GOD IS A FORD MAN Among Five New One-Act Plays at Manhattan Rep 8/19 & 8/20

"God is a Ford Man" by Philip Paradis is one of five new one-act plays to be showcased at Manhattan Repertory Theatre , as part of Manhattan Rep's August Event on August 19 and 20th at 6:30 pm. Other plays in the Series A showcase include "One Patient" by Alaina Hammond, "Sara's Got a Secret" by John Ladd, "The Way Things Are Now" by Tyson Duffy, "Freestylin'" by Richard Thomas Henle.

After a forty-foot sinkhole swallows eight cars overnight at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, an elderly gentleman, a man of faith who also happens to be a good ol' boy and resident of an assisted-living community, speaks out about the true cause of the catastrophe. His hilarious rambling explanation, part philosophical treatise and part metaphysical diagnosis of the state of the universe bears some striking similarities with what Pope Francis wrote recently about climate change.

Though the upcoming production of "God Is a Ford man" will be the play's New York premier, the short comedy has been generating considerable buzz from both actors and directors in Kentucky, Ohio, and New York. "God is a Ford Man" is a new slice of Americana, reminiscent of Will Rodgers," said Director Robert Allen, who teaches acting at Northern Kentucky University.

Directed by Anna Loyd Bradshaw, the New York production of "God is a Ford Man" stars A. A. Isen, a New York City-based actor who regularly performs in Shakespearean, Greek Classical, and modern plays. He has trained with Christopher Martin, founding Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company and John Barton, co-founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Bradshaw trained in England, and studied at The Oxford School of Drama and Bath Spa University. She has directed several plays in the U.K. and the U.S. Currently she is a director in residence for Ruddy Productions and a member of the Stage Director and Choreographer's Observership class of 2015.

Playwright Philip Paradis has taught English and creative writing at Oklahoma State University, Iowa State University, Western Carolina University and Northern Kentucky University. He resides in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. A member of The Dramatists Guild of America, he was a semifinalist in the Kentucky Theatre Association's 2011 New Play Competition for his play "Soldiers' Christmas." His play "Footprints of the Polar Bear" won the Cincinnati Directors Competition in 2008. He is currently working on a screenplay about the life of author Stephen Crane .

Manhattan Rep will present the August Event on Wednesday, August 19 and Thursday, August 20th at 6:30 p.m. at Manhattan Repertory Theatre, 303 W. 42nd Street, Suite 614, New York, NY. Tickets are $20 and are available at the door on the night of performance while supply lasts. Tickets may be reserved by emailing MRTRESERVE@GMAIL.COM . For more information, visit www.ManhattanRep.com.