Cincinnati Lab Theatre Announces 2017 New Works Festival

August 3 – 12, 2017

CINCINNATI, June 28, 2017 — Cincinnati LAB Theatre’s New Works Festival will present two fully staged workshop productions and two original play readings in a rotating festival repertoire over two weekends, August 3 – August 12, 2017. We are excited to announce that all performances will be presented in Cincinnati at Clifton Performance Theatre, 404 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH.

Cincinnati LAB Theatre is now in its fourth producing season. Cincinnati LAB Theatre’s past productions include BUCKEYE AND JUDAS by Elizabeth a. Harris, AN EVENING WITH STEPHEN CRANE by Phil Paradis, CHASE THE DRAGON by Kirk Sheppard, IS THAT ALL THERE IS? by Sara Mackie and IDENTITY: An Evening of Three Twenty-Minute Plays by Elizabeth a. Harris, Brian Griffin, and Leah Strasser.

Part of Cincinnati LAB Theatre’s mission is to provide area playwrights with opportunities to develop their work through a traditional workshop process, while utilizing some of the area’s finest professional actors. Cincinnati LAB Theatre’s New Works Festival is comprised of three different series that will present new and innovative works in various stages of development, encourage open and honest discussions, and allow audiences an inside look into the creative process.

WORKSHOP SERIES: The New Works Festival Workshop Series will present two brand-new fully staged workshop productions written by local playwrights:

3SOME by Brian Griffin. Directed by Lauren Carr. Cast: Brian Berendts, Mary Tensing, and Craig Branch. When Thomas, Claire, and Lonnie arrange a Craigslist “meet up” none of them quite expect the evening that follows. Secrets become exposed, boundaries are pushed, and expectations end up in pieces. Brian Griffin’s titillating and intense new play explores the raw landscape of human psychology while delving into the world of casual hook-ups, and the overwhelming need for those on the brink to make a connection. Performances August 4, 10, and 12, 2017, at 8pm.

LED THESPIAN by Jason Podplesky, Lyrics and Music by Jason Podplesky, Eric Kilpatrick, and Aaron Almashy. Directed by Jason Podplesky, Musical Direction by Aaron Almashy. Cast: Elizabeth a. Harris, Torie Pate Perdue, Eric Kilpatrick, and Joshua Wank. Part play and part mini-concert LED THESPIAN is a new dark comedy that explores love, loss, and the power of music. Set in a bar, it tells the story of Josh, a high school band teacher, who after suddenly losing his job decides to chase his dream of being a rock musician only to find himself entangled in a web of lies, murder, and sexual depravity. Will Josh finally get to touch his musical dream or will he fall perilously short? Watch as this play takes unexpected twists and turns en route to its surprising and non-politically correct resolution. Led Thespian will keep you laughing and guessing until the very end! Performances August 3, 5, and 11, 2017 at 8pm.

DISCOVERY SERIES: The New Works Festival Discovery Series will complement our Workshop Series productions. Guest speakers and/or panelists will lead pre-show discussions that focus on social themes and current topics related to the productions. Pre-performance lectures are scheduled on Thursday, August. 3-“Why We Laugh” (LED THESPIAN) and Thursday, August 10-“Loss and Grieving” (3SOME) at 7pm.

PLAY READING SERIES: The New Works Festival Play Reading Series will present staged readings of new plays currently under development by local playwrights:

NORTH COUNTRY HOLIDAY by Phil Paradis. A young married couple leaves the city and moves to a remote Vermont farmhouse where they spend their first holiday season snowbound. When an old friend visits to talk about art and poetry, what could possibly go wrong to spoil their idyllic north country holiday? Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 5:00pm.

PARIS IS VERNON by Robert Macke. Vernon, a widower, discovers that his estranged son is on a reality show… for drag queens. Michelle, a field producer, interviews Vernon and gives him a chance to reconnect with his son. PARIS IS VERNON explores the importance of family and what it takes to mend a damaged relationship. Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 5:00pm.

Single Tickets and 2017 New Works Festival All-Access Pass

Single tickets to the 2017 Cincinnati LAB Theatre New Works Festival may be purchased in CASH at the door only.

Workshop Series:

• $15 Adult – General Admission per performance
• $10 Student – General Admission per performance

Play Reading Series:

• $5 – General Admission per performance

Discovery Series:

• Pre-performance lectures are free and open to the public.

All-Access Pass
Save $15 and experience all that Cincinnati LAB Theatre has to offer this season! 2017 All-Access Passes will be available for $25. 2017 All-Access passes allow general admission entry for pass holders into all 2017 Cincinnati LAB Theatre New Works Festival events.

All tickets including Single Tickets and 2017 ALL ACCESS Pass are sold CASH at the door.
No pre-purchase or credit card purchase available.

About Cincinnati LAB Theatre
Cincinnati LAB Theatre is an organization for established and emerging playwrights and performers in the Greater Cincinnati area and is dedicated to a collaborative creative process that will present established works of drama and develop new plays through a traditional workshop model. Cincinnati LAB Theatre will provide a solid platform for artists to cultivate, strengthen, and hone their artistic crafts and talents and offer quality theatre for Cincinnati audiences.

Cincinnati LAB Theatre
2017 New Works Festival Schedule

Thursday, August 3, 2017

• 7pm – Discovery Series: “Why We Laugh”
  Guest Speaker: To Be Announced
• 8pm – Workshop Series: LED THESPIAN by Jason Podplesky, Music and Lyrics by Jason Podplesky, Eric Kilpatrick, and Aaron Almashy.

Friday, August 4, 2017

• 8pm – Workshop Series: 3SOME by Brian Griffin

Saturday, August 5, 2017

• 5pm – Play Reading Series: NORTH COUNTRY HOLIDAY by Phil Paradis
• 8pm – Workshop Series: LED THESPIAN

Thursday, August 10, 2017

• 7pm – Discovery Series: “Loss and Grieving”
  Guest Speaker: To Be Announced
• 8pm – Workshop Series: 3SOME

Friday, August 11, 2017

• 8pm – Workshop Series: LED THESPIAN

Saturday, August 12, 2017

• 5pm – Play Reading Series: PARIS IS VERNON by Robert Macke
• 8pm – Workshop Series: 3SOME

All performances will be presented at Clifton Performance Theatre, 404 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH.