CLOSEDTHE 2012 NATIONAL NEWBORN FESTIVAL
February 2-4, 2012
The City College of New York
North Academic Center, 160 Convent Avenue New York, NY 10031-9198
First Floor Lecture Hall (1/202)
Now on its sixth year, The National NewBorn Festival is MTWorks playwriting competition and flagship program created to find talented emerging playwrights from across the US, introduce their work to the New York community, and open new doors to regional voices.
This is the second year the festival is proudly sponsored by the
Psychology Club and Psychology Department of the City College of New York.
READINGS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
TO RESERVE YOUR SEATS CLICK HERE
(OR VISIT http://tinyurl.com/72h4jfw)
This is the second year the festival is proudly sponsored by the
Psychology Club and Psychology Department of the City College of New York.
READINGS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
TO RESERVE YOUR SEATS CLICK HERE
(OR VISIT http://tinyurl.com/72h4jfw)
Campus Map :: Follow the red arrow if you are coming from Amsterdam Ave (closer to the red subway line) and the blue arrow if you are coming from Convent Avenue (closer to the blue subway line).
| DOWNLOAD A PDF VERSION OF THE CAMPUS MAP |
THE 2012 PLAYS & SCHEDULE
Thursday, February 2nd at 7pm
*Audience Favorite Award Winner*
The Tragedy of Dandelion
by Duncan Pflaster
directed by Leah Bonvissuto
The Tragedy of Dandelion follows a Princess named Dandelion, who attempts to escape, by dressing as a boy, a forced marriage to Ratliff, a man who raped and impregnated her. She collaborates with Prince Crispin, son of Queen Alice, telling him that the baby is his, to gain a place in that kingdom and while waiting in the Queen’s orchard, meets the Queen’s daughter, Princess Cèlie, and shares a kiss with her. She gains a place in Alice’s kingdom, till Ratliff and her father King Stephano, come to Alice’s palace and point out that Dandelion is a female, and drag her away. A new lesbian verse play by Duncan Pflaster.
Produced by Jessica Thornhill.
Friday, February 3rd at 7pm
Denny and Lila
by August Schulenburg
directed by Tom Wojtunik
After her husband Marcus divorces her for their much younger maid Lucia, Mary turns to the con artist team of Denny, Lila and Jabber for revenge. They take the job, with Denny pretending to be the Neruda-quoting electrician ‘Fred’ to seduce Lucia; and Lila pretending to be the daffily charming British novelist ‘Mara’ to seduce Marcus. All goes well until Denny develops an unexpected connection to Nettie, Mary and Marcus’ manic-depressive daughter.
Produced by London Griffith.
Saturday, February 4th at 5pm
*Excellence in Playwriting Award Winner*
Absinthe
by Joe Musso
directed by Dev Bondarin
It's July 1900, and a race riot has engulfed New Orleans, sparked by a black man killing two white policemen. At first, the violence on the streets is far removed from the genteel parlor of Grace Newman, a blind white woman cared for by her house servant, Curtis, a former slave owned by Grace's father. Grace and Curtis's relationship is forged by respect and compassion. However, their true feelings for each other must remain hidden from Grace's racist brother Henry, a Civil War vet who fought for the South and who is hell-bent on bringing justice to a black man who killed two white policemen. As a race riot in the streets unfolds, Grace and Curtis's relationship unravels.
Produced by Martha Goode.
Saturday, February 4th at 8pm
*Resident Reading*
On Egdon Heath
adapted by David Stallings
from Thomas Hardy's novel The Return of the Native
directed by Glory Kadigan
Award-winning playwright David Stallings' adapts one of the most powerful works of famed author Thomas Hardy, "The Return of the Native". The ensemble of townspeople On Egdon Heath will take you on a journey of love, passion and folklore, centered around the beautiful and mystical Eustacia Vye. Her hunger for escape and a devastating twist of fate will affect the lives of the Yeobrights, the Wildeves and the heart of the heath.
Produced by David Stallings.
--
AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARD
The Audience votes for their favorite play which will go on to receive a reading as part of New York theater company On The Square Productions' 2012-13 Season.
Ballots are only a $1
THE EXCELLENCE IN PLAYWRITING AWARD
Is bestowed by the MTWorks’ Board of Directors. The board selects the winner before the festival takes place and is not influenced by the work the director and actors are achieving at the readings.
The first Excellence in Playwriting Award winner was Riti Sachdeva with her play Parts of Parts & Stitches later on selected to be part of our current "Season of Fight" and scheduled to begin performances March 15th, 2012 under the direction of Cat Parker.
*Audience Favorite Award Winner*
The Tragedy of Dandelion
by Duncan Pflaster
directed by Leah Bonvissuto
The Tragedy of Dandelion follows a Princess named Dandelion, who attempts to escape, by dressing as a boy, a forced marriage to Ratliff, a man who raped and impregnated her. She collaborates with Prince Crispin, son of Queen Alice, telling him that the baby is his, to gain a place in that kingdom and while waiting in the Queen’s orchard, meets the Queen’s daughter, Princess Cèlie, and shares a kiss with her. She gains a place in Alice’s kingdom, till Ratliff and her father King Stephano, come to Alice’s palace and point out that Dandelion is a female, and drag her away. A new lesbian verse play by Duncan Pflaster.
Produced by Jessica Thornhill.
Friday, February 3rd at 7pm
Denny and Lila
by August Schulenburg
directed by Tom Wojtunik
After her husband Marcus divorces her for their much younger maid Lucia, Mary turns to the con artist team of Denny, Lila and Jabber for revenge. They take the job, with Denny pretending to be the Neruda-quoting electrician ‘Fred’ to seduce Lucia; and Lila pretending to be the daffily charming British novelist ‘Mara’ to seduce Marcus. All goes well until Denny develops an unexpected connection to Nettie, Mary and Marcus’ manic-depressive daughter.
Produced by London Griffith.
Saturday, February 4th at 5pm
*Excellence in Playwriting Award Winner*
Absinthe
by Joe Musso
directed by Dev Bondarin
It's July 1900, and a race riot has engulfed New Orleans, sparked by a black man killing two white policemen. At first, the violence on the streets is far removed from the genteel parlor of Grace Newman, a blind white woman cared for by her house servant, Curtis, a former slave owned by Grace's father. Grace and Curtis's relationship is forged by respect and compassion. However, their true feelings for each other must remain hidden from Grace's racist brother Henry, a Civil War vet who fought for the South and who is hell-bent on bringing justice to a black man who killed two white policemen. As a race riot in the streets unfolds, Grace and Curtis's relationship unravels.
Produced by Martha Goode.
Saturday, February 4th at 8pm
*Resident Reading*
On Egdon Heath
adapted by David Stallings
from Thomas Hardy's novel The Return of the Native
directed by Glory Kadigan
Award-winning playwright David Stallings' adapts one of the most powerful works of famed author Thomas Hardy, "The Return of the Native". The ensemble of townspeople On Egdon Heath will take you on a journey of love, passion and folklore, centered around the beautiful and mystical Eustacia Vye. Her hunger for escape and a devastating twist of fate will affect the lives of the Yeobrights, the Wildeves and the heart of the heath.
Produced by David Stallings.
--
AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARD
The Audience votes for their favorite play which will go on to receive a reading as part of New York theater company On The Square Productions' 2012-13 Season.
Ballots are only a $1
THE EXCELLENCE IN PLAYWRITING AWARD
Is bestowed by the MTWorks’ Board of Directors. The board selects the winner before the festival takes place and is not influenced by the work the director and actors are achieving at the readings.
The first Excellence in Playwriting Award winner was Riti Sachdeva with her play Parts of Parts & Stitches later on selected to be part of our current "Season of Fight" and scheduled to begin performances March 15th, 2012 under the direction of Cat Parker.
