Baltimore Playwrights Festival Closes With ZULU FITS, 8/18-9/4

The Baltimore Playwrights Festival (www.baltplayfest.com) announces the August 18th opening of Zulu Fits, by Alonzo D. LaMont, Jr., to be produced by Heralds of Hope Theater Company (www.heraldsofhopetheater.com) at Load of Fun Theater, 120 North Ave., Baltimore, MD 21201. Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm, through September 4th. Ticket information can be obtained by contacting the theater at 410-997-3997.

Playwright Alonzo LaMont will also direct Zulu Fits, which tells the story of 2 teenage sisters, NeeCee & Giselle, who intend to rescue of a very popular black political prisoner---Jersey Jack Black---from prison. Jersey Jack was "wrongfully accused" of a crime 20 years ago. 20 years later he's a celebrity prisoner, with a larger-than-life persona. Fancying themselves as teenage terrorists/slash/suicide bombers, they raise money through their website, where they pose in provocative attire, take in donations, and acquire a large cyber following. Running along parallel lines, is the history of NeeCee and Giselle's new family home. The sisters and their mom and dad have recently moved into a home with a "slave background." The new house was formerly the property of Patty Cannon, a white woman who captured free black men, women and children and re-sold them to southern slave owners. Ultimately, the play asks why society falls for "the sexy pick" as opposed to the legitimate, very real history that is often ignored.

Alonzo LaMont's bio, in his own words, states that he "grew up in Baltimore. Went to Marlboro College, VT. Grad school, Univ. of Iowa. First Production: Atlanta, GA. Great reviews. Got an agent. More productions: off-Broadway. Great reviews. Productions: Cincinnati, Memphis, Austin, Atlanta, Amsterdam, D.C. Great reviews. Time passes. Teach college (Asst. Prof). Cup-A-Joe in Hollywood writing for Big-Time TV sitcom. "A Different World". Make obscene money for a playwright. Livin' large. Fired. Back to B'Mo. More productions: Amsterdam, Chicago. LA., Texas, Atlanta again. Downsized from college (didn't have no "Ten-Ya"), upsized with temp work. New Job. Medical Library. Med students, Law students, what's the diff???? says I. Time passes. Grant here, grant there. Teaching dries up. Keep writing. Time. Passes...........you get the picture."

The Baltimore Playwrights Festival is celebrating its 30th season, and has presented 266 scripts by 158 playwrights, produced by 25 different companies, over the past 29 Years. This season we are presenting seven new plays at five different theaters, running July 8th through September 4th. Further information can be found at  www.baltplayfest.com.