PFP Moves BOOK OF MERMAN, Announces Gay Play Weekend Finalists, Seeks Scripts for LezPlay Program

Pride Films and Plays is moving THE BOOK OF MERMAN to the Apollo, announces finalists for GAY PLAY WEEKEND, and seeks scripts for its renamed LezPlay program.

*Pride Films and Plays' Jeff Recommended world premiere musical The Book of Merman is now playing at the Apollo Theater Studio, 2540 N. Lincoln, Chicago. What happens when two Mormon missionaries push a doorbell marked E. M. and a legendary Broadway star emerges? This delightful homage to all things Merman is an audience and critic favorite! Showtimes at the Apollo are 7:30 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; and 3:30 pm on Sundays. Tickets are $30/$35 for all performances, with $5 discounts for seniors and students and are on sale through Ticketmaster and the Apollo box office (773-935-6100).

*Four new plays and one new musical are the finalists in Pride Films and Plays' Fifth Annual Great Gay Play and Musical Contest and will be performed at Gay Play Weekend May 15 to 17. The finalists for 2015 once again represent the best and brightest in 'What's New And What's Next' in LGBT Theater, including a play about homeless gay men, a musical about a man falling for a prison inmate, a look at bullying carried across generations, and much more. Enhanced staged readings include movement and costumes, and are at the Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theatre. Tickets are $10 and are available at 1 800 838 3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com. (Please note the title 'below' is not capitalized.)

The schedule for the weekend is:

Friday, May 15 at 7:00 At A Certain Age

Saturday, May 16 at 2:00 Safe

Saturday, May 16 at 7:00 Pen

Sunday, May 17 at 2:00 below

Sunday, May 17 at 5:00 Family Holiday

*Pride Films and Plays is seeking entries for the LezPlay (formerly Women's Words) Contest, as well as submissions of full-length lesbian plays for possible production in our Mainstage Series. Preferred cast size is 1-6 for production in an intimate space - Mary's Attic in Andersonville, Chicago, for example. Works can be world premieres of Chicago premiers. Email a PDF of your full-length play with playwright contact information, resume, script synopsis, and production history (if applicable) to LezPlayPFP@gmail.com by April 30, 2015.

The LezPlay contest is only for unproduced works for the stage and screen. LezPlay honors excellence in scripts written by women in which lesbian characters and themes-past, present, and future-play a pivotal role. From March 15 to May 1, we welcome submissions of short and full-length scripts from women. Only scripts that have not been professionally produced are eligible. Find more information at filmfreeway.com/festival/LezPlay.

For more information on any of these projects, visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com.