This second post covers the Pittsburgh New Works Festival (PNWF) Programs A & B! Six new one-act plays will be produced during this portion of the festival, all performed at the Carnegie Stage in Carnegie. If you missed the first post on PNWF check it out here.
“One of my favorite parts about the festival is that since they are all new plays, the stories are all a surprise.”
Andy Coleman, PNWF Communications Director
Detailed ticket information follows at the end of this post. For more information about the festival visit http://www.pittsburghnewworks.org/about-pnwf/
Program A performances are on August 31st September 8th and 9th at 8pm and September 2nd at 4pm and September 3rd at 2pm.
Roosevelt’s Ghosts
by Aaron Scully
Warresnburg, MO
Produced by CCAC South Campus
On February 14th, 1884, Theodore Roosevelt suffered the loss of his mother and his wife within hours of each other. Legend has it that Roosevelt spent time in his study alone and when he came out he hardly ever spoke of his mother or wife again. This play explores one idea of what may have happened during that time in his study.
Aaron Scully is a playwright, director, actor, teacher and scholar. Most recently he was awarded an Outstanding Achievement in Dramatic Writing from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
The Pivot
by Seth Freeman
Pacific Palisades, CA
Produced by The Summer Company
In this very short play’s genre-bending structure, an apparently well-qualified job applicant simultaneously faces and doesn’t face unexpected obstacles.
Seth Freeman’s plays have been presented at over a hundred fifty theaters and festivals around the world. He has received multiple Emmys, Writers Guild Awards, Golden Globes and numerous other honors for screenwriting, fiction writing, and journalism.
Doing Time
by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin
East Aurora, NY
Produced by The Theatre Factory
Confined in an undefined time and place, a young man attempts to write his “Book of Life” amidst the interruptions of an old man. Together, they argue about the significance of memory and the consequences of an undocumented life, ultimately helping each other learn the greatest lesson of all: the freedom of letting go.
Mary Poindexter McLaughlin holds a BA in English from Stanford University, where she was the recipient of Stanford’s Golden Grant Award for playwriting. Her plays have been finalists in the Samuel French One-Act Festival.
Program B runs September 1st, 2nd and 7th at 8pm and the 9th at 4pm and 10th at 2pm.
Exit Strategy
by Tom Moran
Fairbanks, AK
Produced by The Heritage Players
Sean has a brilliant strategy to avoid getting dumped: hit ’em with paperwork.
Tom Moran has been produced 33 times in 19 different cities in 13 states Tom holds a bachelor’s in English from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
All Sales Final
by John Yarbrough
New York, NY
Produced by Cup-A-Jo Productions
When a dying man puts his life insurance policy up for sale to the highest bidder, all involved prepare to meet their maker.
John Yarbrough is a playwright in New York City. His plays have been performed throughout the country, and his play Petra was a selection for the Best American Short Plays 2014-2015.
Sparrows
by Evan W. Saunders
Nanticoke, PA
Produced by The Red Masquers
Two friends wait for a train, trapped in a memory on repeat. Only the truth will set them free, but in this strange world of changing conversations and bagel-carrying sparrows, what if one doesn’t want to leave?
Evan W. Saunders’ plays have been performed as a part of the 2016 Pittsburgh New Works Festival and the Duquesne University Red Masquers’ Premieres Festival. His first full-length play, All in the Numbers, is currently in development.
Stay tuned for more information on Programs C and D in Part 3 coming soon!
For tickets:
Visit https://www.showclix.com/events/14074 or 1-888-71-TICKETS (1-888-718-4253) to reserve your seats by phone.
Main Stage Festival passes are $40. Pick your own dates with the Flex Pass or select one of the pre-built packages for a specific day and time. Either way you can experience every new play in the Festival and save a few bucks over single ticket prices.
Show times are Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm and Sunday at 2pm
Single Tickets Prices $15 Regular Admission ($17 at the Door) $12 Students and Under 25 ($14 at the Door)
Carnegie Stage is located at 25 W. Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. There is plenty of free parking and a great variety of restaurants and shops within easy walking distance of the theater.
A final note: The final dress rehearsals of Pittsburgh New Works mainstage shows are open to the public and feature American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and live audio description for our guests. Learn more and reserve your seat for an accessible final dress rehearsal at http://www.pittsburghnewworks.org/visit-2/accessibility-2/accessible-final-dress/
Categories: Feature