BoxFest Detroit Announces 2017 Festival Schedule

BoxFest Detroit, an annual theatre festival that showcases and creates opportunities for women directors, has announced the schedule for its 2017 festival. BoxFest Detroit 2017 runs Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons and evenings, August 18 - 26, at Planet Ant Theatre. Planet Ant Theatre is located at 2357 Caniff, Hamtramck, MI, 48212. Admission is payable by cash only at the door with day passes for $10. A limited number of festival passes are on sale for $30, and may be purchased at the door and reserved online. More information is available at www.boxfestdetroit.com.

BoxFest Detroit produces festivals that allow women directors the opportunities to direct original shows of their choice and win awards to help further their careers in directing. Proceeds from each festival are given to one or more directors as a scholarship opportunity to help further her career. The winning director of the audience vote competition is given the opportunity to direct a show with Planet Ant Theatre's Late Night Series.

Over the two weekends long festival, BoxFest Detroit 2017 presents the work of 10 local women theatre artists. Directors reshaping the box this year are Charity Clark-Anderson, Amanda Grace Ewing, Katelyn Foster, Bridgette Jordan, Sarah Hawkins Moan, Shannon Hurst, Terie Spencer, Leia Squillace, Ellen Stachowicz, and Megan Wright. The producing team for BoxFest Detroit 2017 includes Molly McMahon, Kelly Rossi, and Amanda Grace Ewing. In addition to the performances, the festival will also feature a Talkback with BFD Directors on opening night and Awards Ceremony on closing night.

"While this year's festival, the only one of its kind in the U.S., will feature the work of some returning directors, the majority of our directors are first-time BoxFest Detroit participants," said BoxFest Detroit's Artistic Director, Molly McMahon. "We're delighted the 2017 festival will showcase the work of these and all of our directors, some of the brightest, creative, up-and-coming and established artists in southeastern Michigan."

"We're delighted to see the plays our directors chose come life this year," said Executive Director, Kelly Rossi. "We received nearly 1,000 play submissions for this year's festival, making it the most competitive selection process to date. Audiences have the opportunity to see works by local writers and playwrights from around the country produced in the intimate setting Planet Ant's black box theatre provides." For 14 years and counting, BoxFest Detroit has produced annual summer theater festivals, which create the space and support for women directors of all experience levels to share their work with audiences. Learn more about BoxFest Detroit and its programs at www.boxfestdetroit.com. BoxFest Detroit 2017 is sponsored by Planet Ant Theatre. Detailed Schedule for BoxFest Detroit 2017

Box 1:Shark Week by Thomas J. Misuraca, directed by Megan WrightAisle Six by Matthew Fowler, directed by Katelyn Foster

Box 2:Welcome Wagon by Francesca Pazniokas, directed by Sarah Hawkins MoanVALERIE: A COSPLAY MONOLOGUE by Asher Wyndham, directed by Amanda Grace EwingSpeed Dating at the End of the World by Tofer Carlson, directed by Ellen Stachowicz

Box 3:Pumps by Brett Hursey, directed by Shannon HurstLegacy written and directed by Charity Clark-AndersonThe Train by Irene L. Pynn, directed by Leia Squillace

Box 4:Digging Up Hoffa by Dave Carley, directed by Terie SpencerNot This White Woman by Adrienne Dawes, directed by Bridgette Jordon
Friday, August 18:7pm: Cocktail hour8pm: Box 39pm: Box 410pm: Talkback with BFD Directors

Saturday, August 19:3pm: Box 14pm: Box 37pm: Cocktail hour8pm: Box 29pm: Box 1
Friday, August 25:7pm: Cocktail hour8pm: Box 49pm: Box 2
Saturday, August 26:3pm: Box 44pm: Box 27pm: Cocktail hour8pm: Box 39pm: Box 110pm: Awards Ceremony