DC Playwright Mario Baldessari Named Playwright-in-Residence for 2011/12

First Draft at Charter Theater - a nonprofit organization devoted to developing theater audiences alongside new plays, supporting local artists and partnering with theaters looking to produce new work - announced today that local playwright Mario Baldessari has been selected as its Playwright-in-Residence for the 2011-2012 season.

As Playwright-in-Residence, Baldessari will be responsible for mentoring emerging playwrights working with First Draft during the coming season; engaging in pre- and post-reading discussions with playwrights participating in the First Draft Reading Series; supporting the development and implementation of two local play festivals First Draft has planned for the coming year; developing an educational workshop for local playwrights and/or actors that will be offered through First Draft; and serving as a First Draft spokesperson on the development of new plays in the DC Metro Area. He will also receive funding and resources to help develop new plays for future production through First Draft's theater-partnership program, and have two to three plays featured in the Reading Series.

The First Draft Reading Series is officially kicking off it season at the 10th Annual Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival with a staged reading and post-reading discussion of "Best Men," a brand new play co-written by Baldessari and Chris Stezin. The comedy tells the story of two estranged friends reunited under unexpected circumstances. The staged reading and post-reading discussion of "Best Men" will take place on Saturday, September 3rd at 4 p.m. in the Kennedy Center's Terrace Gallery.

"Supporting the local playwriting community is a huge part of First Draft at Charter Theater's mission, along with our core goals of developing audiences alongside new plays," said First Draft Artistic Director Leslie A. Kobylinski. "Mario's unique ability to address serious subjects with humor and compassion has made him an audience favorite and frequent collaborator with First Draft. We are excited to have him onboard as our newest Playwright-in-Residence and to present his and Chris's engaging new play that skillfully explores the boundaries of male friendship. The play is a clever, insightful comedy by two of Charter Theater's and DC's playwriting stars."

Baldessari's most recent plays include "Jack and the Bean-Stalk" at 1st Stage (in partnership with First Draft), which was Helen Hayes Award Recommended, and "Fat Gay Jew" at Charter Theater. His other playwriting credits include: "Fear Itself," "Wonders Never Cease," "Sacred Cows" and "The Rule of Three" for Charter Theater; and "Our Lady of Sandwich" for the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts (NCDA). He is a faculty member at NCDA and has taught classes and workshops in improvisation for the Writer's Center, the Actors' Center, Imagination Stage and the Educational Theater Company. For many years, he was the lead writer and a founding member of the comedy troupe, Dropping the Cow.

"Best Men" is the third in a series of plays that Baldessari and Stezin have written together. The first two, "The Thing about My Brother" and "Fidelity Drumming," have been featured previously in the Reading Series.

First Draft at Charter Theater is supported in part by Arlington County through the Cultural Affairs Division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources and the Arlington Commission for the Arts. The First Draft Reading Series is also made possible in part by the warmth and generosity of the Drama Committee of the Arts Club of Washington, and The Share Fund of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region.

For more information, visit First Draft online at www.firstdraft.org.

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