Illustrious Theatre's 2006 One Act Play Festival crosses state lines

Sussex - The Illustrious Theatre Company will present its 2006 One Act Play Festival from Friday to Sunday, Feb. 24 to 26, at the Warwick Valley Winery at 114 Little York Rd. in the Pine Island section of Warwick. The company will then take the production to the Tri-State Actors Theater at 74 Fountain Square in Sussex,, on Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11. Artistic directors Mary Clifford, from the Illustrious Theatre Company, and Paul Meacham, from the Tri-State Actors, believe that collaboration and resource sharing benefits the theatres and the audiences of the region. Clifford and Meacham have worked together for a number of years in various capacities, with one often directing the other. Most recently, Meacham directed “Veronica’s Room” for Illustrious, where he and the cast met its playwright, Ira Levin. This year’s four one-act plays were selected from approximately 150 plays, submitted from as far away as India, many from England and Ireland, and from all over the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii. The four one-act plays are, “Before Nightfall,” by Beverly Wallace, a drama about a daughter and her elderly father; “Fifteen Minutes,” by Dave DeChristopher, a comedy about a woman who hosts her own nightly TV talk show from her bedroom; “Enjoying Your Fame,” by Jed Downey, a black comedy about the rewards and pitfalls of one’s moment in fame; and “Coffee with God,” by Kal Wegenheim, a serio-comedy. Playwright Wallace, from Manhattan, studies at the Circle Rep and has had a number of her plays produced off-off Broadway. She was a semi-finalist at the Louisville 10-minute play festival. DeChristopher, from Ohio, has had his plays produced in San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Chicago, and in more than 30 New York City theatres. He serves as artistic director of The Aural Stage. Downey, from Hawthorne,, currently teaches high-school English at Fairlawn High School. His play, “Open, Close,” was a finalist in Riant Theatre’s Strawberry One Act Festival in New York. Additionally, his work has been performed at The Kitchen Theatre in Ithaca, N.Y., and recognized by The Kennedy Center College Theater Festival’s New Play Competition. Playwright Wagenheim, of Millburn,, is a journalist, formerly with The New York Times and currently editor of Caribbean Update monthly newsletter. He is also the author and translator of eight books, and nine plays and screenplays. His biography of Babe Ruth was a Playboy Book Club selection, and was adapted for an NBC-TV movie. Robert Smith and Bonnie Schonfeld, both of Warwick, N.Y., will direct the plays, in addition to Clifford. The cast will include Glenn John Arnowitz, Stephen Craver, Les Ferguson, Victoria Ford, Mimi Keys, Tom LiTrenta, Sophia Mahmud, Brian Madigan, Kevin McDonnell, Brian Nieves, Ted O’Dell, Carla Randolph, Micki Shortess, and Bettina Skye. The first weekend of the play festival is being supported by a grant from Orange Tourism and Orange Arts. A bistro-style menu, with wines and ciders will be offered. Curtain time is 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24 and 25, and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26. For information, call 845-258-4858. On Friday and Saturday, March 10 and March 11, the festival will travel to the Tri-State Actors Theater at 74 Fountain Square in Sussex. Show time is 8 p.m. both evenings, and will feature a wine and cheese reception before the performances. Tickets are $15 general and $13 for seniors, and can be purchased by calling 973-875-2950, or at the door the evening of the performance. For further information, call 973-764-4936.