Liberatore, King et al. Lead Ensemble Studio Theatre's One-Act Festival, 5/21 - 6/19

After 32 years, it seems as if every year, everyone and his agent sends a one-act play script to The Ensemble Studio Theatre for its annual marathon of one-act plays, the oldest, acclaimed one-act play festival in the country. This year is no exception with 886 one-act scripts totaling 21,264 pages which were read by 17 readers over 5 months. From that, Ensemble Studio Theatre artistic director William Carden selected 10 plays this spring to be presented on two separate programs for the Ensemble Studio Theatre's 2010 Marathon of One-Act Plays May 21 through June 26.

The playwrights to make this year's cut are for Series A Robert Askins, Ben Rosenthal, Daniel Reitz, Amy Fox and Adam Kraar and for Series B Laura Jacqmin, David Auburn, Rachel Bonds, Laura Maria Censabella and Jacquelyn Reingold. This year's Marathon of One-act Plays takes place at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street. Series A begins previews May 21 for an opening May 24 and Series B begins previews June 5 for an opening June 10.

Casting for Series A has been announced, and includes names such as Geneva Carr and Scott Sowers, who will perform in Matthew and the Pastor's Wife by Robert Askins, directed by John Giampetro; Gio Perez and Danny Mastrogiorgio will star in Safe by Ben Rosenthal, directed by Carolyn Cantor; Lou Liberatore, John Martin Green, and Haskell King lead Turnabout by Daniel Reitz, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel; Barbara Andres, Denny Bess, Bill Cwikowski, Frederick Lehne, and Melanie Nicholls-King, who will star in Where the Children Are by Amy Fox, directed by Abigail Zealey Bess; and Jack Davidson, Marcia Jean Kurtz, and Catherine Curtin, who will be featured in Adam Kraal's Wild Terrain, directed by Richmond Hoxie.

Series A begins previews May 21, opens May 24 (runs through June 19).  Casting for Series B will be announced shortly.

Matthew and the Pastor's Wife by Robert Askins, directed by John Giampetro
Matthew is a small town sinner and Dorothy is the pastor's wife. When they kiss the world starts to fly apart and only something awful can put it back together.

Robert Askins has been commissioned by Divercity Theatre and Baylor University and has been produced in New York, Los Angeles, Prague, Belfast and Waco, Texas. His play critically acclaimed Princes of Waco received a mainstage production at EST last January.

Safe by Ben Rosenthal, directed by Carolyn Cantor
A rug salesman is roused out of bed to bail his stepson out of jail after the boy assaults a girl at a party.

One of EST's newest artist members, Ben Rosenthal's plays include Welcome Back, Buddy Combs, The Bog Lacuna and The Monkey Puzzle Tree.

Turnabout by Daniel Reitz, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel
An actor in trouble summons the courage to invite his bitter ex-boyfriend for coffee, not in search of closure or rekindling but to ask a tremendous favor of his ex's newfound wealth.

Daniel Reitz's most recent play, Studies For A Portrait, is currently running Off-West End at the King's Head Theatre in London. His screenplays include Urbania (Lionsgate Films), which he adapted from his play Urban Folk Tales. His Self-Portrait in a Blue Room was in EST's 2007 Marathon.

Where the Children Are by Amy Fox, based on an original story by Caitlin Shetterly and Amy Fox, directed by Abigail Zealey Bess
This play has five parents of soldiers serving overseas finding ways to support their children and hold onto hope.

Playwright and screenwriter Amy Fox has been produced by theaters in New York, London, San Francisco, Austin, and St. Paul. She adapted her one-act Heights into a feature film produced by Merchant Ivory.

Wild Terrain by Adam Kraal, directed by Richmond Hoxie
Two scrappy seniors battle over love, art and the relativity of memory as they navigate their fiery relationship.

Adam Kraar has had plays produced and developed by Primary Stages, N.Y. Stage and Film, Public Theatre, Urban Stages, Theatreworks U.S.A, GeVa Theatre and others.

Series A Performance Schedule:
Previews May 21, at 7:00pm, May 22, at 2:00pm and 7:00pm, and May 23 at 7:00pm;
Opens May 24 at 7:00pm, and runs May 27, 28 and 29 and June 11, 14, 17 and 19 at 7:00pm with matinees May 29 and June 12 at 2:00pm, May 30 at 3pm and June 6 at 5:00pm.

Series B begins previews June 5, opens June 10 (runs through June 26)

Airborne by Laura Jacqmin, directed by TBA
During Private Margaret Jensen's airborne training, something goes horribly wrong - and she won't let her CO forget it.

Laura Jacqmin was the winner of the 2008 Wasserstein Prize for emerging female playwrights and has had work produced at Steppenwolf, Ars Nova, Second Stage, Chicago Dramatists and more.

Amateurs by David Auburn, directed by Harris Yulin
A young woman confronts the political operative whom she believes destroyed her father's career.

David Auburn is a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright whose work includes Proof, An Upset (Marathon 2008), The Journals of Mihail Sebastian, and Skyscraper.

Anniversary by Rachel Bonds, directed by Linsay Firman
While beginning a new relationship after a great loss, a young woman confronts the promises of time pushing forward and the persistent tug of memories left behind.

Brooklyn-based playwright and performer Rachel Bonds has worked with Columbia Stages, Ars Nova, SITI Co., Polybe + Seats and Subjective Theatre Company, and is a member of The Jam, New Georges' lab for emerging women theatermakers.

Interviewing Miss Davis by Laura Maria Censabella, directed by Kel Haney
Bette Davis is interviewing a replacement for her beloved assistanT. Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night.

Laura Maria Censabella is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter whose work has been seen in productions and festivals around the world. She is the Director of EST's Playwrights Unit.

They Float Up by Jacquelyn Reinhold, directed by TBA
A funny-sad play about topless dancing in New Orleans, getting old in the Finger Lakes, and how to move on after you've lost what you most love.

Jacquelyn Reingold's credits include the play String Fever (produced at EST starring Cynthia Nixon) and HBO's "In Treatment", for which she wrote the Mia episodes for Hope Davis and Gabriel Byrne.

Series B Performance Schedule:
Previews June 5, at 2:00pm and 7:00pm, June 7 and June 9 at 7:00pm;
Opens June 10 at 7:00pm, and runs June 12, 18, 21, 23, 24, 25 and 26 at 7:00pm with matinees June 13 and 20 at 3:00pm and June 19 and 26 at 2:00pm.

Ensemble Studio Theatre < www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org> is a not-for-profit developmental Theatre Incorporated in 1972 with two primary goals: to nurture individual theatre artists and to develop new American plays. Under the guidance of the late founder Curt Dempster, the theatre's membership grew from a core of 20 artists to a flourishing community of over 500 theatre artists of the highest caliber. Among them are winners of accolades and higher awards including Pulitzer Prizes, Oscars, Tonys, Emmys, and Obies. The Ensemble 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, workshops and fully produced mainstage full-lengths.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre is located at 549 West 52nd Street, west of Tenth Avenue. Ensemble Studio Theatre 2010 Marathon single tickets are $18 and a Two Series Pass is $30. To order tickets call 866.811.4111 or click < www.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/134>.