Fledgling playwrights will showcase original works in a two-day festival
SPQR Stage Company hosts its sixth-annual “New Works Weekend,” a two-day festival of eight original short plays, each making their world premiere at Studio;Space in Somers Point, Feb. 17 and 18. Hosted by SPQR Artistic Director Bill Sterritt, the festival, which provides fledgling playwrights the opportunity to showcase their works in front of live audiences for the first time, will also have a live-streaming option on Saturday.
An award-winning playwright, Sterritt has supported novice playwrights for years, knowing firsthand the importance of having a space for original works to be shown.
“As a playwright myself, I fully understand the need to display your new work in front of a live audience,” said Sterritt of Somers Point. “There’s really nothing like getting that immediate response or feedback and gaining a knowledge of, as an example, what gets a laugh and what doesn’t. This is a great learning opportunity for a playwright, followed by the chance to tweak and edit their play until it’s ready for the big stage.”
Novice playwrights from around the country submitted works to be considered for the festival. Those who were chosen are from Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New York City, and, locally, Ventnor, Ocean City, and Cape May.
The eight, 10-minute plays, will be performed as staged readings in two acts: “Not Jersey” and “New Jersey.”
The plays and playwrights included in New Works Weekend are:
• “Ledge” by Bob Cullinane: Footloose flirtation 40 stories up.
• “Hell No, Dolly” by F.J. Hartland: Mom, Daughter and a knock-off Barbie.
• “Animal Magnetism” by Denis Meadows: Caging the animal in all of us.
• “The File” by Jim Gordon: File “M” for …
• “One Little Hormone” by Rosemary Frisino Tooney: The key to peace and prosperity.
• “A Late Letter” by Tom Chin, Ocean City: A special delivery that comes too late.
• “The Bad Dad” by Susan Tischler, North Cape May: Antigone in Western Pennsylvania.
• “The Swashbuckler” by Heidi Mae, Ventnor: Swordsmanship amid a comic duel.
Performances are 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17 and 18, at Studio;Space, 112 Woodland Ave., Somers Point.
Tickets are $20 (cash) at the door. Saturday’s performance will also be live-streamed for $20. Go to studiospacespnj.com for more information.
About SPQR Stage Company:
Since 2004, SPQR Stage Co. has been testing and redefining the limits of theatre, in theme, form, and purpose. For 20 years, SPQR’s productions have exhibited ingenuity in language, concept and staging, preferring to be in front of the curve in all of its undertakings.
