Black Box New Play Festival

Thurs, Fri, Sat @ 7:30pm
Sun @ 3:00pm

Gallery has a history of supporting emerging playwrights, fostering play development, and producing world premieres. Our playwright-focused festival, returning to the stage this season, aims to polish a collection of short new plays and create an exciting presentation of theater over the three-week run.

Week One: Jan. 19 – 22, 2023

• The Tree
  Playwright, Barbara Anderson
  Director, Saki Kawamura

  An old man. An old woman. A tree. Sometimes it takes inspiration to say what needs to be said and one never knows what that source of inspiration will be.

• Facelift
  Playwright, Diane Sampson
  Director, Zoe Senese-Grossberg

  Two sisters argue with and about their elderly father and his imaginary friend. Is he losing it, or is he, just maybe, the wisest of them all?

• Arm’s Length Romance (A Duologue)
  Playwright, John Busser
  Director, Gregory Lipson

  They love you just as far away as you are.

• Ledge
  Playwright, Robert Cullinane
  Director, Kevin Bain

  A chance meeting on a skyscraper ledge has lifelong consequences for two strangers.

• Wrong Side of the Tracks
  Playwright, Vicki Riba Koestler
  Director, Justin Braun

  Dahlia and Paul have an agenda for the lunch they’re about to host. Their guest will be an important one, and everything has to be just-so. But when someone else arrives just before their expected visitor, the couple’s plans become much more complicated.

• Sorry Doesn’t Have to Mean Good Bye-Bye
  Playwright, Glenn Alterman
  Director, Michelle Silva

  Sam has finally had the courage to end his long term relationship with Sue – in a very dramatic way. Sue is not happy at all. As the two try to resolve their issues, it becomes clear that this will not be an easy breakup. As they argue we begin to learn the true nature of their relationship.

• Fast Times
  Playwright, David Susman
  Director, Thomas Netter

  When a busy, high-powered married couple tries to pull off an afternoon tryst the results are less than satisfying.

Week Two: Jan. 26 – 29, 2023

• Desperately Seeking Anonymity
  Playwright, Mark Eisman
  Director, Leah Abrams

  His name has only recently become notorious. Hers has always been.

• Mackie
  Playwright, Jeff Carter
  Director, Brendan Clifford

  When Mackie McNeal, the tough manager of a run down residential hotel is hospitalized, only two people sit in the waiting room attendant on his condition; his middle-aged son, and Mackie’s hotel handyman.

• Reunion
  Playwright, George Sapio
  Director, Kelleen Moriarty

  What started out as a long-overdue apology has turned into a mission of spite.

• Proximity
  Playwright, Patrick McEvoy
  Director, Seraphina Violet Cueller

  Ever wonder? That’s what Charles wanted to know from Urlana after hearing sirens outside. They talk about different possibilities before their next door neighbor, Landra, knocks and tells them something violent happened. They go outside to check it out, but when Charles returns, he wonders who is lurking nearby.

Week Three: Feb. 2 – 5, 2023

• Open Table
  Playwright, Ken Levine
  Director, Gabrielle Giacomo

  A young couple and a mountain man dine at an unusual restaurant at the top of a mountain and wind up questioning their lives.

• Taking Over Your Life
  Playwright, David James
  Director, Emma Cavage

  A family is concerned that their eldest son has become an addict and so they organize an intervention to save his life.

• Forgetting to Forgive
  Playwright, Glenn Alterman
  Director, Ted Thompson

  While watching TV, Mom takes too many pills. She calls her son who rushes to her home. As they discuss why she took the pills and then reminisce about their lives, mother and son realize how very much alike they are.

• When You Can Get the Milk for Free
  Playwright, Judd Lear Silverman
  Director, Alysia Homminga

  In an age of rebranding and repackaging, as new generations rise to power and where any old icon can be tossed out on the trash heap, some hard changes are made at Farmwood Hills Dairy (and Amusement Parks) with some rather devastating results.

• A Dozen Paper Tissue Roses
  Playwright, Tuyet Thi Pham
  Director, Elizabeth Bove

  After a long absence, two former lovers meet for coffee after one seeks out the other to return a gift.

• The Morning After
  Playwright, Kris Thompson
  Director, Jenn Susi

  Rachel and Paul have been married for ten years, having spent the majority of that time chasing their careers. A year ago they decided they wanted to settle down and start a family, but getting pregnant is not as easy as they thought it would be.

Festival Staff

Producers: Sue Glausen & Dominic Cuskern
Sound Designer: Courtney Seyl
Lighting Designer: Lucas Gomes
Production Stage Manager: Sydnee Drake Peterson