therapy (film)
Saturday, August 15 at 7:30PM presenting: Echoes on the Peaks, Hope Throws Her Heart Away and Therapy (film)

VENUE:
Mixed Magic Theatre at Lorraine Mills, 560 Mineral Spring Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860

TICKETS: $10 General Admission - on sale now: http://tinyurl.com/Festival51

WEBSITE: www.Festival51.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION: rifestival51@gmail.com or (401) 285-0351

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