Orlando Shakespeare Theater presents PLAYFEST 2017: Round 2!

PlayFest presented by Harriett's Charitable Trust offers you the rare opportunity to participate in the development of new plays. Now expanded to two weekends of development and growth, PlayFest now has more to see, learn, and love!

The second weekend of PlayFest will feature groundbreaking new works from Miranda Rose Hall, Deneen Reynolds-Knott, and Eric Pfeffinger. In addition, audiences will see the first stage readings of Mark St. Germain's adaptation of John Updike's bestselling novel, Gertrude and Claudius. This prequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet has been commissioned by Orlando Shakes and is scheduled to world premiere in 2019 as part of our 30th Season.

November 3 - 5, 2017, Orlando Shakespeare Theater in the Margeson TheaterJohn and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 East Rollins Street, Orlando, FL 32803

Gertrude and Claudius

An Adaptation by Mark St Germain of John Updike's novel

Sunday, November 5, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.

John Updike's bestselling novel tells the story of Gertrude and Claudius, the "villains" of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Claudius is the killer of Hamlet's father and usurper of the Danish throne and Gertrude-Claudius' lusty consort-marries him before her late husband's body is cold. But in this imaginative "prequel" to the play, Updike makes a case for the royal couple that Shakespeare only hinted at. Gertrude and Claudius are seen afresh against a background of fond intentions and family dysfunction, on a stage darkened by the ominous shadow of a sullen, erratic, disaffected prince.

DIRECTOR: Jim Helsinger
CAST: Lucy Carney as Gertrude, Eric Zivot* as Claudius, James Putnam as Prince Hamlet, Greg Thornton* as King Rorik, Michael Edwards* as Polonius, Melanie

Human Error By Eric PfeffingerFriday, November 3, 2017 at 8 p.m.

When a fertility clinic mistakenly implants Madelyn and Keenan's embryo in somebody else, an unlikely relationship is forged between two couples with wildly different backgrounds. A shared pregnancy with Heather and Jim brings out the best and worst in each of them, as they all work to understand one another and build a friendship that at first seems a complete impossibility.Human Error is a comedy that crosses party lines and explores both shared and disparate views.

DIRECTOR: Sharon Ott

CAST: Ashley Pinnock as Madelyn, Isiah Columbus as Keenan, Chris Cox as Jim, Hannah Chiclana as Heather, and Mark S. Davids as Dr. Hoskins.
BatonBy Deneen Reynolds-KnottSaturday, November 4, 2017 at 4:30 p.m.Ava is on a date with Tim, when news breaks about riots in Baltimore where a young black man has died while detained by the police. As tempers on the street reach a fever pitch, Ava and Tim grapple with the specter of police brutality and systemic racism. For Ava another specter is raised as well-that of her life five years earlier when she defended her fiancé for torturing a black man with his baton. When the date ends back at her apartment, Ava has to make decisions about whom she trusts and what she believes.

DIRECTOR: Madeline Sayet

CAST: Sheryl Carbonell as Ava, Stelson Telfort as Tim, Kyle Masteller as Caleb, BeeJay Aubertin-Clinton as Eddie, and Melissa Coakley as Latrice.

The Hour of Great MercyBy Miranda Rose HallSaturday, November 4, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.Bethlehem, Alaska is a tiny town lit by the Northern lights. Roger and Maggie's marriage mirrors the bleak Alaskan landscape as they struggle to come to terms five years after their daughter's death in a hunting accident. Roger's brother Ed returns home uninvited, seeking reconciliation and forgiveness. A haunting and poetic play by recent MFA graduate Miranda Rose Hall.

DIRECTOR: Cynthia White

CAST: Dan Bright* as Ed, Earl D. Weaver* as Roger, Anne Hering* as Maggie, and Mia Katigbak* as Irma, and Shonn McCloud* as Joseph.
PLAYFEST SPECIAL EVENTS

PlayFest Party!Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Buffet dinner provided by Spoleto - My Italian KitchenJoin the featured PlayFest 2017 playwrights and directors for an exclusive PlayFest Party in the Patron's Lounge.

TICKET INFORMATION PRICINGTickets to individual PlayFest readings - $10PlayFest Party - $12 (Only 30 slots available.)

Additional support for PlayFest presented by Harriett's Charitable Trust is provided by Frank Santos & Dan Dantin and the National New Play Network. This project is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program. Funding for the commission of Gertrude and Claudius generously provided by Rita and John Lowndes. Orlando Shakespeare Theater recognizes its PlayFest Patrons: John & Rita Lowndes, Marilyn Goldman, Dr. Mary Palmer, and Simon & Ellen Snyder.