Barrington Stage Kicks Off 10X10 New Play Festival

Playwright Emily Taplin Boyd (photo  Jordan Matter)

Playwright Emily Taplin Boyd (photo Jordan Matter)

(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Barrington Stage Company’s fourth annual 10X10 New Play Festival – featuring ten, 10-minute plays, as part of the annual 10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival in Pittsfield – kicks off on Thursday, February 12, 2015, and runs through Sunday, March 1. Playwrights represented include Chris Newbound, Emily Taplin Boyd, Christopher Innvar, and Kelly Younger. Directors for the 10X10 New Play Festival are BSC artistic director Julianne Boyd and artistic associate and director of new play development Stephanie Yankwitt.

The 10X10 company includes Matt Neely (BSC’s The Crucible, 10X10 New Play Festival ’12, ’13, ‘14), Christina Norris (BSC debut), Peggy Pharr Wilson (BSC’s Guys and Dolls, The Crucible, 10X10 New Play Festival ’12, ’13, ‘14), Jessie Shelton (BSC debut), Zach Wymore (BSC debut), and Robert Zukerman (BSC’s The Crucible, 10X10 New Play Festival ’12 and ‘14).

Performances of BSC’s New Play Festival are February 12-March 1, 2015, at BSC’s St. Germain Stage, located at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street.

The 10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival returns to downtown Pittsfield for the fourth year from February 12-22, 2014, and features music, theatre, dance, film, visual art, spoken word, comedy and more, including BSC’s 10X10 New Play Festival.

BSC’s 2015 10X10 New Play Festival titles and playwrights:

VISITING DAD by Emily Taplin Boyd

A woman shares her complicated feelings about the unconventional way in which her science-minded father chose to be remembered. (Boyd performed in the 2012 and 2013 10X10 New Play Festival.) With Peggy Pharr Wilson (Amanda). Directed by Stephanie Yankwitt.

 

CUDDLE by Bekah Brunstetter

Two lonely coworkers make a connection – until one of them takes it too far. (Playwright debut). With Matt Neely (Anthony) and Jessie Shelton (Carol). Directed by Stephanie Yankwitt.

 

STAT! by Ron Burch

Jeff and Belinda attempt to find love in the most unusual of places. (Burch’s play The Possethsion was part of the 2014 10X10 New Play Festival.) With Christina Norris (Belinda) and Zach Wymore (Jeff). Directed by Julianne Boyd.

 

A WISH by John Cariani

A stranger appears in a small northern town on a midwinter night—and finds what she’s looking for. (Cariani’s Uh-Oh was performed in the 2014 10X10 Play Festival. At BSC he starred in the world premiere of Dancing Lessons and was ‘Dogberry’ in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.  He is the author of the popular play Almost, Maine.) With Peggy Pharr Wilson(Woman) and Robert Zukerman (Officer). Directed by Julianne Boyd.

 

WEDDING BELLES by Brett Hursey

Charlie’s wedding day is suddenly put in jeopardy by her groom’s fashion faux pas. (Hursey’s The Stand-In was part of the 2013 10X10 New Play Festival.) With Christina Norris (Charlie), Zach Wymore (Vince) and Robert Zukerman (Mr. Hart). Directed byJulianne Boyd.

 

EXHILARATION by Christopher Innvar

An elderly couple clash with time, technology and relevance in solving the eternal question: How will we get to our daughter’s house on Thanksgiving? (Innvar is a BSC Associate Artist who directed in the 2013 and 2014 10X10 New Play Festivals; he also wrote Higher Ground for the 2013 10X10 New Play Festival.) With Christina Norris (Waitress), Peggy Pharr Wilson (Roz) andRobert Zukerman (Bern). Directed by Julianne Boyd.

 

FOR UNTO US by Stephen Kaplan

Mary and Joseph, two 5-year-olds, discuss religion, different kinds of families and gender roles as they play with Mary’s new Christmas present, a doll. (Playwright debut). With Jessie Shelton (Mary) and Zach Wymore (Joseph). Directed by Julianne Boyd.

 

BROKEN by James McLindon

Two political prisoners. One cell. A regime fighting for its life. Who can you trust when the only rule is, trust no one? (McLindon’s play Sweetheart Roland was part of the 2014 10X10 New Play Festival and The Wilderness, was part of the 2013 10X10 New Play Festival.) With Matt Neely (A) and Robert Zukerman (B). Directed by Stephanie Yankwitt.

 

JUST FRIENDS by Chris Newbound

A comic look at a couple of confused coworkers and ‘just friends’ who have spent a little too much time with one another outside the office. (Newbound is a BSC PMP Playwright, he wrote Lunch with Amanda for the 2012 New Play Festival). With Matt Neely(Sam) and Jessie Shelton (Amanda). Directed by Stephanie Yankwitt.

 

MANDATE by Kelly Younger

Forced into a guys’ night out by their wives, a stay-at-home dad and a stay-in-his-cubicle accountant go on a ‘first date.’ (Playwright debut) With Matt Neely (Drew) and Zach Wymore (Marc) Directed by Stephanie Yankwitt.

Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $25 Thursday evening and Saturday/Sunday matinees; $30 Friday and Saturday evening. Added performance Sunday evening March 1 at 7:30pm.  The first two low-priced preview performances on February 12 and 13 at 7:30pm are $15 for all tickets. Reserved seating. For more information, call the Barrington Stage Box Office at 413-236-8888 or visit Barrington Stage Company.

 

About 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival

The festival is a collaborative effort spearheaded by Barrington Stage Company and the City of Pittsfield and coordinated through a steering committee that includes the Beacon Cinema, Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF), Berkshire Museum, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts and the City of Pittsfield.

 

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