RLTP Announces 2011 Emanuel Fried New Play Workshop Lineup

Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP) announced its list of participating playwrights in the 2011 Emanuel Fried New Play Workshop (NPW). RLTP's NPW supports the development of original dramatic works by local playwrights. Western New York (WNY) writers selected to participate in the NPW include veteran and first-time playwrights alike. 2011's NPW roster will include Frank Canino, Donna Hoke, Rosa Fernandez, Moira Keenan, James Marzo, Jose Rivera, Steve Roylance, Vincent Scarsella, Mark Witteveen, and Jon Zelasko.

Five of the playwrights - Canino, Hoke, Marzo, Roylance, and Scarsella - are alumni of previous NPWs, returning in 2011 with new scripts in-development. Donna Hoke is a two-time NPW alumna. Hoke previously developed the comedy The Couple Next Door in 2009; the play debuted in a world premiere production at the Road Less Traveled Theater in the fall of 2010 and was a blockbuster financial success for the company. Frank Canino is a veteran actor, director, playwright, and screenwriter, who recently enjoyed local and national productions of his play The Angelina Project; the play was also adapted into an independent feature film. Workshop newcomer Jon Zelasko is the winner of RLTP's 2010 Buffalo Young Writers Contest for his play Enjoy It, and was also a runner-up contestant in 2009 for his play James.

Under the supervision of Workshop Director Kyle LoConti and Literary Director/Resident Playwright Jon Elston, playwrights provide one another peer support during the composition and revision of their original plays over a nine-month period. RLTP then presents readings of these new plays to the public, directed by and featuring some of WNY's finest theatrical talent. Audience members who attend these readings (free of charge) are invited to enjoy a glimpse of tomorrow's world-premiere productions and to offer constructive feedback - an integral component of each playwright's process.

Elston waxed enthusiastic about the diversity of voices, background, and material involved in the 2011 Workshop. "We're working with playwrights who have moved to WNY from Brooklyn and Rochester, as well as lifelong natives of Buffalo," said Elston. "Some of these individuals have been writing for years; some are just discovering their love of drama." Elston appeared giddy about the myriad of subject matters in this year's selections, "Everything from legal thrillers to sports comedies to sci-fi farces to apocalyptic adventures!"

The Workshop has (since 2008) been named in honor of legendary WNY playwright Emanuel "Manny" Fried, who past away in February 2011. During his 50-year career in Buffalo theatre, Fried was instrumental in assisting in the development of innumerable new plays and young playwrights.

Free public readings of the plays developed in the 2011 NPW will begin in September of 2011. Please visit www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org for more details and for a full schedule.

Applications for the 2012 NPW will be accepted beginning December 1st, 2011. Only electronic submissions (via e-mail) will be accepted. For more information, please visit www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org, or contact Jon Elston at newplayworkshop@roadlesstraveledproductions.org.

About Road Less Traveled Productions

Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP) is a professional theatre company founded by Scott Behrend and Jon Elston. RLTP is dedicated to the development and production of new theatrical works by Western New York playwrights as well as presentations of esteemed modern dramas of outstanding literary merit. RLTP is located at 639 Main Street in the Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre in the Downtown Buffalo Theatre District. For ticketing information, please visit www.RoadLessTraveledProductions.org or call (716) 629-3069. Tickets also may be purchased online via www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000. RLTP's work is made possible through public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.