E.S.T.'s 31st Festival Of New Plays 'MARATHON 2009' Runs 5/22-6/27

Ensemble Studio Theatre (William Carden, Artistic Director, Paul Alexander Slee, Executive Director) cordially invites you to MARATHON 2009, E.S.T.'s 31st annual festival of new one-act plays, at E.S.T. (549 West 52nd Street). Performances begin Friday, May 22nd, and continue through Saturday, June 27th. Press dates for each series are indicated below.

MARATHON 2009 offers nine World Premieres and one Off-Broadway premiere of one-act plays in two separate evenings. The two series will run in rotating repertory (a detailed schedule of the series follows below). The playwrights, both established and emerging, contributing to MARATHON 2009 are Billy Aronson*, Leslie Ayvazian*, Maggie Bofill, Garrett M. Brown*, Kia Corthron, Jeanne Dorsey*, Christine Farrell*, Cassandra Medley*, M. Z. Ribalow*, and Tommy Smith.

"For this year's Marathon we selected 10 plays out of the over 350 submitted," says E.S.T. Artistic Director, William Carden. "As we looked at all those scripts it was clear that the state of America and the world were very much on the minds of today's playwrights. And I think that is clearly reflected in the final cut because interesting times make compelling plays. So while this year's selection covers a broad spectrum of themes we definitely will be hearing about Iraq and the economy. We will also be hearing about growing up in the 1950's and growing older in 2009. We will see confrontations between father and daughter, a nun and her student and the fastest guns as they square off in a western saloon. Once again established writers like Kia Corthron, and Leslie Ayvazian share the stage with emerging playwrights like Tommy Smith and Maggie Bofill to create a program that is stimulating, challenging and full of surprise."

Ensemble Studio Theatre is a not-for-profit developmental theatre founded in 1972 with two primary goals: to nurture individual theatre artists, and to develop new American plays. Among E.S.T's members are winners of accolades and higher awards including Pulitzer Prizes, Oscars, Tonys, Emmys, and Obies. E.S.T. is a lifelong artistic home for its member playwrights, directors, actors, designers, technical personnel, and administrators. Each year, The Ensemble produces over 300 projects, including readings, staged readings, and fully produced mainstage full-lengths.

For more information, visit www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org.

SERIES A
"Americana"
by Garrett M. Brown*
directed by Linsay Firman
10-year-old Gary has sent out coupons from magazines in hopes of getting mail. But, on this night in November 1958, it's a real person who arrives instead - the Americana Encyclopedia salesman. He brings knowledge not only of Norman Rockwell and even perhaps Hugh Hefner, but there's something in the air of things bygone and things to come.

"Face Cream"
by Maggie Bofill
directed by Pamela Berlin*
When a woman runs out of her very expensive face cream all hell breaks loose. Because "Face Cream" isn't ever really about just face cream.

"For the Love of God, St. Teresa"
by Christine Farrell*
directed by Deborah Hedwall*
A girls' lavatory in A Catholic School in 1962 becomes the battleground for a nun and her smartest, wildest eighth grader. They find each other and their favorite Mystic in the process.

"PTSD"
by Tommy Smith
directed by William Carden*
A soldier re-encounters his family members one-by-one on the night of his return from war.

"Trickle"
by Kia Corthron
directed by Will Pomerantz*
It takes high-speed recklessness for a crash. In the stock market. And the vehicles behind piling up...

* indicates Ensemble Studio Theatre member artist All the plays above are making having their world premiere

SERIES B
"Blood from a Stoner"
by Jeanne Dorsey*
directed by Maria Mileaf
An elderly and, as it turns out, stoned father and his fed up daughter share a fraught lunch served by an efficient ironical waiter who adds a dash of empathy to the meal.

"Carol and Jill"
by Leslie Ayvazian*
On the eve of turning 60, two long time friends visit in the lobby of a Bed and Breakfast while their husbands are out buying charcoal.

"Daughter"
by Cassandra Medley*
directed by Petronia Paley*
A daughter returns from the Iraq war.

"Little Duck"
by Billy Aronson*
directed by Jamie Richards*
In Little Duck, five impure people attempt to make one pure television show.

"Sundance"+
by M. Z. Ribalow*
directed by Matthew Penn*
Hickock shoots down men to protect right and justice; Jesse because he enjoys it; The Kid for revolutionary purposes. At least that's what each of them claims. But when they are faced with a monolithic, purposeless killer called Sundance, they and the groveling Barkeep must find a way to survive, and a reason for doing so.

*indicates Ensemble Studio Theatre member artist +All plays above are having their World Premiere, except "Sundance" which is having its Off-Broadway premiere

 

 

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