Open to playwrights in the New Jersey-New York area, the winner will receive a $500 prize for "Best Play", which will be announced immediately after the final performance on February 15th.
The plays will be: Teddy's Return by Jon Citron from Morristown NJ; Josiah's Kidd by Tylie Shider from Plainfield NJ; Expect Delays – Plan Alternate Route by Stephanie Griffin from Glen Rock, NJ ; Behind the Counter by Jonathan Libman from New York City; and Barbie Dress-Up by Jason Fregeau from Massachusetts.
"The Theater Project's purpose is to showcase new or lesser-known plays and playwrights" says Mark Spina, artistic director. "One-acts give authors an opportunity to gauge audience reaction to themes and characters that they may return to in other plays. With Think Fast the audience will have the opportunity to meet several playwrights in one evening. Our goal is to present thought provoking works that encourage our audiences to think beyond the status quo. We are proud of our work in supporting local theater in New Jersey. We are one of the few New Jersey theater companies featuring a one-act competition of original works."
Performances will be Friday, February 13 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 14 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, February 15 at 2 p.m. The winner of the Best Play will be selected by members of The Theater Project's Playwrights Workshop. The panel of judges includes Susan Barsky of Millburn, Charles Denk of Princeton, Jewel Seehaus-Fisher of Highland Park, Luigi Januzzi of Hillsborough, Ed Lataro of Toms River, Mike McGoldrick of Jersey City, Joe Vitale of Denville, Mary Jane Walsh of Basking Ridge, and Robert Young of Cranford. The audience will decide the awards for Best Actor and Best Actress. In addition, the audience will be asked to vote for its two favorite plays after each show. The show with the most votes will receive a special award for "Audience Favorite". All winners will be announced after the February 15th performance.
Tickets may be purchased easily online at www.TheTheaterProject.org or at the box office of the Burgdorff Center, 10 Durand Rd, Maplewood, NJ before each performance.
About The Theater Project (TTP):
Founded in 1994, The Theater Project under the leadership of Mark Spina, Artistic Director, has stimulated New Jersey audiences with award-winning thought provoking live theater. The Theater Project produces and presents works by primarily local playwrights which are presented by local actors and directors and performed for local audiences. TTP also awards scholarships and incentives for young playwrights and young filmmakers engaged in the tasks of organizing and telling a story.
Providing a forum to express ideas that spark the imagination, The Theater Project presents its main stage season and children's classes at the Burgdorff Cultural Center in Maplewood, New Jersey. TTP also maintains a strong presence in Cranford, New Jersey through a monthly staged reading and discussion series showcasing the work of TTP's Playwrights Workshop. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.thetheaterproject.org or call 908.809.8865 to reach our box office. The Theater Project is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheTheaterProject).
