Saturday, March 20, 2010

World Premier Opens Tuesday!

The world premier of James Vincent's new play HIGHER EDUCATION opens Tuesday March 23, 2010 for two performances only at the Central Library Theatre on Main Street, Lexington, KY. Perfomances are at 7:30 both nights. Staring in the play are Donna Ison and James K. Brown with featured performers Colleen Glenn, Bill Widener, Michael McIntosh and Bill McCann, Jr.

Both James Vincent and Bill McCann Jr. are members of 517 Playwrights.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Seeking an Underwriter for Play Anthology

Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc. which last year held its first ever play contest and 10-minute play festival is going to bring out an anthology of six of the seven plays produced as part of that festival. The anthology will contain:

Crish Barth's Hill Cattle
Len Cuthbert's Enigmatic Lucidity
Leon Kaye's More Pasta
Kay Rhoads' Last Church of Lost Souls
Thomas Pierces' Almost Connect...
and
Steven Schutzman's The Weight

We are now at the point where we are seeking a company or individual to help underwrite the cost of publication. For a donation of $1,000 the underwriter will receive:

1) Their name, or the name of their company:
a) on the front cover of the anthology
b) mention in the publication's "Introduction"
c) a 1/2 page advertisement for their company on the back cover of the publication OR
a full page advertisement of their company on the INSIDE BACK COVER of the publication
d) mention in the press release about this publication that: "Publication was made possible in part due to a generous donation by (name of individual or corporation)
e) an article about the company or indvidual on this blog (web site)
f) ability to purchase PRIOR TO PUBLICATION copies of the anthology at $5.00 per copy

2) Knowledge that if the publication is underwritten KPW, Inc. can reduce the RETAIL PRICE of the publication from our current estimated price of $10.95 to $8.95 thereby increasing the likelyhood of more sales of the anthology.

If anyone would like additional information about the anthology or how to become an underwriter of this effort please contact us at ky.playwright@yahoo.com

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Synopsis of "In the Goldfish Bowl"

My thanks to Kay Rhoads for providing the following synopsis of her play, In the Goldfish Bowl which opens May 6th at the Venus Theatre in Laurel, MD:

As their futures tick away four women on a Texas Death Unit confront their pasts, their fears and each other, all while under the watchful "electronic eye" of Correctional Supervisor Rowena Way who maintains strict watch over each and every plastic fork. Sometimes comedic and sometimes painfully provocative, In the Goldfish Bowl explores the justice system through inmates Phylis Penn, PhD, Shawna Devine, Sylvia Washington, and Cherry Pie Muldoon. Interspersed, via the prison intercom, are the daily announcements of Lt. Ro.

Will Oprah Winfrey rescue Cherry Pie? Will Shawna Devine get a new trial? Why does Sylvia want to move ahead on the death list? And will Phylis Penn come to terms with who she is and what she ahs done in the short time left, recognize how she has changed.

Rhoads Play to Open in Laurel, MD May 6th

Kay Rhoads' play In the Goldfish Bowl will run at the Venus Theatre, in Laurel, MD May 6th through May 30, 2010. Ms. Rhoads' 10-minute play Last Church of Lost Souls was in the Kentucky Playwrights' Workshop, Inc. Midway Festival of New Plays in the fall of 2009.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Crish Barth's run of good reviews continues

Favorable reviews for Crish Barth's one-act play Reading with Friends, currently part of the Bay Area One Acts Festival, continue to arrive at our email drop. In part the review reads: "Barth's one-act play was a joy to watch as each character's neuroses started to reach the boiling point. The strongest performances came from Derek Fischer and Laura Jane Coles. The play's surprise ending was a gem." The entire 30 line review can be found at: http://myculturallandscape.blogspot.com/2010/03/acting-out.html

Barth's 10-minute play Hill Cattle appeared in the Midway Festival of Plays in October 2009.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Member's Play to be Staged

A member of 517 Playwrights, James Vincent, will have his new play HIGHER EDUCATION staged at the Lexington Public Library's Central Library Theatre, 140 E. Main Street, on March 23rd and 24th at seven pm. Admission is free. The play stars Donna Ison and James K. Brown and features WRFL's "Unca" Bill Widener and Colleen Glenn and Michael McIntosh and Bill McCann, Jr.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Leon Kaye Play to Run Through March 12

"The Shakespearecist," a play by Leon Kaye is being presented by Garfield Palouse High School's Gar Pal Players. Mr. Kaye's 10-minute play More Pasta" was presented as part of the Midway Festival of New Plays in October 2009. For more information about "The Shakespearecist" follow the link: http://www.dnews.com/story/pulse/49722/

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Next Meeting: March 14th

The next meeting of 517 Playwrights will be Sunday March 14th 2010 at Common Grounds Coffee House. The meeting will begin at 1:30 and end about 4:30 pm. Bring a script or two that you would like to hear read aloud; bring at least one script per speaking character. See you there.

For more information about 517 Playwrights please check us out on Meetup.com

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Midway Festival Writer has Success Near Golden Gate Bridge!

Crish Barth's one act play, currently being presented on a rotating basis with other plays that are part of the Ninth Annual Bay One Acts Festival in San Francisco has been favorably reviewed. The review, which is a longer review of all of the plays in the festival says:

“Reading with Friends” by Chris Barth and directed by Paul Cello opens the program’s second half. A wry rumination on the nature of friendship, art and trust, it builds to a dramatic climax as secret alliances are revealed, and it ends with a surprise bang. Especially recommended to those involved in writing for the theatre."

To read the review in context, as well as reviews of the other plays that are part of the Bay Area One Acts Festival, follow the link below:

http://www.sfbaytimes.com/index.php?sec=article&article_id=12507