The Strawberry One-Act Festival gives the audience a say in who wins their coveted prizes. Presented by the Riant Theatre Company from New York City, viewers, along with the theatre’s judges can cast their votes for best play, best director, best actor and best actress of the season.
Twice a year, hundreds of plays from across the country are submitted for competition. Plays move from the 1st round to the semi-finals and then the finals. On October 28th the festival will culminate with the Awards Ceremony at 823 North Cherokee Avenue, between Highland & Vine. The playwright of the winning play receives a grant and a development deal to have a full-length play developed by the Riant Theatre.
The festival will be videotaped and broadcast on their website www.therianttheatre.com/video, where viewers will also have the opportunity to cast their votes. The price to view the Strawberry One-Act Festival online is $25 per series.
In addition, several plays will be chosen to be published in The Riant Theatre Company’s next anthology: The Best Plays From The Strawberry One-Act Festival: Volume Five. Volumes One, Two, Three and Four are available online at www.Amazon.com, www.BarnesandNobel.com, and the Riant’s online store at www.therianttheatre.com.
The festival will begin on Thursday, October 18th and will take place at The Complex Theater, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd, near Wilcox in the Dorie Theatre.
The Awards Ceremony will be on Sunday, October 28th at 8pm at 823 North Cherokee Avenue, between Highland & Vine.
Series A Thursday, October 18th & Friday, 19th at 7:00 pm and
Saturday, October 20th & Sunday, October 21st at 3pm
HATE AT FIRST SIGHT Written by Jeanne Becijos & Directed by Sadie Katz
Have you ever met someone and instantly hated them at first sight? Well, cupid is about to have some fun with a man and woman who meet by chance in a bookstore.
WET
Written & Directed by Alex Austin
A seductress tempts a man to forego a ritual for the pleasures of her bed.
THE PATTERN
Written by Brian Harris & Directed by Donald Collins
A surprise visit to a psychologist’s office by a confused couple reveals repressed desires as an unusual relationship develops.
GOD, MAN & STAN
Written & Directed by David Miguel Estrada
It’s another crazy day at the office for Guy Mann when the Devil shows up incognito as a globetrotting businessman named Stan.
Series B
Thursday, October 18th & Friday, 19th at 9:00 pm and
Saturday, October 20th & Sunday, October 21st at 7pm
THREE PLAYS AND A BED
Written by J. Boyer & Directed by David Miguel Estrada
Who’s this person in bed with me, and why are we strangers?
HIDDEN IN THE PAST
Written by Michael Casano & Directed by Diana Cornell
A young girl interviews her grandmother to find out more about her family’s history. It’s an interview she may wish she never conducted.
AMERICAN SPIRITS
Written by Amy E. Witting & Directed by Michael LeBlanc
A young woman returns to the city that haunts her in hopes of stabilizing her career and is forced to confront her past.
Series C
Mon, October 22nd, Tues, October 23rd,
Wed, October 24th & Thurs, October 25th at 7:00 pm
DAD AND ME
Written by Heather Venitucci & Directed by Charmian Creagle
A powerful exploration of mental illness, dictionaries, binge eating and a messy father/daughter relationship.
GOODBYE STANLEY
Written & Directed by Britta-Eva-Maj Sandqvist
Two sisters meet in a café, and behind the small talk and tension the truth is revealed about why one sister had to leave town abruptly.
SELLING ARNOLD
Written by Dean Preston & Directed by Robert Learner
Two struggling artist face financial crisis as their friendship unravels.
LOVE JONES
Written & Directed by John Oluwole ADEkoje
Surrounded in a community of despair and hopelessness, a young African-American man finds longing for death and "keeping it real" is like a trip with no glove and no love.
TRESPASS
Written & Directed by Nelsan Narie Ellis
"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil . . ." From evil . . . from evil . . . A son comes home to take care of a few things that his mama just wouldn’t do.
The Semi-Finals are on Friday, October 26th at 7pm & 9pm and Saturday, October 27th at 3pm & 5pm.
The Wild Night is on Saturday, October 27th at 7pm. These plays are chosen by the artistic director and are given one more chance to win a spot in the finals.
The Finals are on Sunday, October 28th at 3pm. Tickets are $25.00 and includes a reception.
To see which plays advance to the Semi Finals, Finals and the Finals please visit OUR BLOG at www.therianttheatre.blogspot.com
Separate Location for Awards Presentation
The Awards Ceremony is on Sunday, October 28th at 8pm.
The Awards Ceremony will be held at a separate location
823 North Cherokee Avenue, between Highland and Vine.
Tickets are $25.00 and includes a reception.
