2019 Pittsburgh New Works Festival
Labworks
August 17
The Ringmistress by Sharon Farrell
Denver, CO
produced by Hambones Theater Co.
Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1922.
When Helen’s son loses their elephants in a poker game, it seems to be the final nail in the coffin for the Colley Family Circus. With the fate of her circus on the line, Helen meets a childhood friend, a clown-turned-hitman named Diarmaid, and draws him into a high stakes game pitting the powers of the new world against the powers of the old. Sharon Farrell is a New Jersey native, and holds an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame and an MFA in playwriting from Rutgers University. Recent productions include DEPTHS at the 2016 Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway Short Play Festival (New York), NOW AND AGAIN at the Source Festival (Washington DC), and HOME FIRE at the Six Women Playwriting Festival (Colorado Springs).
From a Phonebooth in Japan by Gordon Bolar
Kalamazoo, MI
produced by Iron Horse Theatre Company
On his sixty-sixth birthday, Stephen places a phone call to his deceased mother. His call is made from a phone booth in Japan, a Shinto shrine used to contact dead relatives after the earthquake and Fukushima disaster. After the call is interrupted by an unanticipated and frightening intrusion, Robert, Stephen’s assistant and secretary, helps Stephen find perspective on his phone call. Robert also helps Stephen find closure, conclude a fifty-year journey with revelation and discovery, and embrace the final chapter of his life. Gordon Bolar has authored nine plays, three of which have been produced, including PETROLEUM SUNSET in Alaska, SELF-CONTAINED at the University of Rhode Island and CRITIC AND WIFE, a radio play for All Ears Theatre. Gordon’s one-act play, HOMEMAKERS, 1967 was read at the Theatre Kalamazoo New Play Fest in 2018. His play, FACING HEAVEN received the Hendrix College Alumni Playwriting Award and a staged reading in 2012. Gordon’s one-act, GOOD COUNSEL, 1949 will be read at Queer Theatre Kalamazoo’s Summer Shorts Festival in June 2019. Gordon earned an M.F.A. in Directing from Ohio University, where he attended on a Shubert Playwriting Fellowship. He received a Ph.D. in theatre from Louisiana State University. He wrote his dissertation on the Royal Court Theatre. He taught college and university theatre for six years and worked in Public Media for 22 years. Gordon retired as General Manager of Public Radio Station, WMUK in 2016. He writes theatre reviews and articles for several websites and for public radio.
A Safe Love by Lindsey Brown
Auckland, New Zealand
produced by The Summer Company
A woman on the eve of her wedding is forced to confront the past she hasn't quite let go of. Lindsey Brown is a New Zealand high school teacher of both English and Drama. She has a particular passion for the performing arts and has performed in an array of stage shows, including musicals, plays and improvised productions. In the last few years Lindsey has become more and more interested in writing plays, both for adults and the drama classroom. In 2017 she decided to enroll in a Masters of Scriptwriting at Auckland University of Technology. Since completing the course Lindsey has been avidly writing (and teaching), and enjoying it immensely. She has also been rewarded with some early success, to help encourage her along, including two of her pieces being selected for the Short and Sweet Festival Sydney, and one of her plays being selected for the Pint Sized Play festival Queenstown.
August 24
The Gap by Joseph Krawczyk
New York, NY
produced by The Jesters’ Guild
A man, under his wife’s urging, walks into the changing room of The Gap clothing store to try on a new pair of jeans. Unable to exit the changing room, he finds himself trapped in an alternate dimension. The salesman accuses the wife and her husband of theft. The wife balks, demanding that her husband be returned to her. But he is nowhere to be found. He appears a number of times, but they can't see or hear him. After 20 years he returns to her. Everyone is 20 years older, but he hasn't changed at all. In his mind, he believes he's been gone for a half hour. Joseph P. Krawczyk is an award-winning, published playwright. His latest play, GUNS, GOD AND GOMORRAH had a reading in April, 2019 at NYC’s Dramatists Guild. IT’S ALL ABOUT LORRIE won for Best Play at the 2016 Thespis Festival. Following that production, the play had a successful Off Off Broadway run at the John Cullum Theater in NYC. A monologue from the play was included in the Best Women’s Stage Monologues of 2016. It is slated for an Off Broadway production in early 2020. He had a staged reading of THE TREATMENT at IATI’s Cimientos 2017 and RELEASE 35.6 at IATI’s Cimientos 2016. In 2014 he had a staged reading of YEAR’S END at Cape May Stage, a regional Equity Theater in Cape May, NJ. It was also produced at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre. The play was published by Writers Amuse Me Publishing Company. He is also a member of the Dramatists Guild.
Godwise by Lisa Bruna
Boynton Beach, FL
produced by Pittsburgh New Works
A lonely American housewife on the cusp of the historic women’s movement of the 1960s is dreaming of a better life when she receives divine intervention from an unexpected source. Lisa Bruna is an American playwright specializing in the short play format. Her plays have been performed in festivals and productions throughout the United States, from California to New York to Florida and have won multiple awards, including a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Short Script. Lisa is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and has plays published with Smith & Kraus, Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, ArtAge Senior Theatre, Twisted Plays, Junior Drama, and PerformerStuff. For more information or to leave a review of Lisa's works, please visit www.lisabruna.com.
Devotional Blackmail by Scott Gibson
Evergreen, CO
produced by South Hills Players
Middle-aged homemaker Edie has come up with a unique plan. She has vowed not to pee until God agrees to a face-to-face meeting with her so that they can discuss her concerns about global warming. To the surprise of Edie's husband Art, God does indeed show up at the front door in a couple of different guises in order to discuss the matter. Scott Gibson was the recipient of the 2005 Steven Dietz Original Playwriting Award for his full-length play SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE. His black comedy CROSS WORDS won first place in Chameleon Stage Circle’s 17th Annual Full-Length Play Competition in St. Paul, MN in 2017. His short play AILUROPHOBIA is currently in the midst of a 6th week run at the Red Barn Theatre in Key West. Additional plays have been performed in Dallas, Seattle, Tampa, Napa, Sacramento, Denver, Los Angeles and New York City.
MainStage
Program A Sept 5-14
Who’s Afraid by Jeff DeSantis
Baden, PA
produced by South Park Theatre
A famous literary character, perennially cast as the villain, finally gets his opportunity to give his side of the story to the world as a guest on a nationally syndicated talk show. Jeff DeSantis is a playwright from the Pittsburgh area. His play, THE FIELD was included in the 2014 New Works Festival. He has had his plays performed by R-ACT Theatre Company in Beaver County and he was a featured sketch writer for the Cellar Dwellers WAAAAAY back in the 90's.
The Setup by PJ Roup
Plum, PA
produced by The Bobcat Players
Married couple Ted and Angela lure two of their single friends out for drinks in the hopes that this forced setup will blossom into something more. The problem is that the 23-year-old free-spirited Brittany and the 49-year-old set-in-his-ways Ronald want no parts of it. As the evening progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that the generation gap may be too wide for Brittany and Ronald to cross, and that setups don’t always go as planned. PJ Roup is the owner of Dreamscape Video Productions and The Roup Insurance Agency. His film, A TASTE FOR MURDER, which he directed and cowrote, has earned several awards including Best Writing and runner up for best film in the 48 Hour Horror Film Project, Best Director in the Pittsburgh Un-Cut Film Festival as well as Official Selection in the Endless Mountain Film Festival and the Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival. His most recent film, SUMMER STALK, earned an Official Selection for the Haunted Oaks Film Festival. On the stage he has directed 12 ANGRY MEN (2016) and THE CASE OF THE PRINCE FORMERLY KNOWN AS HAMLET (2017) for Ghost Light Productions. He has also appeared in the following roles with Ghost Light: Bill in SURE THING, Frank in KATIE AND FRANK, Murray in THE ODD COUPLE, and Bob Cratchit (and others) in A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A RADIO PLAY. His other film credits include director and co-writer of THE LAST RIDE OF DICK DICE, HERO IN THE WINGS, and SUMMER STALK.
A Learning Experience by Michael Wolfson
Valley Village, CA
produced by McKeesport Little Theater
Brice Grassley has stopped at a small diner to ask directions to a college which has invited him to give a guest lecture. The diner’s waitress and cook are in no hurry to give Grassley the information he seeks. Instead, they joke, dissemble and toy with him. Beginning with a menu that contains only 16th Century dishes, Grassley finds himself propelled through a bizarre landscape of literary allusions, quotations, and revelations that would make a Kafka nightmare seem like a pleasure trip. And what he learns from his two unusual companions will shake him to the very core of his academic certainty about life and literature. What better way to teach a pompous fool a lesson than through one of the most ingenious jokes of all. Michael Wolfson’s plays have been performed across the country. A PARADISE OF FOOLS, Ashland New Plays Festival (OR) and the Detroit Repertory Theatre (MI). THE PRISONERS DILEMMA, Pittsburgh New Works Festival (PA) and Alleyway Theatre (NY). LEGERDEMAIN, Ashland New Plays Festival (OR) and Lake County Repertory Theater (CA). WORK AND PLAY, Spokane Civic Theatre (WA). THE ART OF SEDUCTION, Pittsburgh New Works Festival (PA). WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE, Stagecrafters (MI) and Brief Acts Company (NYC). WORD PLAY, Road Theatre (CA). CAT AND MOUSE, Penobscot Theatre Company (ME) and Dezart Performs (CA). A SENIOR MOMENT, Pittsburgh New Works Festival (PA). “OUT-OF-ORDER, Eclectic Company Theatre (CA). THE GREEN EYED MONSTER, Pittsburgh New Works Festival (PA). “T.G.I.F.”, Silver Spring Stage (MD). THE AUDITION, Gallery Players Theater, (NYC). AN UNEXPECTED MOURNER, Pittsburgh New Works Festival (PA).
Program B Sept 6-15
Like Mom Used to Say… by F.J. Hartland
Johnstown, PA
produced by Thoreau, NM A Production Company
Better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie. F. J. Hartland is a published playwright, experienced stage director and professional actor. He has made a record-setting sixteen appearances in the Pittsburgh New Works Festival.
All Over But the Shooting by Phil Keeling
Roswell, GA
produced by Split Stage Productions
A disgraced pop star is approached by an aging idol who has a proposition to reclaim their time in the spotlight. The only problem is, one of them will have to die. Phil Keeling's plays have been produced at the 13th Street Repertory Theater, STAGES theatre, Theatre by the Grove, and the Armstrong Masquers. His favorite beetle is the bombardier beetle, which can fire a noxious fluid at predators. His favorite Beatle is George Harrison, who cannot.
Statin Eye-Land Fairy by Richard Manley
San Francisco, CA
produced by Little Lake Theatre Company
A harried businessman barely makes it to the Staten Island Ferry on time, and may not make it home, because he’s forced to interact with one AI platform that is slightly more advanced than it is intelligent, and another that is more territorial than intuitive. After two decades of success as a commercial writer, Richard Manley started a second career writing stage plays, which he has been doing full time for the past twelve years. Pulling from many years' worth of personal journals, Richard rediscovered his passion for the sound of the language and its potential to provoke. When he returned to the States from a sabbatical in France thirteen years ago, he sold his business and structured a lifestyle that would allow him to write stage plays full time. Richard has completed nine full-length plays and four one-acts, which have been produced in New York and a dozen other cities. He has won or been a finalist in over 40 national and international (UK, CAN) writing competitions, including the Ashland New Plays Festival, the STAGE Award (best new play about science and technology), the John Gassner Memorial Playwriting Award (New England Theatre Conference), the Pillars Prize, the Getchell Award (Southeastern Theatre Conference), AACT (American Association of Community Theatre) and the Woodward/Newman Award (finalist three times).
Program C Sept 19-28
The Island by Joe Breen
New York, NY
produced by CCAC South Campus Theatre
Two teens, buckling under the weight of social expectations, find themselves unlikely confidantes when they run away from their respective summer camps. Joe Breen is a New York-based playwright whose work has been seen at Cherry Lane Theatre, The Bechdel Project, Theatre in Asylum, and The Boston Center For The Arts. His play, THE HANDS THAT HOLD US, was a 2016 finalist for The Princess Grace Awards Playwriting Fellowship, and winner of the Next Act New Play Summit at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, NY. His most recent work, ALL MY LOVE, KATE, was featured in Primary Stages' ESPA Drills Off-Broadway reading series, and premiered at New York's The Wild Project, as part of the 16th Annual Fresh Fruit Festival (where it went on to win four awards, including "Outstanding Production"). His short plays include: THE PUMPKIN PATCH (The Secret Theatre's Short Play Festival finalist), and OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE (Fantastic Z Theatre in Seattle). He is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, and resides in Manhattan with his partner, and their two geriatric Brussels Griffons.
#NotMeAnymore by Garry Kruger
La Crescent, CA
produced by The Duquesne University Red Masquers
Baily Rogers is young, smart, and in jail for killing her boyfriend. Lydia Fulton has been hired to get her off. The the case appears to be cut and dry, however, nothing is ever really as it seems. Garry Kluger is a playwright and the Chairman of the Board for Theatre West. Garry's play, A THORN IN THE FAMILY PAW, premiered at Theatre West in 2016 and won 9 awards on 18 nominations including Best New Play from the Stage Scene L.A. Awards, and Best Writer - Original Play - from the Valley Theatre Awards. He has won the DFAP International One Act Festival for THE OTHER HALF, won the Gold Award for OFFICE HOURS and the Silver Award for IN A YELLOW WOOD from the World Series Of Screenwriting, Play Competition, won Highly Recommended from the Segora Playwrights Festival in France for PRODIGAL RETURNS, twice a finalist from the Sterts Theatre in London for his one acts, THE OTHER HALF and BROTHERHOOD, and recently won 2nd place for the LTA One Act Festival for Not Relative.
Oedipus, but Better by Brian Scanlan
New York, NY
produced by Heritage Players
Five young actors, without budget or time, try to put on the best possible 45 minute production of Oedipus Rex that anyone has ever seen. Brian Scanlan is an award-winning playwright, director, and producer. As a playwright, his works include THE BULL OF QUEENS (Best Play, Players Theatre Short Play Festival, and performed finalist, Bonita Springs International Short Play Festival), THE INSEMINATION GAME (Best Play, Manhattan Repertory Theatre), OEDIOUS, BUT BETTER, and PARTITION. BULL OF QUEENS is published in ‘Stage It! 2’, available on Amazon. Brian also co-founded The Modern Shakespeare Project, a New York-based company made up of educators and creatives that produces free and affordable classical theatre throughout the city. In three seasons, Brian has adapted, directed, and performed in ROMEO & JULIET, JULIUS CAESAR, and HENRY VI, which he adapted from Shakespeare’s trilogy; he also adapted TWELFTH NIGHT for MSP. Love to Jenna.
Program D Sept 20-29
The Scottish Loo by J. Thalia Cunningham
Delmar, NY
produced by Prime Stage Theatre
In the ladies’ room at a mythical political convention, Lady Macbeth meets Hillary Clinton. The two women are campaigning for their husbands, but given their brains and ambitions, they begin to think they should get rid of their husbands, join forces, and run for election themselves. However, mutual support disintegrates when individual, insatiable thirst for power intervenes - with disastrous consequences. J. Thalia Cunningham is a playwright, travel writer, and photographer. Plays have been commissioned, produced, and developed in United States and internationally. Published by Smith & Kraus and Applause. Member: Actors Studio Playwrights/Directors Unit; League of Professional Theatre Women; The WorkShop Theater Company. Education: BA, The Johns Hopkins University. Cunningham has traveled to 120 countries, writing for national travel publications. Her experiences include trekking with mujahedeen in Tora Bora after sneaking over the Khyber Pass disguised as an Afghan woman; participating in West African voodoo rituals; and talking her way out of an arrest (erroneous) for prostitution in the tribal area of Pakistan, while Pakistani soldiers aimed the nostrils of their AK-47s at her own.
Charlotte’s Revival by Ben Scranton
Springfield, MA
produced by The Theatre Factory
Charlie Walker runs an old movie house assisted by his teen-aged son Tommy. While changing the movie marquee late one night, he is confronted by Charlotte Lange, a troubled and grief-stricken loner with a tragic past. Through a series of fictional movie references, and an emotionally shattering story, she accuses Charlie of a personal indiscretion dating back to high school. The events upend their world and force Charlie to confront his relationship with both Charlotte and his son. His memory is tested as he struggles to do the right thing. Ben Scranton is the recipient of a Playwriting Fellowship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. His plays have been produced and received staged readings in California, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey and Massachusetts. He is a two-time recipient of the Robert R. Lehan Playwriting Award from Westfield State University in Westfield, MA. He is the recipient of additional playwriting awards in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Iowa. His plays include AT WORK WITH MAUDE AND MAXINE - THE TRUE STORY OF THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES, THE BACK PORCH GANG, BLESSINGS, REPRIEVE - THE LAST BATTALION OF CHILDREN, CHARLOTTE’S REVIVAL, and WEIGHTING TO BE NOTICED. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, Actors' Equity Association and the Screen Actors' Guild.
Eternal Hellfire and Damnation: A Love Story by Maury Zeff
San Francisco, CA
produced by R-ACT Theatre Productions
When the Roman god of the underworld Dis kidnaps Proserpina, a young maiden, and spirits her to Hades as his bride, her mother Ceres is none too pleased. As the god of the harvest, Ceres has some leverage. But when she heads down to Hades to confront Dis and rescue her daughter, she finds Proserpina enjoying her newfound freedom. As Ceres and Dis negotiate Proserpina's fate, Proserpina makes plans of her own, involving a music festival and a guy named Sisyphus who, against all odds, has finally gotten that stupid boulder up that stupid hill. Maury Zeff is a writer whose plays have been produced in the Best of PlayGround, The World's Funniest Play Competition, ShortLived, the Planet Earth Arts Festival, the Vermont State Drama Festival, and elsewhere, and whose fiction has been published in Southern California Review, American Fiction 2012, Embark, and elsewhere. He has directed plays for PlayGround, Ross Valley Players, and in the Berkeley Rep Theatre Lab. Maury has an MFA (Long Fiction) from the University of San Francisco and has received fellowships from the San Francisco Writers Grotto and the PlayGround theatre company.
Special Awards
Best LabWorks Production:
“The Gap” by Joseph Krawczyk - produced by The Jesters’ Guild
** Finalists included:
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• Outstanding Supporting Actress:
Elena Falgione in “Oedipus, but Better”, produced by Heritage Players
** Finalists included:
Julie Elizabeth Beros in “Oedipus, but Better” produced by Heritage Players
Cynthia Dallas in “#NotMeAnymore” produced by Duquesne University Red Masquers
• Outstanding Supporting Actor:
Matt Solter in “Oedipus, but Better”, produced by Heritage Players
** Finalists included:
Steven F. Gallagher in “A Learning Experience” produced by McKeesport Little Theater
Brian Kadlecik in “The Setup” produced by The Bobcat Players
Outstanding Lead Actor:
Mark Yochum in “Statin Eye-Land Fairy” , produced by Little Lake Theatre Company
** Finalists included:
Lawrence Karl in “Oedipus, but Better”, produced by Heritage Players
Anthony Marion, Jr. in “The Island”, produced by CCAC South Campus Theatre
Outstanding Lead Actress:
Kerry Benson in “Charlotte’s Revival” , produced by The Theatre Factory
** Finalists included:
Katie Kerr Springer in “Oedipus, but Better”, produced by Heritage Players
Erin Bock in “The Setup”, produced by The Bobcat Players
Outstanding Director:
Nicole Zalak for “Oedipus, but Better”, produced by Heritage Players
**Finalists included:
Shelly Cary for “The Setup”, produced by The Bobcat Players
Scott Calhoun for “Charlotte’s Revival”, produced by the Theatre Factory
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• Best Play:
“Oedipus, but Better” by Brian Scanlan, produced by Heritage Players
** Finalists included:
“The Setup” by PJ Roup, produced by The Bobcat Players
“Charlotte’s Revival” by Ben Scranton, produced by the Theatre Factory