The Old Opera House Hosts 2011 New Voice Play Festival

The Old Opera House is proud to announce the winners of the 11th Annual New Voice Play Festival. Each year this one-act playwriting competition attracts some of the country's most gifted new playwrights; and this year over 60 playwrights sent us their work. On June 24, 25 & 26 the Old Opera House will showcase the four plays that were determined to be the Best for 2011. This year we are asking our patrons to vote for their favorite and the winner of the festival will be determined by a secret ballot of the audience. So, you have a unique opportunity to not only see the world-premier of these four one act plays, but to serve as a theatre critic. 

Show times: 8:00pm Friday & Saturday
2:30pm Sunday matinee

Adults $12.00 all performances
Students $8:00 all performances

This year's top four plays include:
Card Shuffle
by DC Gallant
Harpers Ferry, WV

Directed by Meaghan Barry

Card Shuffle is the charming story of a real-life fairy godmother; a story with the feel of a Hallmark card. Two people find that a friendship, either new or old is better than money. A pregnant young woman and a local pharmacist find the value of friendship through a brief encounter with an eccentric older woman.

Featuring
Kathy Bost, Addison Peacock and Homer Speaker

Closing Time
by Carl Williams
Houston, TX

Directed by Liam Potter

Sometimes we run from our past, sometimes it catches up to us in unexpected ways. In a small town diner a man returns to place he thought was lost to him forever, only to find, if he has the the strength to let go, forever isn't as long as he thought.

Featuring
Sandra DeRocha, Kaitlyn Dykes, Bruce Olson and John-Michael Rolnick

Dinner with Marvin
by Donna Spector
Warwick, NY

Directed by Ashley Snow & Keith Shifflett
Marvin and Lucy are sharing an intimate dinner on the last night of their first vacation together. Lucy believes the dinner is where Marvin is going to propose to her. Marvin is married (but separated) and has other ideas. Complicating all of this is an overly friendly French waiter and a sudden appearance by Marvin's wife, Marilyn. In Dinner with Marvin, a comedy by Donna Spector, you'll see how an architect's carefully designed plan gets demolished in the blink of an eye.
Featuring
Steve Barney, Ashley Hall, Keith Shifflett and Marianne Tomasic

Snowbound
by Brent Englar
Baltimore, MD

Directed by Shannon Potter

Sherri is a widow in Baltimore, where she rents her rooms out to borders. Her current tenants are Cliff, a young doctorial student, and Andy, a middle aged writer from Cleveland. During a snow storm in January, these unlikely mates discover secrets about one another's lives. Andy confesses he is in Baltimore to confront this deceased wife's lover. During the confession to Sherri about his wife's mishaps of the past he discovers that Cliff's thesis hits a little close to home. Sherri also has some secrets of her own that are discovered at the end of the play.

Featuring
Lorraine Bouchard, Dan Rice & Alecia Schultz

Honorable Mentions

Apparently Not by Richard Manley New York, NY
Half In Love by Joe Lauinger Ossining, NY
Running by Donna Spector Warwick, NY
Memoriam by Evan Guilford-Blake Stone Mountain, GA
Who Knows Why by James P. Whipple Charles Town, WV

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