BroadwayWorld: MCC Theater Announces FreshPlay Fest Line-Up

By: Molly Hagan

Aug. 06, 2010

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced its annual FreshPlay Festival of new plays by members of the youth company. The FreshPlay Festival merges the voices and creativity of urban youth with the experience of professionals, creating provocative, innovative and fresh theater. This year, the FreshPlay Festival will focus on the workshop process with ten original plays penned by MCC Theater Youth Company playwrights. These young writers will work with a roster of professional directors, actors and peers from the Youth Company's Acting Lab.

The MCC Theater Youth Company is a free after-school program for New York City public school students, ages 14 -20, who are interested in acting and playwriting. The Youth Company is designed to inspire young people to find and express their voices through the creation and performance of original theater pieces, while providing them with a safe artistic environment in which to grow and learn.

Due to the developmental nature of this year's festival, viewing opportunities are not available to the general public.

The FreshPlay Festival creative team includes Lucy Thurber (Artistic Director), Glenn Grieves (Producer), Julissa Contreras (Playwriting Lab Assistant), Alex Bisker (Production Assistant), and Jahnesha Huertes (Production Assistant).

To make a donation or to learn more about supporting MCC's Youth Company Program, please visit mcctheater.org or call MCC's development department at (212) 727-7722 ext. 233

This year's FreshPlays include:

The Best
By Lisa Purrone
Directed by Daniella Shoshan

A Perpetual Escape (of mind and body)
By Eve Anne Montague Cantler
Directed by Jenna Worsham

Daniel
By Julissa Contreras
Directed by Darren Murphy

Untitled
By Korrina Cragnotti
Directed by Bob Devin Jones

The Lazy Artist
By Jarett Granum
Directed by Donya Washington

Watching the Thunder
By Adam Gonzalez
Directed by John Michael DiResta

When you get a Chance
By Valentina Meyers
Directed by Tracy Bersley

God Bless
By Yasha Gruben
Directed by Darren Murphy

He's Enlightened
By Ren Santiago
Directed by Charlotte Miller

Parallel Pro Teen
By Syretta Henry
Directed by Dylan Levers