Your Guide to the 2013 Page-to-Stage Festival

12–3 p.m. Field Trip Theatre  .  MILLENNIUM STAGE NORTH
Our Father
by Danielle Mohlman
Thrown together on Christmas Eve, three displaced siblings are forced to confront addiction, religion, and what it really means to “grow up.” Drama. Recommended for mature audiences.

12–2 p.m. Kennedy Center Kenan Fellowship  .  FAMILY THEATER
Before Oscar Was Wilde by Steven Levingston
A comic and bittersweet recounting of Oscar Wilde’s U.S. Tour as a young style-setter of 28. Featuring Aubrey Deeker, Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, and Michael Glenn, directed by Jeremy Skidmore.

12–2:30 p.m. 1st Stage Theatre  .  REHEARSAL ROOM #1
One More Night [FF]
Book, Music and lyrics by Lou Ann K. Behan
Music and lyrics by Gary Fitzgerald
Additional music provided by Gary Cuccurullo
Neither death nor flimsy shoes can stop Queen Caroline, (Napoleon Bonaparte’s youngest sister), while her household in the new Kingdom of Naples is in turmoil. Her husband, King Joachim, is consumed with guilt about her death. Their daughters bicker, snipe and think of clever ways to drive him crazy. The King outlaws all dancing and balls, yet the daughters continue mysterious nightly forays, defying him openly and ruining their slipper like shoes. His scorned former lover, now the Queen of Sicily, plots to overthrow him using her son, the foppish, cruel Prince of Agata. A brash, determined young shoemaker hawks newfangled leather shoes… and he looks familiar. In this re-imagining of a beloved Grimm Brothers’ tale, there is an urgent need to set things right. Promises made long ago must be kept, but Queen Caroline has only One More Night. Musical.

12–2:30 p.m. EMP Collective  .  AFRICAN LOUNGE
Spooky Action at a Distance
by Matthew Buckley Smith
It’s 1971, and with the Vietnam War still grinding on, Simon Pirklowski plays it safe, studying physics at Berkeley to avoid the draft. But when he befriends a shady bartender and agrees to tutor his beautiful wife, Simon finds out just how thrilling uncertainty can be. Drama. Recommended for mature audiences.

12–3 p.m. dog & pony dc  .  NORTH OPERA TIER LOUNGE
Toast Incubator Salon
This is your opportunity to experience the development of a new work from the inside out. DC-based devised theater ensemble dog & pony dc is exploring technological innovation, invention, group process, and creativity in their newest participatory work Toast. d&p dc creates work through collaborative inquiry and artistic experimentations. In creating Toast, d&p dc is trying to distill key ingredients for innovation (i.e. discovery-oriented environments, culture of “tinkering,” “liquid networks”) and apply them in a multi-media, participatory performance that fully and transparently harnesses the audience as a resource integral for the completion of the show in performance. Which is where you come in! d&p dc brings their public devising events, Toast Incubator Salons, to Page-to-Stage. Inspired by TED talks and literary salons, these events pair a scientific discussion-demo with performances of works-in-progress from Toast, and culminate in a full-group devising activity. At this Toast Incubator Salon, participants will take in the first-look at the prologue to Toast (examining the relationship between artistic movements and scientific discoveries over time) and then work in small groups to edit, revise, or completely reimagine the script and staging. Participatory Theater.

1–2:30 p.m. Seventh Street Playhouse  .  REHEARSAL ROOM #2
Eugenio
by Anthony E. Gallo
This fact-based, two-act drama deals with that tragic period in Italy during the Holocaust when 1,500 Jews were sent to their deaths at Auschwitz. It touches on the role of the Church and the Holocaust, and examines forgiveness amidst three conversions. Rome’s aloof and scholarly Chief Rabbi Israel Zolli loses faith following the apparent slaughter of his Polish family. He receives asylum in the Vatican, where he comes to appreciate Jesus as God suffering for humanity. The Rabbi rediscovers faith and converts to Roman Catholicism. This is seen as a betrayal of his spiritual duty and a defection to the age-old enemy. Was his conversion one of conviction or merely gratitude? What does he demand at his baptism that eventually removes a major symbol of discrimination? Drama.

2–5 p.m. Faction of Fools  .  NORTH PLAZA
Three Musketeers [FF]
DC’s commedia dell’arte theatre company presents a unique version of this audience favorite outside.

2–5 p.m. Catholic University of America  .   MILLENNIUM STAGE SOUTH
Conversations I’ve Never Had
by Kathleen Cole Burke
A young woman hoping to find out who she is searches for herself in situations she’s never encountered.
Soldier W
by Kathleen Cole Burke
A soldier shows up on his best friend’s doorstep, home from the Iraq war, and totally unable to speak to her.
Prufrock
adapted by Teri Gilmor
based on The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot
Shrewd housemaid Marta adores the agoraphobic pianist James Prufrock, but it’s hopeless – not only is James her employer, he’s desperately in love with the beautiful and haughty Elizabeth. On the eve of Elizabeth’s wedding, James sets out to stage the perfect evening in her honor – music, conversation, tea and cakes and ices. Will Marta and James find the courage to confess their feelings before it’s too late?
Circulation
by Robert Montenegro
Library employee Chase experienced a true and rare moment of Zen while in the restroom but now finds himself unable to share his secret with an eager co-worker. Recommended for ages 13 and up.
Bite Me
by Amanda Zeitler
An absurdist 10-minute play in which a shark attempts to sign up for swimming lessons at his local community pool, but is denied access by the desk attendant. Recommended for ages 13 and up.
Life Intercepted
by Robert Montenegro
A high school football player wakes up in heaven only to find that it’s not operated quite the tight ship he had anticipated.

2–5:30 p.m. Georgetown University Theater and Performance Studies  .  TERRACE THEATER
Polk Street
by T. Chase Meachum
Polk Street: an end-of-the-line stop for people who are running from pieces of the past. It is a cradle of rebirth, for some, and a gutter for most. It is a place of sex and drugs – of love, and things that feel like it. It is a nest for runaways, lost children, drag queens, ministers, strippers, hustlers, druggies, artists, gays, and others who dream of freedom and dancing, of new lives with pasts. But, for all its inhabitants, for better or worse – Polk Street is home. Drama. Recommended for mature audiences.

3:30–5:30 p.m. Timeless Visual Works  .  REHEARSAL ROOM #1
Time Will Tell… Stage 1
Written, directed, and produced by Ollie L. Jefferson
Time Will Tell…Stage 1 introduces the timeless true story of a young woman full of dreams, coming of age and on her way to harsh reality. Travel through time with her as she recounts the decisions made in creating her life. Experience the journey of growing pains as she looked for love in all the wrong places. Based on the memoir to inspire daughters from all walks of life to turn from dead-end roads and step into their divine destiny. Drama. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

4–5:15 p.m. Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences and VSA  .  FAMILY THEATER
Mockingbird [FF]
by Julie Jensen from the novel by Kathryn Erskine
Caitlin’s world has always been black and white. As a girl with Asperger’s syndrome, she has always relied on her older brother Devon to help her make sense of the world outside of her favorite textbooks and dictionaries. Suddenly, tragedy strikes and Caitlin is left on her own. But with the help of a new friend, her school advisor, and her father, Caitlin begins to see that maybe what everyone needs is closure. Adapted by Julie Jensen from Kathryn Erskine’s National Book Award-winning novel, and directed by Tracy Callahan, Mockingbird is a new theater for young audiences play in development that shows how black and white are complemented by vibrant colors, which are beautiful and necessary for healing.

4–6 p.m. The National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts  .  REHEARSAL ROOM #2
The Good Devil, In Spite of Himself
by Mario Baldessari & Tyler Herman
Come enjoy the comedic travails of a 17th century commedia troupe besieged by an official decree that forbids them from using dialogue in their plays. The royally imposed restriction sends the comedy troupe on a rollercoaster ride of comic invention as they seek to successfully skirt the dialogue police! Comedy. Recommended for mature audiences.

4–6:30 p.m. The Playwrights’ Gymnasium  .  AFRICAN LOUNGE
Falwell
by Bob Bartlett
It’s been over eight years since Harlan Hodgson has left his tiny apartment. But, when his hateful dog, Falwell (an obese black lab), unexpectedly expires and 20-something newlywed interns Stephen and Sarah move next door, the outside world like never before beckons – and Harlan hears it. Comedy. Recommended for mature audiences.

4–6:30 p.m. The Indian Ocean Theatre Company  .  NORTH OPERA TIER LOUNGE
In to the Out Side & D.C. al Coda
by John Sowalsky
Samuel Beckett meets the Marx Brothers in this self-deconstructing absurdist comedy. Comedy.

6–7 p.m. Arts on the Horizon  .  MILLENNIUM STAGE NORTH
The Young Spectaculars and the Front Yard Adventure [FF]
Meet brother and sister, Andrew and Emma–aka The Young Spectaculars! Energized by their super-powered imaginations, but stuck creating their own adventures near the front porch, they save a cat and a picnic lunch before stumbling upon more than they bargained for. Join the Young Spectaculars for this show intended for the little hero inside all of us. Recommended for children ages 2 to 5.

7:30–10:30 p.m. African-American Collective Theater  .  TERRACE THEATER
Aural Sex
by Alan Sharpe
Readings of short plays chronicling the contemporary black, gay experience. Drama. Recommended for mature audiences.

7:30–9:30 p.m. Safe Streets Arts Foundation  .  FAMILY THEATER
Compilation of plays by inmates across America that reflect their regrets, hopes, and aspirations. Drama/Music. Recommended for mature audiences.

7:30–9:30 p.m. American Ensemble Theater  .  REHEARSAL ROOM #1
The Law of Return
by Martin Blank
A spy thriller inspired by the mid-1980s Jay Pollard spy case set in Washington, D.C.

7:30–9:30 p.m. Crash of Rhinos  .  REHEARSAL ROOM #2
Doubting Thomas
by Mario Baldessari
Tom’s been diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer. When modern medicine fails him, he’s urged to seek out Thomas of God, a mysterious faith healer in Mexico, who is believed to channel the spirit of Saint Thomas Aquinas. The actual spirit of Thomas Aquinas, however, has other plans in store for Tom, his family and friends. Doubting Thomas is a comedy about life, death, and life-or-death situations. Comedy. Recommended for mature audiences.

7:30–9:30 p.m. Playwrights Group of Baltimore  .  AFRICAN LOUNGE
It Happened in the Harbor
Various 10-minute plays discussing Baltimore harbors. Comedy/Drama. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

7:30–9:30 p.m. Theater Alliance  .  NORTH OPERA TIER LOUNGE
Risk and Return
The members of DC Area Playwrights Group on Facebook were issued the following challenge by Theatre Alliance: Write a short piece for the stage on an issue/topic/idea that scares you to write about. It should be relevant to the DC metro area. It should have an element of danger and risk. It should matter, to you and to your audience. This presentation showcases a selection of short works by the playwrights who accepted the challenge.

8–10 p.m. MetroStage  .  MILLENNIUM STAGE NORTH
Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song
Book by Lee Summers
Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Maurice Hines
Featuring Freda Payne
Hosted by Maurice Hines
Ella along with her cousin/traveling companion, Georgiana, and her manager Norman Granz tell her on and offstage stories. This production explores Ella’s start as a homeless street dancer, winning an amateur night at the Apollo Theatre at age 15 which launched her on to the national stage, headlining with Chick Webb and his orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom, to performing live at the Cote D’Azur. From scat to bebop, this play will show the fascinating journey of a legendary artist. Musical.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

6–7 p.m. VSA Playwrights .  MILLENNIUM STAGE SOUTH
The nine winners of the 29th Annual Playwright Discovery Performance competition and their winning scripts will be celebrated, and excerpts of a few scripts will be performed as staged readings.

Monday, September 2, 2013

11 a.m.–3 p.m. The Inkwell: Plays in Progress . MILLENNIUM STAGE NORTH
An afternoon of Inklings and an Inkwell showcase. The afternoon of Inklings will include six 10 minute readings of local playwrights works in development with The Inkwell including plays by Danielle Mohlman, Noelle Vinas, Kitty Felde, Rick Massamo, Jason Wells, and Gina Fierra. The Inkwell Showcase will include two 20 minute readings of plays further along in the Inkwell’s development process. These plays include Gwydion Sulieban’s The Great Dismal and a new musical by Krista Knight titled Salamander Leviathan. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

1–2 p.m. Bowie State University . TERRACE GALLERY
A Mile in My Shoes [FF]
by Jennifer L. Nelson
A Mile in My Shoes is a series of linked original playlets that illuminate moments in the lives of families from various backgrounds. An ensemble employs a wide variety of shoes to bring to life humorous and touching stories resonant for children and parents.

1–2:30 p.m. Baltimore Playwrights Festival . SOUTH ATRIUM FOYER
A showcase of summer productions including: Countdown to the Happy Day by Thomas W. Stephens, When The Letter Writers Have All Died by Tricia Schwaab, Sick Stories, Gentle Granddaddy by S. Ann Johnson, and The Rainbow Plays by Rich Espey. Recommended for ages 13 and up.
Countdown to the Happy Day
by Thomas W. Stephens
A two-character drama that depicts the unlikely involvement of Gertie, 30s/40s and a self-inflicted street person; and Cervin, a hulking 15-year-old. From their initial encounter on a nighttime city street, the two are chary of each other and emotionally combustible. Gertie, a troubled Army vet, resists being drawn into the world of Cervin, a seventh-grade dropout. Their relationship, nonetheless, grows ever more overlaid, complex, and inevitable.
When The Letter Writers Have All Died
by Tricia Schwaab
Lori comes to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to connect with the father she never met and to be alone in the presence of others. She meets Andrew, a college student doing research for a paper. When he tries to strike up a conversation, Lori appears to be uninterested in being friends with him. But Andrew persists and Lori finds herself looking forward to spending time with him. As their friendship develops, Andrew discovers Lori’s secret, and he’s troubled by what he learns. He’s not sure he can bear losing Lori, whom he cares about, so soon after meeting her. Andrew decides to share his own battle with depression in order to save Lori from her inner demons. Interwoven with the stories of others who visit the wall, Lori and Andrew’s story is about finding their individual paths to healing.
Sick Stories, Gentle Granddaddy
by S. Ann Johnson
Little Miss Mabelle would describe her maternal grandfather as a sweet old man who makes her laugh and spoils her rotten. So the sick stories her family members share about him must be figments of their imagination, right? Wrong. In Sick Stories, Gentle Granddaddy, the drunken past conflicts with the docile present of a husband, father, and gentle granddaddy.
The Rainbow Plays
by Rich Espey
The rainbow flag that symbolizes gay pride and the gay rights movement was created more than 30 years ago. In its current version, the flag consists of six horizontal stripes, each of which has a symbolic meaning: red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunshine), green (nature), blue (harmony), and purple (spirit). The first six plays in this collection address one of those themes; while the seventh play incorporates them all into one.

1–2:30 p.m. Federal Theatre Project . THEATER LAB
The Inaugural Election for President of Mrs. Jacobson’s Sixth Grade Class [FF]
by Kevin Finkelstein
An allegory on America’s presidential elections, this reading tells the story of Mrs. Jacobson’s sixth grade class. When the class’ hamster dies, Mrs. Jacobson decides to hold an election for class president. Six candidates pledge, but only one can win. Comedy.

1–5:30 p.m. ABG Playwrights . REHEARSAL ROOM #1
1–3:30 p.m. Time of the Troubles
by Kitty Felde
Why does brother turn against brother, almost overnight? That’s the question that haunts the characters of Time of the Troubles. The play is set at Christmastime, in a poor parish on the outskirts of Dandora, on the eve of the bloody 2007 elections. But it’s as much a story about the LA riots and how the violence haunts a pair of cops who were stranded in South Central as the violence erupted. Drama. Recommended for ages 13 and up.
3:45–5:30 p.m. Bethesda
by Jennie Berman Eng
Diplomat Barry and his family have recently returned to Washington, D.C., after a mysterious scandal abroad. Wife Joy tries to work her networking magic and reinstate Barry as quickly as possible. She’s also pulled strings and secured the kids into prestigious Sidwell Friends School. But Barry is dragging his feet, and seems unwilling to try to get his job back. The kids, too, are suffering both from their parents’ fighting, and from the emotional wounds of their recent past in Bolivia, including Kevin’s discovery that his father was involved with their maid. When Kevin finds out his sister Hildy is cheating on her boyfriend back in La Paz with an American, he runs away. The family tracks him down to the airport, where he’s trying to return to La Paz, and all of the past and its secrets come to head in a violent clash between father and son. Drama. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

2–5 p.m. City Theatre Group . NORTH ATRIUM FOYER
The Great Ascent
by David L. McWellan
An explosion in Hyde Park, in which two people have been killed brings British Intelligence to investigate the action. A social-political thriller that explores prejudice and misunderstanding. Drama. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

2:30–5:30 p.m. First Draft . TERRACE GALLERY
Hinged
by Sarah Sorkin
In 1570, Queen Elizabeth’s ailing court painter, Levina Terling, is under pressure not to let the secrets of her portrait techniques die with her. An up-and-coming rival senses an opportunity and plants his apprentice to find out the secrets. 440 years later, art historian Lorna Buckley strives to rescue Levina Terling from historical obscurity and set the record straight. Can she overcome four centuries of male-dominated opinions or has nothing really changed since 1570? Drama. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

2:30–5:30 p.m. Guillotine Theater . AFRICAN LOUNGE
Civilizing Lusby
by John Morogiello
Two businessmen try to make a killing on a railroad venture during the Gilded Age. But when they condemn a Chesapeake waterman’s shack to make way for the track, will the waterman opt to make a killing of his own? Drama. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

2:30–5:30 p.m. Pinky Swear Productions . NORTH OPERA TIER LOUNGE
The Last Burlesque
by Stephen Spotswood
Darcy was raised by fire-eaters, contortionists, and clowns. It’s only natural she’d fall for a woman who pierces her body with hooks, dangles from the ceiling, and disrobes for an audience. Burlesque, sideshow. Drama. Recommended for mature audiences.

3–5 p.m. African Continuum Theatre Company . FAMILY THEATER
Mon Chaton
by Thembi Duncan
Summer, 1926. A country schoolteacher inherits a Harlem boarding house from her worldly, sophisticated aunt and finds herself caught in a whirlwind of enthralling characters and events that teach her more about herself than ever imagined. Mon Chaton is one of the untold stories of lesbians and gays during the period that came to be known as the Harlem Renaissance. Drama. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

3–5 p.m. The Essential Theatre . REHEARSAL ROOM #2
The Music of Nina Simone
by Robert Neblett and David Grapes
Music arrangements by Vince Dimura
An electric new musical revue celebrating Jazz icon Nina Simone. Child prodigy, jazz superstar, civil rights activist, political exile, Nina Simone was all of these things and more. One of the true divas of the 20th century and a genuine musical powerhouse, she defined a generation and defied classification. Silky, soulful, and a jazz powerhouse, this musical tribute provides a celebrated exploration long overdue. Biography/Musical. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

3– 6 p.m. Strand Theater Company . SOUTH ATRIUM FOYER
House Beautiful
by Liz Maestri
In a decaying town, one lone house still stands. Inside, three generations of a family weather the end of an era. Drama. Recommended for ages 13 and up. 

6–7 p.m. Synetic Theater  . MILLENNIUM STAGE SOUTH
The Picture of Dorian Gray
A text-and-movement interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s classic. Fearing the ravages of time and realizing the impermanence of youth, Dorian Gray makes a fateful wish–that his almost supernaturally lifelike portrait grow old while he remains forever young and beautiful. Synetic inventiveness and unforgettable visuals will elevate Oscar Wilde’s fantastical story to yet another level. Movement/Drama.

7:30–10:30 p.m. Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS) . MILLENNIUM STAGE NORTH
Gründlehämmer
With the aid of the Royal Guard, Lothario has oppressed his citizens, confiscated the powerful instruments that gave voice to their music, and formed an alliance with an immortal cave-dwelling monster, the Gründle. While most Brojans live their lives in fear, an innocent young boy of great talent is coming of age in a tiny hamlet on the outskirts of the Kingdom. His tremendous skills on the guitar bring hope to the tiny farming village and spark the flames of resistance in those that can still remember true Rock. Will this young boy cast off his innocence to claim the Gründlehämmer? Will the Dark King release his iron grip on the lifeblood of Brotopia? Join the Brojans in their struggle to reclaim the power of Rock n’ Roll. Rock Opera. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

7:30–10 p.m. Flying V . FAMILY THEATER
The Pirate Laureate and the King of the Sea
by Zachary Fernebok
Heyo! In a world where words cut deeper than swards, there are no greater pirates sailing the deep than Captain Grayscale and his Pirate Laureate Finn. They best be careful. Their names are becoming known ocean wide and with their new found fame, they may find themselves in a sinister sights of the one man wrecking crew of the Ocean Ephrata – Rey Del Mar, King of the Sea. Comedy/Adventure.

7:30–9 p.m. The Washington Rogues . TERRACE GALLERY
The Campsite Rule
by Alexandra Petri
Popular sex columnist Dan Savage’s campsite rule states that the one guideline for May to December romance is: leave your younger partner better than you found him. With humanity and wit, The Campsite Rule charts the course of 20-something professional Susan and college freshman Lincoln’s unlikely relationship. Between their friends’ disapproval, Susan’s other hookups, and the chaos of life in general, the duo face challenges on the road to romance. Alexandra Petri’s sexy new comedy “The Campsite Rule” asks: what is normal and when can you tell you’ve grown up? Comedy. Recommended for mature audiences.

7:30–10:30 p.m. The Playwrights Forum in association with LCTM Enterprises . TERRACE THEATER
Welcome to the Land of Bad Choices
by James H. Hanrahan and Harry M. Bagdasian
A school security guard and two soldiers with PTSD carry guns to school on this day. No one set out to be the bad guy, but there’s shooting. Two of the men are injured and a child is dead. Welcome to the land of bad choices. Drama. Recommended for mature audiences.

7:30–9:30 p.m. Theater J . THEATER LAB
Our Suburb
by Darrah Cloud
Directed by Tony Award–winning actress and Broadway director Judith Ivey
An homage to Our Town, this world premiere invites audiences to suburban Illinois in 1977, when the Nazis marched on Skokie. Amidst holiday planning, interfaith teenage relationships, and a growing dark menace–life and love happen. Drama. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

7:30–9:30 p.m. The Welders . SOUTH ATRIUM FOYER
Greatest Hits
The Welders, a DC-area playwrights’ collective whose mission is to establish an organically evolving, alternative platform for play development and production, will present a reading of the best short works from throughout its members’ career. The Welders: Renee Calarco, Allyson Currin, Caleen Sinnette Jennings, Bob Bartlett, and Gwydion Suilebhan. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

7:30–9:30 p.m. The Playwrights Gymnasium . NORTH ATRIUM FOYER
An Ordinary Afternoon
by Mary Watters
A woman is finally forced to confront a terrible problem that she’s turned a blind eye to for years. Her husband’s actions trigger series of events and the woman’s carefully managed life begins to unravel when strangers intrude on her comfortable world. Drama. Recommended for mature audiences.

7:30– 9 p.m. Washington Improv Theater . REHEARSAL ROOM #1
iMusical: Uncovered
iMusical: Uncovered is an improvised musical that discovers the songs underneath the cover of ordinary life. A single audience suggestion inspires the cast to explore the magic within the human condition, using lyrics, music and scenes created instantly “on the spot.” Musical Theater. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

7:30–9:30 p.m. force/collision . REHEARSAL ROOM #2
Separate Rooms
by Joe Calarco
force/collision presents a work-in-progress reading of playwright Joe Calarco’s new play Separate Rooms. Sex, death, booze and a mysterious woman in the closet as friends and lovers unite during a wake in a New York City apartment. Cast includes Tracy Olivera, Kimberly Gilbert, Thomas Keegan, Jenna Sokolowski, Evan Casey, and Tim Getman. Comedy. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

7:30–9:30 p.m. Scena . REHEARSAL ROOM #3
Sabateur!
Drama. Recommended for mature audiences.