Fifth Annual International Ten-Minute Play Festival set for Aug. 6-7

The Fifth Annual OC International Ten-Minute Play Festival will be presented in a hybrid production at the Sugar loaf Performing Arts Center and streamed live on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 6 and 7 at 7 p.m.

In all, 186 playwrights submitted new, unpublished scripts, including entrants from New Zealand, Canada and throughout the United States. A judging committee, consisting of theater professionals including Rich Quatrone, professor of playwriting and poetry at Mason Gross, Jessica Tumposky, executive director of the Virus Theater in Silver City, New Mexico, Evelyn Albino, artistic director for Cornerstone Theater Goshen, Brian Koch, local artist and designer, and Suzanne Appel, managing director of Vineyard Theater in New York City, has selected plays that show originality and style.

The fourteen winning plays will be presented in a hybrid format that includes both a live reading with an audience and streaming for those unable to attend. Since the playwrights come from around the globe the plays will be available for streaming for one week following the live presentation.

Seven local directors have been selected Sarah Byrons, Evelyn Albino, Paul Ellis, Erin Woodward, Matt Meinsen, and Gloria Bonelli. The seventh participant is the VirusTheater in Silver City, New Mexico with directors Jessica Tumposky and Teresa Dahl-Bredine. They will perform live in their home theater and be included in the stream. By presenting seven plays on Friday and a different seven on Saturday, the Festival is able to offer many roles to local actors and directors from Orange County.

The winning plays and performance schedule is as follows:

Friday, Aug. 6

Amelia by Evan Spreen directed by Paul Ellis

We Don’t Dance by Keith Dougherty directed By Evelyn Albino

The Old Neighborhood by Joe Weintraub directed by Erin Woodward

Deus Ex Macintosh by Jack Karp directed By Jessica Tumposky

Spell by Barbara Blatner directed by Sara Byrons

The Next Ivan Sharansky by Jim Geoghan directed by Matt Meinsen

A Fable Play by Christopher Wiley directed by Gloria Bonelli

Saturday Aug. 7

Nice and Kind by Stephen Taft directed by Erin Woodward

Medusa Does a Redo by Angela Davis directed by Sarah Byrons

Karen”s Surprise by Charles White directed by Evelyn Albino

Lighted Fools by Bridget Sheaff directed by Teresa Dahl-Bredine

Tumbling After By Paula Fell directed by Matt Meinsen

Russian Luck by Scott Klavin Directed by Gloria Bonelli

Kirby Is Missing by Scott Gibson directed by Paul Ellis

Essentials

The festival is produced by PEP productions, a professional theater production company presenting Air Pirates Radio Theater, Confabulation and Actors Workshop Ensemble. The Orange County Arts Council has been instrumental in supplying promotion and marketing.

Tickets for both the live performances and streaming are available for $15 at www.10minplaysfest.com for either performance or stream.

For more information call 845-978-1776 or visit the website.