Stage Left Theatre's LeapFest XII to Run 7/13-31

Stage Left Theatre will present LeapFest XII, Stage Left's annual new-play festival, running July 13th - 31, 2015. LeapFest is an annual event featuring several new plays with socio-political themes, presented as workshop productions in rotating repertory. This year's festival includes new works from Kristiana Colón, Beth Kander, Evan Linder, and Jeff Tabnick .

Downstage Left (DSL) is Stage Left Theatre's new play development wing, and is comprised primarily of two programs: the DSL Playwright Residency and LeapFest. LeapFest's name stems from the DSL logo, which features a frog about to "take the leap." The three-week event is designed to help playwrights and their plays bridge the gap between development and full production. To further this objective, the festival features an extensive rehearsal process for each play, multiple workshop performances before the public, and post-show audience discussions after each performance. In addition to our general audiences, regional theater producers, literary mangers, and artistic directors are invited to attend the festival in order to get an advance look at some of the best new plays in the country.

LeapFest XII will be performed at Theater Wit at 1229 W Belmont in Chicago. Tickets and information for all events are available by calling 773-975-8150 or online at stagelefttheatre.com. Single tickets for LeapFest performances are $11 each. Patrons can save by purchasing a LeapPASS for $22. The LeapPASS entitles the bearer to full access to all four LeapFest shows.

Detailed performance schedules and information on the plays are provided below. The theater is handicapped and CTA accessible via the Belmont El (Red, Brown, and Purple lines).

While the workshop productions and plays are still in development and therefore not open for critical review, press coverage of this unique festival program and its significant history of success in refining, showcasing and placing new plays is welcome. Please contact Vance Smith at 773.883.8830 (office) or vance@stagelefttheatre.com to arrange interviews and receive additional background material. This release and archived releases will be available at stagelefttheatre.com/press.html.