City Theatre Announces Four Original Plays Set for MOMENTUM

City Theatre announces four original plays set for MOMENTUM, the theatre's annual festival of new plays at different stages. This year's selection of works highlights the intricacies of human relationships-chance encounters with strangers; a look back at a life lived in the spotlight; serendipity in a lonely city; and competition on and off the playing field.

MOMENTUM is a celebration of new theatrical works featuring readings, workshops, panels, and conversation. The festival is a chance for audiences to not only see four new works in their earliest incarnations, but also to get to know the process of creating new plays and to glimpse inside the minds of the playwrights.

"MOMENTUM is vital to our mission as a home for playwrights and new play development," says Tracy Brigden, City Theatre's Artistic Director. "The festival provides an opportunity for writers to hear their work performed in front of an audience and a creative community, and that has impact. Two years ago, we featured a workshop of Tami Dixon's South Side Stories. Subsequently, Tami's first foray into playwriting enjoyed an extended run during City Theatre's main season. In addition, due to popular demand, we're bringing South Side Stories back to our stage next January as a special presentation. This progression exemplifies the goal of MOMENTUM-to launch new plays into their next phase of development. This year, we're excited to welcome playwright Willy Holtzman back to City after his success here with The Morini Strad. His music-filled play, Holliday with Mulligan, is a City Theatre commission. In addition, Opus playwright Michael Hollinger returns to City with his brand new play, Hope and Gravity. Audiences will have the opportunity to watch this absorbing play progress from a reading at MOMENTUM to a fully-produced show on our Mainstage during the 2013-2014 season. We'll also feature Andy Bragen's play Don't You F*cking Say a Word. Focused on a competitive relationship between two men, but told through the perspective of two women, this script uniquely portrays two sides of the same story. Likewise, Anna Ziegler's Variations on a Themeaddresses the theme of relationships through a variety of lenses. We're thrilled to feature these gifted writers throughout the festival weekend."

$20 four-day pass; $5 per show

Available by phone at 412.431.CITY (2489) or online at www.citytheatrecompany.org