Midtown International Theatre Festival: FREE STAGED READINGS

STAGED READINGS

He Is

written by Dana F. Joseph
directed by Curtis Von
choreographed by Tanisha Harris-Martin
produced by Faythjo Productions

An inspirational adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. We have all heard the story, but not quite like this. Do you want to see what really happened in the Wizard of Oz? Come along on this journey that does not lead you down the Yellow Brick Road. Dee is searching for love, the Scarecrow desires peace, the Lion needs courage, and the Tin Man wants to know if there is really such a thing as joy. They meet a man who gives them a book, but is it just a book? This powerful production will inspire, enlighten and encourage audiences of all ages. With its exquisite singing, imaginative dances, and authentic costumes, this is a must see production.

Show times are as follows:

Thursday, July 26th at 2:00pm
Friday, July 27th at 2:00pm

www.faythjoproductions.com
Running Time: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes

La Tosca! A New Melodramatic Comedy

written and directed by Hector Lugo
produced by Hector Lugo & LGBT Theatre
assistant director Perry Dell’Aquila

La Tosca! is inspired by “La Tosca”, the tragic play by Victorien Sardou and it is the story of Tosca, “The eternal heroine of Love”. In 1887, the great Sarah Bernhardt created the role for the Paris Stage; in 1956 the legendary Maria Callas immortalized her in the Opera. Witness history today as La Contessa, “That Puerto Rican Star of Stage and Stage,” takes on the role of her lifetime in La Tosca!, a new melodramatic comic re-telling of the sordid story of lust, lies and love in 1800’s Rome.
(Industry RSVP and reservations recommended at 917-584-0547.)

Show times are as follows:

Thursday, August 2nd at 1:00pm

Running Time: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes

Love On Ice: a Cryogenic Love Story (musical)

book and lyrics by Bill Nagel
music by Kevin Conners
directed by Peter Flynn
musical direction by Amy Duran

What would you do to live with the one you love forever?

Show times are as follows:

Tuesday, July 31 at 3:00pm

Running Time: Two Hour, 15 Minutes (with one intermission)

Moishe and Mohammad (drama)

written, produced and directed by Phillip W. Weiss
featuring: Bruce Zayde and Phillip W. Weiss

Moishe is an Israeli Jew, Mohammed a Palestinian Arab. In a free-wheeling, no-holds-barred discussion, sparks fly as both men hurl charges and countercharges at each other, each blaming the other side for causing the Arab-Israeli conflict. Although both men offer frank and compelling arguments, neither is willing to make concessions. Can their differences ever be resolved? Can the chasm that separates them ever be bridged? Does peace have a chance? This will be the first staged reading of this original and thought-provoking literary work.

Show times are as follows:

Wednesday, July 25th at 3:00pm

Running Time: 75-90 Minutes
Show times are as follows:

Spokes (drama/satire)

by Chance D. Muehleck
directed by Melanie S. Armer
produced by LIVE Theater Company
www.LIVETheater.4t.com
Spokes follows Jay Catrell through the rabbit hole of his psyche. Jay is a student of journalism. He wants a story for his thesis and a position at Spokes International, the largest media group on earth. But when he encounters a number of people all claiming to be Rolin Spokes, Jay realizes he’s uncovered something strange.

Show times are as follows:

Monday, July 30th at 2:30 pm

Running Time is 1hr 50min

Those Whistling Lads: The Poems and Short Stories of Dorothy Parker (comedy/drama)
adapted and written by Maureen Van Trease
produced by TimeSpace Theatre Company

www.timespacetc.com

Those Whistling Lads is a staged reading that explores the stories, poems and life of Dorothy Parker. As a member of the famed Algonquin Round Table of the 1920’s and a critic of books and plays, Dorothy Parker became one of the best known writers for The New Yorker magazine during the 20’s and 30’s and was especially famous for her stinging and sarcastic witticisms. A fairly prolific writer who claimed that writing was the most difficult thing for her to do, she published 3 volumes of poetry and two volumes of short stories. The five stories presented here, accompanied by thematically related poems, offer a light-hearted look at the relationship between men and women and also to delve into Dorothy’s personal life, exploring the experiences that are the basis for the stories.

“The author wishes to thank the National Association For The Advancement of Colored

People for authorizing the use of Dorothy Parker’s works.”
Show times

Friday, August 3rd at 1:30 pm

Running Time: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes

Zuly in the Last Place on Earth (musical for kids and adults)

book and lyrics by Anthea Fane
score by John Chin and Christina Kulick
directed by Mercedes Murphy

Zuly in the Last Place on Earth is a musical for family audiences about overcoming fears, and finding peaceful ways to solve conflicts. The story takes place in a junkyard, where two gangs of dogs are at war. Our hero, Zuly, comes from a long line of fighters, and it is believed that he will win the war for the mutts, who have suffered years of neglect and abuse. Zuly, however, is not the dog everyone thinks he should be. When faced with his opponent, he bursts into song. Shamed and banished from his community, he must find a way to bring peace to his fellow dogs. Through self-transformation, an idea borrowed from ancient myths such as the Native American Coyote stories, Zuly finds another way to end the war. As both sides of the war are ruled by fear, Zuly devises a plan to end the fear, thus ending the war. Finally, both Zuly and his opponent must learn to accept their own faults and fears. They may not have the answers but at least they are willing to try to dream of a peaceful world.

Show times are as follows:

Wednesday, August 1st at 3:00pm
Thursday, August 2nd at 3:30pm

Running Time: 1 Hour, 15 Minutes