Page 12 - The Islander - November '22

Page 12, The Islander

tHEAtrE HAppEnings

Palm Beach Dramaworks Announces

Fifth Annual New Year/New Plays Festival Jan. 6 To 8, 2023

Palm Beach Dramaworks (PBD) will ring in 2023 with one audiences, and playwrights get a better sense of what’s working Northlight Theatre, Hope and Gravity at Pittsburgh’s City
of its most popular events, the New Year/New Plays Festival, well and what might need some polishing by listening both to Theatre, Cyrano (translated and co-adapted with Aaron Posner)
which runs from Jan. 6 to 8 and features readings of five the actors and to the audience response.” at Washington’s Folger Theatre, Sing the Body Electric at
fascinating plays that are still in development. The fifth annual Tickets for the festival are on sale now, and can be Philadelphia’s Theatre Exile, and the musical A Wonderful
festival marks the first time since 2020 that the program will be purchased online at www.tickets.palmbeachdramaworks.org, Noise (written with Vance Lehmkuhl) at Creede Rep. Awards
presented live, onstage, in front of an audience at the Don & Ann or by calling the box office at (561) 514-4042, Ext. 2. Tickets include an ATCA/Steinberg New Play Citation, two Edgerton
Brown Theatre. Hosted by The Dramaworkshop, the festival are $20 per play, or $75 for all five plays by using the code Foundation New Play Awards, an L.A. Drama Critics Circle
provides an invaluable opportunity for playwrights to hear FESTIVAL. Although tickets for the Playwrights Forum are Award, a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award, four Barrymore Awards,
their words performed by gifted professionals and to receive free, reservations are required. nominations for Lucille Lortel and John Gassner awards, and
feedback from viewers. The goal of The Dramaworkshop in The New Year/New Plays Festival is sponsored by the multiple fellowships from the Independence Foundation and
general, and the festival in particular, is to cultivate significant Maurer Family Foundation. Diane and Mark Perlberg are Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Michael is a professor of
new work for PBD’s mainstage and theatres across the country. the executive producers, Marsha and Stephen Rabb are the theatre at Villanova University, artistic director of Villanova
Since the 2017/18 season, PBD has produced five world producers, and Penny Bank and Sandra and Bernie Meyer are Theatre, and a proud alumnus of New Dramatists.
premieres that were nurtured in The Dramaworkshop. Carter the associate producers. Carey Crim is an award-winning playwright and
W. Lewis’ The Science of Leaving Omaha, to be performed The Plays screenwriter. Her work has been developed and/or produced
this season, will be the sixth. The Messenger at Park Theatre (London), Purple Rose Theatre Company,
The plays chosen for the 2023 festival are The Messenger By Jenny Connell Davis Rubicon Theatre Company, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Royal
by Jenny Connell Davis (3 p.m., Friday, Jan. 6); The Virgin Friday, Jan. 6 at 3 p.m. Manitoba Theatre Centre, Shakespeare & Company, Barter
Queen Entertains Her Fool by Michael Hollinger (7 p.m., Inspired by the life of Hungarian Holocaust survivor Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Florida Repertory
Friday, Jan. 6); The Islanders by Carey Crim (3 p.m., Georgia Gabor, this play in four monologues is a meditation on Theatre, The Public Theatre (Maine), Gulfshore Playhouse,
Saturday, Jan. 7); Dangerous Instruments by Gina Montet how our stories can protect or expose us, and on the connections Broken Watch Theatre Company, and many more. Her plays
(7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7); and Crossing Ebenezer Creek, between past, present, and future. Morning After Grace and Distance Learning are published by
previously known as Untitled Lincoln Play to Drama (in The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW). Paint Night was chosen
the) works’ audiences, by Bill Cain (3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. By Michael Hollinger for the 2020 Kilroys List and is scheduled for production in
8). There will also be a Playwrights Forum at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. 2023. Her film Wake is currently streaming on Amazon Prime,
Saturday, Jan. 7, which is free with a ticket to any play. Adalia, Virgin Queen of the Realm and Mother of Us starring comedian Jo Koy. The Islanders is her newest work.
The Messenger was commissioned by Producing Artistic All, is dying, and must name her successor before it’s too Carey is represented by Mark Orsini at Bret Adams Ltd. and
Director William Hayes, who was introduced to Davis’ work late. But she’d rather spend her final hours enjoying the Brandy Rivers at Industry Entertainment; she is developing the
a few years back when her play, As I See It, was submitted to distractions of her Fool. Meanwhile, her niece and nephew one-hour television drama #Blessed with the latter. Carey is a
The Dramaworkshop and was subsequently part of the 2020 have both assembled armies to storm the castle, each hoping graduate of Northwestern University. careycrim.com.
festival. The four other plays were first presented last season by to grab the crown as it falls. Clearly, the clock is ticking – Gina Montet, a graduate of the University of Miami, has
PBD’s Drama (in the) works series, which features readings of what’s a woman to do? been active in South Florida theatre for over 20 years as a
plays in process. The most promising readings are selected for The Islanders writer, director, and actor. Among her many successful works
the festival by Hayes and The Dramaworkshop Manager Bruce By Carey Crim are her environmental education and literacy incentive plays
Linser, who take audience feedback, among other factors, into Saturday, Jan. 7 at 3 p.m. for young audiences, which have been touring Florida since
account. All five plays continue to develop under the auspices Anna lives a small and quiet life on Beaver Island, Mich. She 2000 and continue to entertain and educate tens of thousands
of The Dramaworkshop leading up to the festival. has few friends and likes it that way. Her carefully controlled of students throughout the state each year. Gina’s plays have
“We are thrilled that the festival is returning to the theatre,” world is turned upside-down by the arrival of a charming but been produced and developed by several theatre organizations,
said Linser. “Although the Zoom presentations the past two secretive new neighbor, Dutch. For different reasons, Dutch and including Theatre Lab at FAU, City Theatre, PBD, Fantasy
years were quite effective, there is nothing like artists and Anna have each been thrown away by mainstream society. Can Theatre Factory at Sandrell Rivers Theater, the Playwrights’
audiences sharing the same space. There’s an energy and a sense their connection survive the revelations that must inevitably Center (Minneapolis), Mangrove Creative Collective, The
of community that you just can’t get virtually. Actors feed off come with true intimacy? Greenhouse at Florida International University, the Coconut
Dangerous Instruments Grove Playhouse, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the Miami-
By Gina Montet Dade Department of Cultural Affairs Playwright Development
Saturday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. Program, and the Center for Performing Arts Minneapolis.
Nov. 25 Laura, a young single mother, would do anything for An experienced educator, Gina shares her talents with several
her gifted son, Daniel. Scholarships to elite private schools schools and theatre programs in Miami, where she teaches
are the golden ticket for her little genius, but when Daniel’s theatre arts and film production.
brilliant mind becomes violent, she finds herself battling a Bill Cain is the author of Equivocation, which premiered
broken system. Laura must confront a mother’s darkest fears at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and has since had numerous
as she desperately races to help her son before he becomes productions, including Manhattan Theatre Club and the
the next horrifying headline. Geffen Playhouse (Ovation Award for Best Play); 9 Circles
Crossing Ebenezer Creek (Marin Theatre, Sheen Center); How to Write a New Book
By Bill Cain for the Bible (Berkeley Rep, Seattle Rep, South Coast Rep);
Sunday, Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. Stand-Up Tragedy (Mark Taper Forum, five Los Angeles
Set in 1865 on the eve of President Lincoln’s assassination Drama Critics Circle Awards; Arena Stage, four Helen Hayes
and in 1894 during the Pullman Strike in Chicago, the Awards; Hartford Stage; Broadway). He has twice received
Nov. 26 play explores the ideas of legacy, accountability, and how the Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play
American history was written – and continues to repeat Award. Bill was the creator, writer, and producer of the ABC
itself – through man’s obsession with money, power, and television series Nothing Sacred, which received a Writers
Nov. 28 who controls the narrative. Guild Award and a Peabody Award. He was also the founder of
The Playwrights Boston Shakespeare, where he directed the entire Shakespeare
Jenny Connell Davis plays include Matinicus: A Lighthouse canon. Bill is the author of two books available from Orbis
Play, Anton Chekhov is a Tasty Snack, Goddess of Mercy, and Books: The Diary of Jesus Christ and The Book of Cain (out
Scientific Method. Her work has been produced or developed soon). Ojai Playwrights Conference has developed nearly his
at Chance Theater, the O’Neill, the Playwrights’ Center, Icicle entire canon of work, and many of his plays are available from
Nov. 29 Creek Theatre Festival, ACT Seattle, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Dramatists Play Service.
About Palm Beach Dramaworks
New York Stage and Film, The Gift Theatre, and Rivendell
Theatre Ensemble, among others. She currently has film and TV Palm Beach Dramaworks is a professional, nonprofit theatre
projects in development with Amazon, Iconoclast/Anonymous company founded in 2000 and located in the heart of downtown
Content, and Baobab Studios. Jenny has an MFA from UT West Palm Beach. Each season, the award-winning company
Austin, is a former member of Ars Nova’s Play Group, and an produces five mainstage shows and offers a wide variety of
affiliated writer with the Playwrights’ Center. She is a proud programs for students at the theatre, in schools, and online.
member of Chicago’s Gift Theatre Company and ScriptWorks Committed to fostering the future of theatre, PBD has become
in Central Texas, and an inaugural member of the Hyde Park a hub for playwrights in Florida and around the country to
Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing Playwrights Group in Austin, where she currently resides. nurture their work through initiatives including Drama (in
Palm Beach County and is a privately Michael Hollinger plays include Under the Skin, Opus, the) works and the annual New Year/New Plays Festival.
owned and managed company. Ghost-Writer, Red Herring, Incorruptible, An Empty Plate PBD is a member of Theatre Communications Group, Florida
Captain’s is committed to providing in the Café Du Grand Boeuf, and the musical TouchTones Professional Theatres Association, and the Cultural Council of
dependable, reliable and professional Palm Beach County. www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.
ground transportation to and from all (with composer Robert Maggio), all of which premiered at
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212 Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre Company and have variously The Don & Ann Brown Theatre is located in the heart of
To reserve your vehicle: been produced around the U.S., in New York City, and abroad downtown West Palm Beach, at 201 Clematis Street. For ticket
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com (London, Paris, Tokyo, Athens, Poland, and Slovenia). Plays information contact the box office at (561) 514-4042, or visit
premiered elsewhere include Mr. Dickens’ Hat at Chicago’s www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.