The Pittsburgh New Works Festival mounts the final week of its 35th season this weekend, including one play written by a local playwright. As always, regional theater companies will present these world premieres in the Genesius Theater at Duquesne University. Performances will be on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm.
In The Other Side, by Eric Suben of Mamaroneck, N.Y., produced by Iron Horse Theater Company, Ira’s meeting with the grandmother he hasn’t seen for 15 years is a most unusual experience. Eddie Kunz directs Kat Bowman, Calvin Brookins, Louise Fox, Duncan Jameson, and Ellen Kalik.
Next, R-ACT Theatrical Productions presents The Head of Seamus Delaney, by Ben Scranton of Springfield, Mass. Two opportunistic Irishmen place a bet on who has the biggest head in the city. Larry Spinnenweber directs Apryl Peroney, Heather Ruppert, James Michael Shoberg, Cameron R.S. Smith, and Bruce E. Travers.
Finally, in Who Are We, Beth Hemming?, the title character picks up the phone and realizes the caller meant to reach a suicide hotline – but it develops that he is less than truthful. Patrick Daniels directs Nicole Brady, MC Carder, and Aryan Verma for McKeesport Little Theater. Benjamin Koontz of Hazelwood wrote the play. He has a BFA in Acting from West Virginia University. Currently, he teaches kids about financial literacy and civic engagement through the art of experiential learning.
The plays were selected from more than 200 submitted earlier this year. In an anonymous selection process, each play was evaluated by readers with expertise in theater, and the 14 to be produced were chosen by the companies from among the highest scorers. Plays were received from across the U.S., and from 12 different countries, including Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Brazil, and Australia.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
More information and ticket at www.pittsburghnewworks.org.
Categories: Arts and Ideas
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