Monthly Archives: January 2023

LOVEFEST 2: An Evening of 10-Minute Love Stories
Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative
Feb. 14
Aronoff Center Fifth-Third Theatre [Downtown]

Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative presents LOVEFEST 2: An Evening of Eight Romantic Short Plays in celebration with the American Heart Association’s centennial celebration fundraiser.

A BOX OF MOM’S PHOTOS by Michael Defrancesco
While visiting Mom, a daughter discovers the unbelievable.

Michael is familiar to CPI audiences for his play The Circle, a narrative of priestly abuse, that received a staged reading last January. He had a second staged reading for his play, The Car Ride in October, 2022 and now turned his playwriting skill to his 10-minute love story, A Box of Mom’s Photos. After attending a summer drama program at UC, Michael was awarded a Rockefeller grant to UC’s Theatre Arts program, where he earned a Master’s degree. Michael is a native Cincinnatian and resides in Clifton with his wife.

ANCHOVIES AND ROSES by Bill Brohaugh and Lisa Holt
A couple’s shouty public argument entices the undivided attention of two bystanders. Love is in the confrontation, as odd as it may seem.

Plays written by Bill Brohaugh and Lisa Holt have been produced in NYC, LA and other places from Kentucky to Florida to, yes, South India. Bill, a retired magazine and book editor, has written hundreds of produced short-form radio comedy scripts, as well as published books and magazine articles about writing, words and language. Lisa is a retired pharmacist with a 40-year background in theatre. As a reed doubler, her focus has always been on musical theatre, where she performs as a pit musician. More recently she accidentally discovered she enjoys writing with Bill.

APPROPRIATE PROPOSAL by A.K. Forbes
Love is love. And if you love something, set it free. But first trap it and make it listen.

Both a Dramatists Guild and CPI member, A.K. holds an MA in professional writing from the University of Cincinnati. A.K.’s plays have been selected nationally by SourceFest (Washington, D.C.), Association for Theatre in Higher Education, Rockford New Play Festival, Pend Oreille Players (Newport, Washington) and Fusion (Albuquerque). A.K. also enjoys acting, traveling, and riding her Harley.

LOVE COUNTS by Traci Taylor
A wife’s obsession with calculations + her husband’s frustration + an emotional reckoning and the SUM = satisfaction.

Traci Taylor’s play Folie Famille was stage read by CPI in 2015.  Her recent short, Misfit Mansion, was in the 2021 Foolsfest.  A comedy play, Relatively Speaking, was written with co-writer, Peggy Murphy.  Taylor is also an actress seen regularly at many local theaters.  Links to all Taylor’s work is at www.tracitalks.com.

LOVE IN NIGHTTIME by Camilla McMahon
When an elderly woman cannot sleep at night, her husband stays awake with her. Together, they face the sleepless night.

Camilla McMahon is an Associate Professor of Psychological Science at Miami University. Her teaching and research interests focus on developmental psychology, including social and cognitive development throughout the lifespan. Love in the Nighttime is her first play with the Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative.

LOVE IN THE TIME OF COCKLEBURS by Nancy Gall Clayton
A forest ranger just wants to lead a hike, but those who have joined him (two costumers from the opera, a man who may be a jail escapee, and a would-be writer) have agendas of their own –and yet, love is in the air.

Nancy Gall-Clayton’s plays have been presented in half the states, plus Australia, Canada, Denmark, and Japan. Her full-length Bernice’s 70th Birthday recently premiered at Market House Theatre in Paducah, KY, and will be produced in November and December 2022 at First Run Theatre in St. Louis. More at nancygallclayton.net.

POSTCARDS FROM PARMADALE by Alan Jozwiak
Short glimpses of a long-distance relationship conducted via post.

Alan Jozwiak has had plays in the Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry Festival, Gi60 One-Minute Play Contest, Lamia Ink! International One-Page Play Contest, Madlab Theatre, Miami Writes, IndyFringe Festival, and the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. He obtained a City of Cincinnati Individual Artist Grant to write/produce Only When I Bleed, a play about cutting and self-injury. A long-time CPI board member, he has served as Treasurer and President.

SAGE ADVICE by Fred Rothzeid
When it comes to love what advice would you give?

Fred has been exploring life’s journey in poems, songs, liturgy and plays for most of his adult life – trying to comprehend what it all means.  This is his eighth stage play reading with CPI and he is no closer to understanding the answer then when he started.

• Tue, Feb. 14 at 7:30pm

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