Roxanne Fay Leads Cast of Gorilla Theatre's Young Dramatists Project at freeFall, Beg. Tonight

Changes are afoot in the Young Dramatists' Project. For the first time in 13 years of production, Gorilla Theatre has solicited scripts by young authors from the entire state of Florida, not just the immediate tri-county area as in the past.

Another first for YDP will be its co-production at freeFall Theatre in St. Petersburg. Gorilla Theatre is working with Eric Davis, freeFall artistic director, to present the six plays for two weekends, tonight, June 7-9 and 14-16. This year's all-new program format includes expanded workshops and educational opportunities for the honored playwrights, and a staged reading process akin to those seen at professional play development festivals throughout the nation.

In addition to the dramaturgy and readings of the plays, winning playwrights receive a membership to the Dramatists' Guild of America, and a royalty payment.

The cast includes the talents of Roxanne Fay, Jon Van Middlesworth, John Lombardi, Chris Crawford, Michael Shenefelt, Lydia Ferry, Stephanie Anarumo & Joshua S. Roth.

Plays that were selected this year again show a variety of styles and themes. Chris Ralph's play "The Phone Card Debacle" throws together off beat characters in a convenience store and shows how they react during a holdup. Ralph is from Fort Lauderdale.

Adam Berner, from Bellair, has written a play, which explores some of the themes first explored in Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. It is titled "Adam."

Another serious drama is "It's All Just a Game" by Matthew Johnson from St. PetersburG. Johnson's play, which deals with a bullying incident, is one of a long line of plays that have come from Shorecrest Preparatory, where Bill Leavengood, himself a writer, has a knack for bringing out effective scripts from his students.

"Going," by Catherine LaVoy of Rockledge, is another play strong on characters. LaVoy examines the lives and motives of several people in a bus station who are about to move on to new lives.

Comedies are also featured in this year's lineup. "Waiting" by Matt Ubl of Jacksonville is a clever farce that takes place in a restaurant where the central character struggles not to be seen by an old girlfriend.

Selected for the second year is Alex Gonzalez of Tampa. Last year YDP presented his play "No Fap February," which raised more than a few eyebrows. This year his play "The Hand That Feeds You" is a darker but still comedic look at a twisted dysfunctional family.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

WHO: Gorilla Theatre and freeFall Theatre

WHAT: present Young Dramatists' Project '13 (YDP)

WHEN: June 7-9 and 14-16, 2013

Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm

WHERE: freeFall Theatre, 6099 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg

TICKET PRICES ?$15? (High School and Middle School students: $5)

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