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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend October 13, 2006 James McLindon In search of the United States' next great playwright Ashland New Plays Festival takes the stage Oct. 16-22 Ashland New Plays Festival will presents program of readings of four new plays the week of Oct. 16-22. "I want people to start getting the big picture of what we're doing," board president Janet Rodkey said. "We're looking for the next great American playwright and the audience participation part is critical." Audiences are invited to hear the keynote address, see the plays, make comments after the plays, meet the playwrights and attend their workshops. The keynote address "What to Feed a Playwright?" will be delivered by Robert Koon at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, as part of the Festival Kick-off at Carpenter Hall, Ashland. Koon heads up the Playwrights Network program at Chicago Dramatists which offers opportunities for beginning and emerging playwrights. Twenty-three play readers pored over more than 300 submitted scripts before deciding on the four that will be read. Advertisement 'We're hoping to find plays that are going to go on from this reading," Rodkey said. The play readings will feature directors and casts drawn from the professional and amateur theater community. This year's program includes: "At The Heart of Art" by Lydia Bruce and Andrew Burns, directed by Michael Meyer. An aspiring painter, striving to achieve recognition with her new abstract style, supports herself as a curator at a publicly funded museum in New York City. An ambitious lawyer for the city enters her life via an Internet dating service. Events get complicated when she sponsors a controversial new exhibit entitled Shockwave, and he takes the lead for the city in trying to block the sensational exhibit. At the heart of the matter is the definition of art itself and the political ramifications of free expression. As the characters grapple with these issues they come to some new discoveries about themselves. Co-writers Bruce and Burns have written three full-length plays and several short plays. Their works have been produced or read in Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Alaska and New York. They recently received the Audience Choice award for their comedy "SPAM!" at the Playwrights Platform Festival of New Plays. "The Garden of Dromore" by James McLindon, directed by Liisa Ivary. On the eve of trial, a devout Irish-Catholic family in Boston is offered a settlement of their lawsuit by the Roman Catholic Church, provided that all members agree to remain silent about their son's sexual abuse at the hands of a priest. Family members clash over their conflicting desires. Should the pain of a trial be avoided at all costs? Should revenge be exacted on those responsible? Should they accept a cash settlement? Will the family at last find peace? McLindon's plays have been developed and/or produced throughout the country. He has won numerous awards for his work, including nomination for a Joseph Jefferson Citation in Chicago. His play, "Distant Music," was a finalist for the Kaufman and Hart Prize for New American Comedy. In addition to plays, he has published numerous short pieces in Yankee Magazine and the Boston Phoenix, and has written for the Harvard Law Review. "Why'd Ya Make Me Wear This, Joe?" by Vanda, directed by Caroline Shaffer. The play tells the story of two women who fall in love with each other while their fiancés are in the South Pacific fighting in World War II. Vanda received an Edward Albee Fellowship in 2004 and a Brown Foundation Grant in 2006. Her play, "Vile Affections," appeared in the New York International Fringe Festival in August 2006. She has won numerous awards and citations for her work and has had several one-act plays produced throughout the country. She is a full-time assistant professor at Metropolitan College of New York. "Exit Polls" by Daniel C. Beck, directed by Lenny Neimark. The play explores the dark side of the American political landscape through the world of campaigns and tabloid journalism. Set in Portland, it takes us behind the scenes of a political marriage where ambitions and personal values clash. What does it take to "win" and what defines success? After 20 years as a political operative and campaign consultant, Dan Beck abandoned politics to pursue playwriting. A political satire, "Nixon's Woody," was a finalist at the 2006 Long Beach Playhouse New Works Festival in 2006. Beck is the president of the board of directors of Moving Arts, a nonprofit theater company in Los Angeles. Schedule of Events Monday, Oct. 16 Festival Kick-off at Carpenter Hall. 6:30 p.m. Reception for playwrights, directors, actors, volunteers, board members, by invitation. 7:30 p.m. Keynote address by host playwright Robert Koon, open to the public. Wednesday, Oct. 18 8 p.m. "At The Heart of Art" by Lydia Bruce and Andrew S. Burns Thursday, Oct. 19 10-11:30 a.m. Play-writing workshop, "The Ten-Minute Play" led by Robert Koon 2 p.m. "The Garden of Dromore" by James McLindon 8 p.m. "Why'd Ya Make Me Wear This, Joe?" by Vanda Friday, Oct. 20 10-11:30 a.m. Play writing workshop, "Creating Effective Dialogue" led by James McLindon 2 p.m. "At The Heart of Art" 8 p.m. "Exit Polls" by Daniel C. Beck Saturday, Oct. 21 10-11:30 a.m. Play-writing workshop, "Collaboration in Play Writing: Focus on Comedy" led by Lydia Bruce and Andrew S. Burns 2 p.m. "Exit Polls" 8 p.m. "The Garden of Dromore" Sunday, Oct. 22 2 p.m. "Why'd Ya Make Me Wear This, Joe?" See " target="_blank">www.ashlandnewplays.org Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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