PlayGround Company in the News April-2018

See what PlayGround Writers and Alumni are up to, as we prepare for the 22nd Annual PlayGround Festival of New Work.

Jonathan Spector‘s play EUREKA DAY won the 2018 Rella Lossy Award. The play will premiere at Aurora Theatre Company from April 13 through May 13, opening April 19 on the theatre’s mainstage. http://www.auroratheatre.org/eureka-day

Aaron Loeb’s play THE TRIALS OF SAM HOUSTON will premiere at the Dallas Theatre Center.  On the eve of the state’s secession in 1861, Governor Sam Houston is torn between loyalty to Texas and loyalty to the United States. As he weighs the terrible choice he must make, certain of the devastating cost of either path, Houston tells Jeff Hamilton (his slave and office clerk) of a time when he, and the Union itself, stood trial. It runs April 20 through May 13, 2018.  http://www.dallastheatercenter.org/show_details2.php?sid=129

Maury Zeff is directing a staged reading of Kim Bromley and Sheryll Strode’s new play RICOCHET as part of Ross Valley Players’ RAW alternative works program on April 26 at 7:30pm in the Barn Theatre, 30 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Ross. http://www.rossvalleyplayers.com/ross-alternative-works/

Jonathan  Luskin’s full-length play ECCE HOMO will be presented in six performances at the Long Theatre in Stockton between April 13 and April 21. “Ecce Homo” is a romantic comedy. The play mixes real-time motion capture sequences with film and video game animation to examine how performers combine traditional skills and new technologies to connect with an audience.  Tickets are free in advance or $5 at the door.  https://eccehomo.brownpapertickets.com/

BIRTH BREATH BRIDE ELIZABETH, a lecture play by Kenneth Prestininzi will have a workshop presentation on Friday, March 23 at 4pm at NEW DRAMATISTS, 424 West 44th Street, NYC. https://newdramatists.secure.force.com/ticket/… His  short story “Sweater” is a finalist for the Best Small Fictions 2018 anthology, published by Braddock Avenue Books, judged by Aimee Bender.

Mark Routhier is about to directing a new adaptation of The Three Musketeers by Pete McElligott produced by The NOLA Project and performed in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art, opening  May 9th. Mark has also just finished the 4th draft of SOMETHING MUCH MORE, his first full-length play in 20 years about dementia, family, ego and control. http://www.nolaproject.com/show/the-three-musketeers/

Alanna McFall‘s short story “Start Again” is scheduled to be published in the anthology “As Told By Things”, by Atthis Arts. The anthology is a unique, multi-genre collection (fantasy, romance, humor, contemporary, sci-fi) of short stories – as told by inanimate objects. “Start Again” tells a couple’s story from the perspective of their sourdough starter, which grows and changes as their relationship does. Learn more and support the anthology on Kickstarter! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/atthisarts/as-told-by-things

A staged reading of Marsha Roberts‘ full length play, SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE will be performed on April 28th at City Lights Theatre in San Jose as part of the Lights Up Festival of New Plays. “A high-powered attorney was fired because she was intolerant and arrogant. And she still is. She now lives in a tenement house in the worst part of the city and secretly works as a housekeeper while she tries to regain a job as an attorney – all the while pretending to live a life of luxury. The play is about the day that forces her to change her perspective on people, her current circumstances and her purpose in life.” Marsha’s short play, “NOT MY TYPE,” will be featured in Towne Street Theatre’s 10-Minute Play Festival at the Stella Adler Theatre in Los Angeles April 6 – 29.

Trinity Repertory Theatre  announced that SONG OF SUMMER, a new commission by Lauren Yee will premiere April 14, 2019-May 14 2019.  The piece centers on a washed-up pop icon who abandons touring for soul-searching in his hometown.  Her play IN A WORD will close Urbanite Theatre’s season in Sarasota, Florida.

Current PlayGround Writer, Akaina Ghosh, and PlayGround Alumni/Winner of the June Anne Baker Award, Amy Sass’s upcoming project A DIFFERENT LONG STRETCH OF EARTH will be running April 6-28, 2018 at The Flight Deck in Downtown Oakland.  Amy Sass will be directing Akaina Ghosh on stage for this exciting new work written by Bay Area playwright Addie Ulrey.

Jeanie Ngo was chosen to be a playwright for the next installment of Music/Scene at PianoFight in SF. In addition, she was named featured poet for the Abrams Claghorn Gallery in Albany.

Rachel Bublitz is thrilled to have her play LET’S FIX ANDY be a finalist for Playwrights Foundation’s 2018 Bay Area Playwrights Festival, and she is thrilled a second time for her play RIPPED to be a finalist for Unicorn Theatre’s New Play Reading Series.

Dave Garrett is launching a storytelling/cabaret concept- About That Time- at the Creativity Theater, April 20th & 21th.  About That Time