MCC Festival to Feature Work by 5 Young Playwrights in Aug.

The 2006 "FreshPlay Festival," presented by MCC Theater Youth Company, will perform August 10th-12th at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater.

"The FreshPlay Festival" is a performance of five original short-plays penned by New York City teens. The plays are produced for the stage by a roster of professional directors, actors, and designers. "FreshPlay merges the voices and creativity of urban youth with the experience of professionals in an evening of explosive, innovative, and fresh theater," according to MCC notes.

In addition to ""Theater for Thought"" on the MCC Theater Mainstage, the MCC Theater Youth Company (a free after school program for New York City high school teens) promotes thought through theater with programs like the "FreshPlay Festival."

Jennifer Huyn's Ascending to Heaven will be directed by Claudia Zelevansky, with dramaturgy by Mark Schultz. "Dean has fallen in love with the woman of his dreams. Only one catch: she's a doll. When Dean's brother tries to cash in on her value, Dean pulls out all the stops to keep her close. Is this doll as innocent as she appears? Or is Dean in for a huge surprise?"

Kyle-Steven Porter's Writer's Block will be directed by Jackson Gay, with dramaturgy by Qui Nguyen. "There's nothing normal about Junior's day today. He awoke to find a Narrator chronicling his life. His mother has slipped into a pancake-throwing frenzy. Even his friends have lost their minds. Will a trip to the Oracle cure Junior's confusion, or are we in for a plot twist that even the Narrator couldn't foresee?"

Storyteller, by Cara Brumfield, will be directed by Claudia Zelevansky, with dramaturgy by Catherine Filloux. "A storyteller spins a web of romance for two young lovers. As they navigate the stories materializing before them, they discover that love is enveloped in more questions than answers."

Julia Torres' Directions from a Convict will be diirected by Jackson Gay, with dramaturgy by Lucy Thurber. "A night behind bars throws Trish headlong into the wrong side of the judicial system. Suddenly a "criminal," Trish has to gather her wits to take up matters with the law. Will Trish end up a statistic, or will she be able to fight her way to justice?"

The Book of the Who, by Holland Hamilton, will be directed by Tamilla Woodward
with dramaturgy by Lynn Thompson.

The Truth About Coney Island, by MCC Theater Youth Company with Zakiyyah Alexander, will be directed by Lou Moreno. "What's going on down there in Coney Island? The hot dog vendor's cooking up something strange. The house of mirrors is making people see straight. The Wonder Wheel is spinning out of control. It's not the usual summer afternoon at Coney Island, and a strange world is about to get a whole lot stranger."

The "FreshPlay Festival" will be performed August 10- August 12th, 7pm. There is an additional 2pm performance on August 12th. All performances will take place at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 West 42nd Street, one block west of Ninth Ave. FreshPlay Festival reservations can be made by calling Ticket Central (ticketcentral.com) at 212-279-4200. Suggested ticket donations for all performances are Students $5; Adults $10.

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