Midtown International Theatre Fest Begins July 14: List of Venues

The Midtown International  Theatre Festival, now gearing up for its ninth annual offering of wide-ranging works, will take place in seven different theatres (at five separate venues) and will run from July 14 through August 10, 2008.

In 2008, the MITF returns to the Abingdon  Theatre Arts Complex, its home in 2003, where it will use both the venue's 98-seat June Havoc  Theatre and the 60-seat Dorothy Strelsin space. Meanwhile, the MITF will remain  at the WorkShop Theater, where it has been since 2004, presenting shows in the 65-seat MainStage.  The WorkShop's Jewel Box Theatre will serve as an audience waiting room, complete with  beer tent.

The Festival has also added The Barrow  Group's 99-seat theatre, where no more than five MITF productions will be staged as part of  the new Commercial Division. These are shows that are specifically looking for a life  beyond their stands at the Festival. Shows participating in the MITF Commercial  Division receive storage space for larger sets and an extra week of performances  (totaling four). These shows will also be allowed daytime rehearsals in the  space to develop their  scripts between performances.

The WorkShop, Abingdon and The Barrow Street  theatres are all located at 312 West 36th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues), on  the 4th, 1st and 3rd floors, respectively.

Just up the block, at 347 West 36th  Street, additional  MITF shows will be performed in Chatterton's 40-seat Where  Eagles Dare Theatre and 50-seat Studio Theatre. These venues are located at the ground and  13th floors of the building, the latter also being where the  MITF has its administrative  offices. Lastly, the MITF will continue  to utilize the Stage Left Studio, located at 438 West 37th Street, Suite  5-A (between 9th & 10th Avenues) for its solo shows.

Those interested in applying to the Ninth Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival can download an application form at www.midtownfestival.org. The completed application, script, any other production materials, and a $30 non-refundable reading fee,  should be sent to: The Midtown International Theatre Festival, 347  W. 36th Street, 13th Floor, New  York, NY 10018. All entries must be postmarked by February 20, 2008.