Bad Theater Fest Returns Next Month

Bad Theater Fest, created as a supportive, fun and open environment for artists to present their work, has announced their lineup of dramatic short plays, comedy shows, dance, puppet theater, solo shows and short films. Bad Theater Fest is part of the re-branding celebration at The PIT Loft (formerly Treehouse Theater), 154 W 29th St (b/t 6th and 7th Ave) - 2nd Fl, New York, NY 10001. The festival takes place over three consecutive weekends: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, October 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 plus Nov 5, 6, 7 with multiple performances each evening. Tickets are $15 and available for purchase at badtheaterfest.com or thepit-nyc.com.

In addition to 60 random shows about vampires, Australian sex addicts, militant breastfeeders and The NSA - festival highlights include FAWNBOOK, a play about a "utopian" agrarian society whose script has been assembled from social media posts and comments regarding natural disasters and encounters with North American wildlife; the Courtney Price-directed experimental piece STAR MAN ROCKET MAN, a multimedia driven exploration of the Space Program and celebration of David Bowie, Elton John and Kurt Vonnegut; plus the disturbingly titled, homage to grindhouse, 70s cinema - THE DISEMBODIED HAND THAT FISTED EVERYONE TO DEATH... THE MUSICAL!!!

As much as they love all of the dumb, ridiculous, headline-grabbing plays, co-founders Starr Kendall and Shawn Wickens are surprised every year by the sincere works that somehow slip into the schedule. "Last season's 'CAT' by Kevin Ritter was an emotional piece about a lonely childhood," notes Kendall. "Both performances received standing ovations."

"Bad" art will grace the lobby of the 60-seat theater for the duration of the festival. Paintings from Boston's Museum of Bad Art DOPPLEHANGERS collection - art that resembles (intentionally or not) famous people, will make their New York City debut. The PIT Loft gallery will be open for visitors Mon - Fri, 10am - 5pm and weekends after 5pm.

Now in its fourth year, the Bad Theater Fest is a finalist in the LIT Fund's #LITFundpaysartists grant competition. Started on a whim and with an initial investment of $200 by friends Shawn Wickens and Starr Kendall. Bad Theater Fest has hosted over 200 shows with the participation of nearly 800 playwrights, directors and actors and has also expanded into a companion event in the spring - Bad Film Fest.