Seven Playwrights Will Have A Lot Of Coffee To Drink Tonight @ 10:30pm

by Antonio Miniño.

Phare Play Productions will have some playwrights brewing ideas tonight at 10:30pm in The Beckmann Theater. Seven emerging writers will be meeting to receive their themes, script guidelines and the headshots/resumes of the actors they have to write a play for, to be performed tomorrow night at The Roy Arias Off-Off Broadway Playhouse. All this is part of the WWSS: Four Your Shorts Only, a 24 Hour short play festival, now in its fourth year.

Jen Spragg (writer), Emily Ehlinger, Lizzie Schwarz, Nick Santasier,
Jason Gaffney & Chris Simon (director)

“I think Blake Bradford (the artistic director of Phare Play) and I came up with the idea together.” -shares Christine Vinh, Executive director of Phare Play Productions- “We were doing a production of the Cherry Orchard last year and one of the actors couldn't do a Saturday night show. However, he was perfect for the part so instead of recasting it, we just decided to not do a show that night. Instead of letting the venue go empty, we thought it would be fun to do something like this. That first time, our theme was Homecoming. Then we did Superhero Sidekicks and then music from different decades. The writers never know what they're getting until they show up for the writers meeting (which will be tonight) where they will get their theme, the headshots and resumes of four actors that they will be writing for and a line that they will all have to incorporate in their show.”

One of the seven writers participating in this 24 hour play festival, is Duncan Pflaster. You may know Duncan as one of the critics for Broadway World, or you might have seen one of his productions, including and not limited to the award winning Prince Trevor Amongst The Elephants at this year’s Midtown International Theatre Festival.

Erin Evers, Micah Chartrand, Eddie Rodriguez, Sandy Simona,
Michael Weems (writer) & Tanya Fazal (director)

“I was very intrigued when I heard about the process- I'd seen a few of my friends write and perform in plays in 24-hour festivals, in the A Train Plays, at Wings Theatre, and a few other places, and I've always been excited by the idea. I'm a little nervous, but excited. I think the process is a great way to get out of over thinking the whole writing thing.” -says Duncan- “So, I'll start going at 10:30 tonight, and just type straight on till morning!”

WWSS takes place tomorrow Saturday, November 8th at 7pm & 9:30pm. Tickets are only $12 at the Roy Arias Off-Off Broadway Playhouse (300 West 43rd Street, Fifth Floor.)

To Learn about the other writers, directors, cast, the Award Ceremony that will be taking place at WWSS, and how to purchase tickets visit www.phareplay.com

*Photos are from last year's participants.