Milford Arts Council to Host EAST/WEST PLAYFEST, 7/17-18

Eastbound Theatre, a division of the Milford Arts Council, partners with Westport Community Theatre for a program of six original plays under the banner of "East/West PlayFest".

Performances will begin July 17-18 at Westport Community Theatre, at the Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Street. Admission for the Westport shows will be free of charge. The festival then moves to the Milford Center for the Arts, 40 Railroad Avenue South in Milford for July 24-26. A donation of $10.00 is suggested for the Milford performances. A portion of the donations will go to rewarding the playwrights, in recognition of the time and energy they have put into their work.

Performance times for all Friday and Saturday shows will be 8 PM. The Milford shows will also feature matinees at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

"We began the festival in July of 2001," explains producer Tom Rushen of Eastbound. "In 2009, we started working with WCT for encore performances. Over these past few years, the partnership has grown, and we felt that a new title was needed that reflected both organizations. The East/West tag is a play on words, but it also gives a sense on the vision for the festival, always keeping our eyes out in multiple directions for playwrights, directors and performers."

The following plays will be featured:

All's Fair in Love and Science, by CJ Ehrlich of Chappaqua, NY, features two fathers who raise the stakes in their children's science fair. Robert Watts of Milford directs. The cast features Steve Yudelson of Newtown and Bill Roberts of Milford.

The High and Low Search, by Michael Weems of Spring, TX finds a couple celebrating their anniversary, only to be plagued by questions about their future. Barry Hatrick of Milford directs. The cast features Bryn Berg of Westbrook and Nick Kaye of Bethel.

Of Butterflies and Roses, by Claudia Haas of White Bear Lake, MN, features two sisters struggling to understand the other's way of coping with tragedy. Ms. Haas won the Summer Audience Award in 2008 for her play, "Wish You Were Here". Rachel Babcock of Branford directs. The cast features Bryn Berg and Jean Marie Warncke of Stamford.

Testimonial, by Jack Rushen of Stratford, CT, finds an educator being forced into retirement, whose encounter with an enigmatic young woman eases his transition. Mr. Rushen has won the Summer Audience Award for his plays, "The Crossing" (2006) and "86 Jake" (2010). Nancy A. Herman of Milford directs. The cast features Dena Lagonigro of Stratford and Luke Lynch of Milford.

To the Roof, by Cynthia Arsenault of Haverhill, MA, takes place in an elevator, where a man must take action when the other passenger announces his plan to jump from the roof. Vic Terenzio of Trumbull directs. The cast features Matt Catalano of Stratford and Peter Haynes of Wilton.

Tumbling, by Mark Lambeck of Stratford, CT, features a young woman who helps an injured jogger, only to be confronted with a troubling admission. Mr. Lambeck won the Summer Audience Award in 2007 for his play, "Lucky Day". Kevin Pelkey of Beacon Falls directs. The cast features Lynette Victoria of Bridgeport and John Michael Whitney of East Haven.

For more information contact the Milford Arts Council at 203-878-6647.

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