City Theatre's ISLAND SHORTS Returning to Key Biscayne, 2/5-7

Back by popular demand, City Theatre's ISLAND SHORTS returns to Key Biscayne for a limited engagement of only three performances in the Island Room of the Key Biscayne Community Center on February 5, 6 and 7, 2016.

City Theatre, well known nationally for its production of short plays, and the recognized regional leader of the Summer Theatre Season with its annualSUMMER SHORTS Festival, has created a special program for Key Biscayne, featuring nine short plays for this exclusive winter production. The plays, running ten minutes or less, include entertaining classics and brand new work celebrating City Theatre's 21 seasons. Performed by an ensemble of South Florida professional artists, ISLAND SHORTS will engage City Theatre's veteran Summer Shorts audiences and introduce the award-winning company and its work to new snowbird fans. Each performance will be followed by a post-show discussion with the cast.

City Theatre, born on the sands of Key Biscayne in 1995, has cherished close ties to its birthplace, including company co-founder and literary director Susan Westfall, many past and current Board Members from the Key, including Christine Biggers, Alan Fein, Dr. Clint Bush and Patricia Woodson. Several productions have toured Key Biscayne schools, the Village Green Park and Key Biscayne Community Center, where it also presents an occasional play reading series. The ISLAND SHORTS venue also presents a full circle story: City Theatre was one of the original users of the Key Biscayne Community Center's Island Room when it hosted an evening fundraiser of "dinner and theatre" after the building opened 12 years ago.

"City Theatre is thrilled to return to Key Biscayne with our second annual production of the ISLAND SHORTS mini-festival. Last year's production was a hit with sold out performances and lively post-performance talk-back sessions with the audiences and artists. Returning with an exciting new collection of plays is a wonderful way to thank and entertain the Island of Key Biscayne for all of the love and support that we have received from its residents throughout our 21 year history," said Westfall.

Presented with the support of the Village of Key Biscayne, The Key Biscayne Community Foundation and the Key Biscayne Community Center, City Theatre's ISLAND SHORTS will serve to strengthen the Village of Key Biscayne's efforts to establish cultural programming in the community.

"The Key Biscayne Community Foundation is always interested in projects that improve the quality of life in the local and greater community," said Melissa McCaughan-White, Executive Director of the Key Biscayne Community Foundation. "Our partnership with City Theatre over the past five years helped us to create the concept of ISLAND SHORTS, a program that has enriched the cultural vibrancy of Key Biscayne by way of bringing fantastic live theatre directly to the island."

ISLAND SHORTS is directed by City Theatre's Director of Special Projects Gail Garrisan, and will be performed by Jim Gibbons, Carol Sussman, Susie Kreitman Taylor, Stanley A. Ross, Andres Maldonado and Marcela Paguaga. The creative team for ISLAND SHORTS includes set design by Jodi Dellaventura, lighting and sound design by Preston Bircher and costumes by Larry Bauman.

The ISLAND SHORTS play line-up includes:

A Little Bit of Culture by Staci Swedeen, Summer Shorts revival

A couple settle in to "enjoy" a concert and are moved in mysterious ways!

Poetry Curse by Greg Waters, World Premiere

Be careful what you wish for on Valentine's Day!

Prodigal Cow by Mark Harvey Levine, Summer Shorts revival

The prodigal son's return concerns the fatted calf!

Real Art by Louise Wigglesworth, World Premiere

An enthusiastic art lover and a painter negotiate the meaning of art.

I've by Jonathan Bernstein, Summer Shorts revival

An uncomfortable encounter between strangers is changed by a familiar tune.

Flare by Edith Freni, Summer Shorts revival

A neurotic woman sits next to a patient pilot and share a bumpy ride.

The Trade by James Armstrong, Florida Premiere

A young couple raise the stakes in their relationships one card at a time.

Standing Tall by Marv Siegel, Miami Premiere

An older couple raise the stakes in their relationship one hour at a time.

The Colony by Patricia Cotter, World Premiere

A very intimidated writer searches for the right words...

ISLAND SHORTS, an exclusive limited engagement of only three performances, will open on Friday, February 5 with a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m., and play through February 7. Performances are Friday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 7 at 4 p.m.

Advance tickets are $20 for Key Biscayne residents, $25 for non-residents, and $30 for same day purchases on or after February 5. Tickets may be purchased through the Key Biscayne Community Center by calling (305) 365-8900, or online at islandshorts.org.