UCPAC-Rahway to Host 1-Act Play Festival, 2/2-8

Winter storm alerts got you down? Lace up your culture boots and jump into a fresh pile of original theatre Feb. 2-8 at Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway as Fearless Productions presents the inaugural "Kicking & Swearing Festival of 1-Acts".

The festival features a total of 18 new 10-minute plays by writers from New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and across New Jersey.

The plays are performed in three groups of six on individual preview nights of Feb. 2, 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. The final competitive judging for Best Play takes place Sunday, Feb. 8 with three shows repeating all the plays at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.

The shows are held in The Loft at Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving Street in the heart of Rahway Arts District.

Tickets are $10 per show and can be bought online at www.ucpac.org, by calling (732) 499-8226 or at UCPAC Box Office, 1601 Irving Street, Rahway.

Participating playwrights include Mike Burdick, Steve Taylor, Brian Harris, Irwin Hahn, Mike Sockol, Greg Adkins & P.J. Murray, Lindsay Adkins, Greg Macklin, Dave Duncan, CJ Nolan, D.D.L. Webber, Charles E Denk, Ben Simons, Blaire Deziel.

Festival producer Jessica Foerst notes that The Loft, a 60-seat blackbox, is a perfect space for the festival. "You are so up close and personal with the actors that you can't help but be drawn in to the experience."

Performances Dates: Program A (Mon. 2/2 at 7:30 p.m. - opening performance / Sun. 2/8 at 1:30 p.m. - judged performance) American Marvel, The Final Interview, The Wrong Stuff, Yankee Stadium, Vigilance, The Most Disgusting Thing in the Universe.

Program B (Tue. 2/3 at 7:30 p.m. - opening performance / Sun. 2/8 at 3:30 p.m. - judged performance) The Light in the Middle, Diplomat's Dilemma, Voice of God, Staring Contest, Hot August Night, The Talk.

Program C - (Wed. 2/4 at 7:30 p.m. - opening performance / Sun. 2/8 at 5:30 p.m. - judged performance) Mercy Killing, Clover, Restaurant, Lightning, No Homo,Waiting for Evangeline.

"New plays are the lifeblood of American Theatre," says Union County Performing Arts Center executive director Lawrence E. McCullough. "UCPAC and Rahway are thrilled to serve as the showcase for this emerging literary talent."