Summer Shorts

John McCormack and J.J. Kandel in association with The Open Book presents Summer Shorts, a festival of new American short plays.

The program offers nine one-act plays, eight having their world premieres, in two separate evenings. The two series will run in rotating repertory (a detailed description and schedule follows below). Summer Shorts represents some of the country’s best writing, directing and acting talents coming together to celebrate theatre, summer and the short form. In one evening of theatre, audiences will be able to sample a diverse range of voices and styles in an elegant and straightforward presentation.

The playwrights contributing to Summer Shorts include John Augustine, Michael Domitrovich, Tina Howe, Skip Kennon, Warren Leight, Leslie Lyles, Eduardo Machado, Tom O’Brien, Keith Reddin, and Randee Smith.

SERIES A:
Thursday August 2 at 8:15 PM, Friday August 3 at 8:15 PM, Saturday August 4 at 2:15 & 8:15 PM, Sunday August 5 at 3:15 PM, Saturday August 11 at 8:15 PM, Tuesday August 14 at 8:15 PM, Friday August 17th at 8:15 PM, Saturday August 18th at 2:15 PM, Tuesday August 21 at 8:15 PM, Wednesday August 22nd at 8:15 PM, Thursday August 23rd at 8:15 PM, Sunday August 26th at 3:15 PM, Tuesday August 28th at 8:15 PM

Amici, Ascoltat By Warren Leight
A son’s imminent departure for Iraq prompts his father to examine the fate of men in his family when sent to war.

Afternoon Tea, Book and Lyrics by Eduardo Machado, Music by Skip Kennon, Directed by Billy Hopkins
A two-character musical about the power of reconciliation. The play tells a story of the later years of the author J.M. Barrie’s life. After twenty years of being apart, Barrie’s wife comes back to reconcile their marriage…but he is still lost in the world of fantasy, youth, and Peter Pan.

Rain, Heavy at Times By Leslie Lyles, Directed by Billy Hopkins
A woman and a wealthy aunt pass a rainy afternoon in a Red Bank New Jersey restaurant, one eye on recently purchased undergarments the other on the bartender.

Real World Experience By Michael Domitrovich, Directed by Eduardo Machado
After splitting up with his girlfriend Roxanne, Jeff is looking for a role he can sink his teeth into. When Jeff’s meeting with Eli, an emerging playwright, starts to go sour, he learns just how flexible the meaning of “reality” can be.

SERIES B:
Wednesday August 8 at 8:15 PM, Thursday August 9th at 8:15 PM, Friday August 10th at 8:15 PM, Saturday August 11th at 2:15 PM, Sunday August 12th at 3:15 PM, Wednesday August 15th at 8:15 PM, Thursday August 16th at 8:15 PM, Saturday August 18th at 8:15 PM, Sunday August 19th at 3:15 PM, Friday August 24th at 8:15 PM, Saturday August 25 at 2:15 & 8:15 PM, Wednesday August 29th at 8:15 PM, Thursday August 30th at 8:15 PM

Skin Deep By Tina Howe
A fleeing nymph with a greenish cast to her skin dashes into the R train late at night. The only other rider is a celebrated dermatologist who happens to be sitting under his own ad. Can he save her?

Merwins Lane By Keith Reddin, Directed by Billy Hopkins
A three character play set in a bus station, strangers meet and find they’re much less strangers than they thought.

Father’s Day By John Augustine, Directed by Daniel Winerman
Augustine takes a look at murder, justice, gun control, and whether or not it is wise for the privileged to volunteer — knowing all the while they could be sued. With the help of the actual transcript from the confession of the man who murdered Augustine’s father… the author attempts to make some sense of murder. Then and Now.

The P.A. Written and Directed by Tom O’Brien
A comic look at the day in the life of a production assistant on a movie set in the streets of New York City. With Ean Sheehy

Windowshine By Randee Smith
Two estranged siblings come together over the impending death of their father, each on their own separate journey, and find that they don’t know how to communicate.