Stages Festival and Midtown Direct Rep to Present 7.5 WONDROUS ACT(S) OF TRUE LOVE, 3/17

The New Jersey Theatre Alliance and Midtown Direct Rep will present a reading of the play 7.5 Wondrous Act(s) of True Love by Jeremy Desmon as part of Midtown Direct Rep's recently launched play development series focused on new and innovative American theatre. This March 17th reading is part of The Stages Festival, an annual statewide program that provides discounted and free theatre performances, workshops and events throughout the month of March. This performance, typically $15 per ticket, will have a limited quantity of free tickets available as part of the Stages Festival. (Limit two per patron while supplies last).

Following on the heels of MDR's successful development of Rated P (for parenthood), MDR's new program, Theatre in the Loft, aims to do the same for other previously unseen material. MDR will now be presenting monthly readings or workshops of new plays and musicals one Sunday night a month at 7 PM in the SOPAC loft. With a cash bar and post show discussions with the casts and creative teams, MDR will foster a fun and collaborative environment to nurture the development of top notch theatre right here at home.

7.5 Wondrous Act(s) of True Love by Jeremy Desmon will be directed by Jeremy Dobrish and performed by, Bradley Dean, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jaygee Macapugay, Sandy Rustin, Antonio Suarez and others.

From the playwright ...

Is life always more exciting wherever we aren't? In this farcical romance of epic proportions, London leaves her suburban cocoon in a starry-eyed quest for the authentic, rapturous passion of late-night movie marathons. Along the way, she joins forces with an eclectic alliance of lost souls, including a lesbian dental hygienist, a sex-addicted violinist, a Shakespearean Casanova in a shipping crate and Hollywood actress Uma Thurman, all asking the same questions: How often does true love happen? And, who's keeping count?

The Stages Festival is a statewide event offering free and discounted tickets to performances, workshops, classes and events at the states professional theatres, partner performing arts centers, as well as in non-tradition venues like libraries, schools, senior centers and museums. The program was developed to encourage New Jersey's residents to attend their local professional theatres by making the experience affordable, accessible and fun.

All across the state, patrons will receive free and discounted tickets to over 100 performances and special events, including classes, and workshops for all ages. Since its inception in 1998, the program has served over 80,000 people.

While most of these events are offered free of charge, there may be a low-priced admission charge for adults, and reservations are necessary for most events. For more information, or to make a reservation for 7.5 Wondrous Act(s) of True Love, patrons can call (973-313-ARTS (2787) or visit the Box Office and supply the code STAGES13 or order online: (https://www.vendini.com/ticketsoftware.html?t=tix&e=5af37ffaeccef816c769eac4514364f6.) The Box Office is open Monday through Saturday from Noon-6PM and two hours prior to any performance.

To receive a full schedule of events for The Stages Festival, visit www.stagesfestival.org.

With perhaps more professional theater artists than any suburb of NYC, Maplewood/South Orange (NJ) is "where Broadway comes home to sleep." MDR, a theatre company created by and for these NJ-based artists, develops and presents relevant, world-class theatre for its community. www.midtowndirectrep.org.

Midtown Direct Rep company members include two- time Tony Winner, Norbert Leo Butz, Tony Nominee, Christiane Noll, and "Law & Order; SVU" regular, Joel de la Fuente, among others. The Company is managed by Co-Artistic Directors Sandy Rustin and Jeremy Dobrish, Managing Director Jeffrey Shubart, and Producing Director Evan Fleischer.

Founded in 1981, the New Jersey Theatre Alliance is the first statewide organization for professional, not-for-profit theatre companies in the United States, and is a leader in developing model programs that foster collaboration, cooperation and audience development. The Alliance provides member theatres and arts patrons a wide range of supportive services and programs, assists member theatres in their growth and development - as well as in the promotion of their programs - helping them reach their full potential. For arts patrons, the Alliance provides a variety of services to enhance their theatre-going experience.