Playhouse selects 3 plays for new one-acts festival

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Playhouse has selected three plays for the inaugural Voices of the Valley New One-Act Play Festival.

The plays that will be developed at this year’s event are “Rain Delay” by Cheryl Games; “Through A Broken Window” by Brandon Martin; and “The Kissing Bandit” by Stephen L. Sniderman.

Performances will be July 27 and 29 at the Youngstown Playhouse. Tickets will go on sale soon. For information, call the box office at 330-788-8739.

The three chosen authors have strong ties to the Mahoning Valley and will be involved in the development and creation of their work. Games divides her time between Youngstown — where she has appeared in productions at the Playhouse and the Oakland Center for the Arts — and Los Angeles. She received a master’s degree from the Actors Studio Dramatic Arts Program in New York City, and some of her other works that have been produced include “Augusta,” “Trip Twenty” and “Wedding Date.” Matthew Mazuroski, professor of theater at Youngstown State University, will direct “Rain Delay.” He described it as a “wonderfully poignant story about loss, acceptance and common humanity among strangers.”

Youngstown native Brandon Martin is a YSU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in theater. In addition to writing the plays “DeTemor” and “In A White Tee,” Martin has been performing for many years and is a founder of the performance-art group U.N. ACT.

Actress and writer Carla D. Gipson will direct “Through a Broken Window.” She said Martin’s piece “brings a new voice and name to an old and familiar issue of civil injustice in American society.”

Sniderman taught American literature and creative writing at YSU for more than 40 years and is the co-author of the musicals “Gulliver!” and “The Grand Design: Esther and the Story of Purim.” He also has published two books on games and puzzles.

Playwright Bernie Appugliese will direct Sniderman’s play. He called it “a deliciously clever little piece that asks a very important question in an odd and funny way.”

A company of actors was chosen to perform the plays in the festival. They include Kim Akins, Jala Beasley Williams, Holly Ceci, Chris DeFrank, Ezekiel Ellis, Dawnelle Jewell, Sam Perry and Larissa Woloszyn.