The Baltimore Playwrights Festival
Showcasing plays by Maryland & Washington DC playwrights.
News
!! 2009 BPF PUBLIC READINGS !!
The Baltimore Playwrights Festival will begin our public reading series
on Saturday 5 December at Fells Point Corner Theater. Public Readings are performed in theaters by rehearsed actors
for the highest rated of our 2009 submissions (as rated by BPF play evaluators). After each reading an open discussion
is held with the playwright and director.
Death and Desire by Peter Davis directed by Rodney Bonds
12:15
Breadwinners by Peter Davis directed by Rodney Bonds
1:30
Colleen and Kudzo RESCHEDULED to FEB 27 Colleen and Kudzo by Patrick J. McGeever directed by Kathy McCrory
February 27- Loyola College
March 13 - Loyola College
Earlier this season
December 5 - Fells Point Corner Theater
12:00 - Hammarskjold by Ronald McKinney
2:30 - In The Shadow of Lushan by Kathleen Barber
January 9 - Loyola College
1:30 p.m. - Docent by John Conley - directed by Peter Davis
2:15 - The Colored Man's Rainbow by Ben Logan - directed by Robin Rouse
!! BPF MEMBERSHIPS !!
The Baltimore Playwrights Festival is now offering memberships! The memberships will replace
our past method of strip tickets as a means to support the BPF. You can even become a voting member! (click here for more information)
!! We're Looking for a FEW GOOD SCRIPT READERS !!
The Baltimore Playwrights Festival is looking for a few competent, motivated and dedicated script readers. The BPF will likely receive
between 60 and 80 plays, submitted by September 30, 2009 for possible inclusion in the 2010 BPF festival. In order to receive a staged
reading (a first step in BPF play production), a play must receive a high grade provided by 3 of our readers. Readers are normally
selected from among the Baltimore theatre community who are interested in new plays and playwrights and have some experience in the
production, casting, or selecting of plays.
While there are no academic prerequisites for being a reader, the BPF is looking for people who will provide authentic, honest and constructive
feedback regarding submitted plays and who will ultimately determine whether a submission is given a staged reading.
More information
GOING GREEN: While scripts are required to be sent to the BPF in hard copy this year (the 2010 season), we also request that they be sent
electronically. We then strip the cover page from the script so that the readers are accomplishing blind assessments. Beginning with the
2011 season, all scripts will be required to be sent electronically, with no requirement to send hard copies.
While we are willing to accommodate readers who require hard copies, we are hopeful that many readers will respond with a willingness to read
the scripts in electronic format.
Please indicate your interest and your willingness to download and read scripts electronically, by sending an email to our librarian,
Marylee Barnes
!! 2009 BPF Awards Announced !!
The Baltimore Playwrights Festival XXVIII (2009) honored several local playwrights and producers with annual prizes on Monday, September 21 at
its Awards Ceremony, held at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park.
The top script award, a large, engraved crystal trophy, went to local playwright veteran Rosemary Frisino Toohey whose play G-man was produced
by Uncommon Voices at Fells Point Corner Theatre. It was the story of a garbage man whose life unravels after finding something more than refuse
amidst the trash he collects. Second place script honors went to JM Dinson for his play The Ape on the Church Steps, which was produced by the
Theatrical Mining Company and performed at the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore. Third place script kudos went to Daniel Baum for his play
Bloodlines which was produced by Fells Point Corner Theatre. The top three script awards carried cash prizes for the playwrights as well.
On the production side, first place went to The Ape on the Church Steps, directed by Barry Feinstein. Second place for production went to G-Man,
directed by Miriam Bazensky. Third place prize went to Leap Day (written by Lee Saperstein) and directed by Lynn Morton at The Audrey Herman
Spotlighters Theatre.
!! Interview on WYPR !!
Miriam Bazensky and Rosemary Frisino Toohey are interviewed by Tom Hall
on Maryland Morning.
Performances beginning June 18th and run until September 6th. (click here to listen)
!! ACTORS WORKSHOP !!
We have a commitment from
Carol Fox Prescott
to teach an acting class in Baltimore to benefit the BPF
Currently in planning for October -- Stay Tuned!
The BPF Mission
Our mission is to provide an environment that nurtures the talents of Maryland and DC playwrights. The BPF does this
through public readings, discussions, critiques and workshopping of new plays. Our summer season is devoted to the
presentation of these newly developed works, for the entertainment and cultural edification of our audiences.
If a new-play festival can identify even one promising playwright, it's worth doing. J. Wynn Rousuck Baltimore Sun
