Villagers New Playwrights Series

The Villagers Theatre in Somerset, NJ is accepting submissions for the 2005 New Playwrights Series of original plays. Selected plays will be presented as staged readings in the Zaidi Black Box Theatre on Monday evenings in February 2005. The playwrights are requested to attend the readings to participate in discussions with the audience.

Scripts must be original, unpublished works. We welcome all comedies, dramas and farces of professional quality. There is no limit on cast size, although smaller casts (under 8 characters) are preferred. We also prefer shows designed to be performed on one set, with an eye toward future community theatre productions. One-act plays and shorter scripts will be considered, in addition to full-length scripts. There are no restrictions for content or language, as this series is presented for an adult audience. Musical plays will not be considered.

The goal of the Villagers New Playwrights Series is to provide playwrights with an opportunity to glimpse the performance potential of their works in progress. Additional goals are to provide alternative performance opportunities for our local actors and directors and to expose our local audiences to new works. All submissions will be considered for their potential to fulfill these goals. Due to the fact that Villagers programs are supported, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/ Department of State (a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program), preference will be given to New Jersey resident playwrights.

Please submit original scripts to Catherine Rowe Pherson, c/o The Villagers Theatre, PO Box 6175, 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08875. The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2004. Playwrights who wish their scripts returned should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with their submissions. Playwrights whose work is not chosen will be notified of the final selections only if they provide an SASE.

Any questions may be directed via e-mail to catherine@villagerstheatre.com

THE LITTLE FOXES

Westfield Community Players
proudly presents

THE LITTLE FOXES
by Lillian Hellman

Directed by
JOANN SCANLON

Featuring
PAUL BETTYS - FRED CUOZZO - JAMES GRANT
MEGAN GUINAN - TOM HODGE - DAVID HOFFMAN
NENA SMITH JENKINS - LYNN LANGONE
CATHERINE ROWE - MARK SZABO

Performance Dates:
October 9, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29 & 30, 2004
8:00 PM

Tickets $15.00

For Reservations call 908-232-1221

Westfield Community Players
1000 North Avenue West
Westfield, NJ

'ART'

How much would you pay for an all-white painting? That’s the question explored in 'ART' by Yasmina Reza (English translation by Christopher Hampton). 'ART' is the first production of the season in the critically acclaimed Black Box Series at Villagers Theatre, a nonprofit center for the performing and cultural arts. The production will be directed by Rob Pherson of Somerset, who studied theatre at the University of Arizona. His wife, Catherine Rowe Pherson, will take the reins of producer.

The original French production of 'ART' won the Moliere Award for Best Play, Best Production and Best Author. It concerns Serge (Tom Stevenson of Princeton), who spends a fortune on an all-white painting, thus provoking a quarrel with his best friend, Marc (Jeff Maschi of Highland Park), who is outraged by this act of extravagance. A third man, Ivan (Danny Siegel of Princeton), attempts unsuccessfully to placate both sides. The play offers a profoundly funny look at friendship, rivalry and the nature of art. Jack Kroll of Newsweek said "It's an actor's dream, a nonstop cross-fire of crackling language, serious issues of life and art expressed in outbursts that sound like Don Rickles with a degree from the Sorbonne."

The Villagers Theatre is located at 415 DeMott Lane in Somerset, NJ 08873. Performances of 'ART' will be at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, October 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23. There will be one Sunday matinee at 2:00 on October 17. All general admission tickets are $12. For reservations and directions to the theatre call the box office at 732-873-2710. Further information about the Villagers Theatre is available on our website at www.villagerstheatre.com

This program is made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/ Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program.