Gorilla Theatre Kicks Off Playwrights for 2013 Young Dramatists' Project Today

Changes are afoot in the Young Dramatists' Project. For the first time in 13 years of production, Gorilla Theatre has solicited scripts by young authors from the entire state of Florida, not just the immediate tri-county area as in the past. With the help of the State Thespian Society, YDP received one-act scripts from as far away as Panama City and Fort Lauderdale. Three were selected from this group and three were selected from the tri-county entries. Over 40 entries were received this year in all.

Another first for YDP will be its co-production at freeFall Theatre in St. Petersburg. Gorilla Theatre is working with Eric Davis, freeFall artistic director, to present the six plays for two weekends, today, June 7-9 and June 14-16. This year's all-new program format includes expanded workshops and educational opportunities for the honored playwrights, and a staged reading process akin to those seen at professional play development festivals throughout the nation. Some of the finest union and non-union professional actors in the Bay area will lend their talents to this exciting opportunity for the six selected young writers. "The plan now is to select one of the plays given staged readings and to give it a full production next year," YDP Artistic Director Jim Rayfield said.

In addition to the dramaturgy and readings of the plays, winning playwrights receive a membership to the Dramatists' Guild of America, and a royalty payment.

Plays that were selected this year again show a variety of styles and themes. Chris Ralph's play "The Phone Card Debacle" throws together off beat characters in a convenience store and shows how they react during a holdup. Ralph is from Fort Lauderdale.

Adam Berner, from Bellair, has written a play which explores some of the themes first explored in Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. It is titled "Adam."

Another serious drama is "It's All Just a Game" by Matthew Johnson from St. PetersburG. Johnson's play, which deals with a bullying incident, is one of a long line of plays that have come from Shorecrest Preparatory, where Bill Leavengood, himself a writer, has a knack for bringing out effective scripts from his students.

"Going," by Catherine LaVoy of Rockledge, is another play strong on characters. LaVoy examines the lives and motives of several people in a bus station who are about to move on to new lives.

Comedies are also featured in this year's lineup. "Waiting" by Matt Ubl of Jacksonville is a clever farce that takes place in a restaurant where the central character struggles not to be seen by an old girlfriend.

Selected for the second year is Alex Gonzalez of Tampa. Last year YDP presented his play "No Fap February," which raised more than a few eyebrows. This year his play "The Hand That Feeds You" is a darker but still comedic look at a twisted dysfunctional family.

Gorilla Theatre and freeFall Theatre present Young Dramatists' Project '13 (YDP), running today, June 7-9 and June 14-16, 2013, and playing Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm at freeFall Theatre, 6099 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg. Tickets: $15; High School and Middle School students: $5. Tickets on sale Monday, May 13 at the freeFall Theatre box office: online at www.freefalltheatre.com or by calling (727) 498-5205. For more information, visit www.freefalltheatre.com.