Road Theatre presents their Second Summer Playwrights Festival

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, remain committed to their meaningful mission to produce and develop New Work for the Stage. They are thrilled to announce in this, their 20th season, the second annual SUMMER PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

THE SUMMER PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL will open on Monday, July11 at 8pm and run through Sunday July 17 at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, CA.

This year's festival features all new works to Los Angeles and has attracted playwrights from around the country and the world including Wendy Macleod (The House of Yes), Keith Huff (A Steady Rain, Pursued by Happiness, The Bird and Mr. Banks), Ruth McKee (Hell Money), Brett Neveu (Old Glory, American Dead), John Orlock (Indulgences In The Louisville Harem), Marisa Wegzryn (The Butcher of Baraboo); and young English playwright Penny Gunter. Road company members are also highlighted with plays by Cynthia Glucksman, Lauren Clark, TJ Marchbank. Guest artists participating in this year's festival include Perry King ("The Day After Tomorrow," "Riptide," "Melrose Place"), Michael O'Neill ("Seabiscuit," "Transformers," "Grey's Anatomy"), Constance Zimmer from ( "Entourage", "Love Bites").

This year's festival features noted directors Claudia Weill, Mark St. Amant, Scott Alan Smith, Sam Anderson, Che'Rae Adams Joel Swetow, and many Road company members and members of the LosAngeles theater community including Pepperdine University's former fine arts chair, Cathy Thomas Grant along with two Pepperdine students Amanda Massie and Jessica Rotter ('10). Most of the playwrights whose work is featured will be attending and will participate in a post-show discussion with the audience and cast. Artistic Directors Taylor Gilbert and Sam Anderson on the importance of the festival to the theatre, "The Road's Summer Playwrights Festival offers a wonderfully compressed period of new works and voices from established and emerging playwrights brought to life by the Road ensemble and guest artists who interact in lively discussions with our audiences, different live bands each evening, great food and drink and a tremendous sense of community between artists and theatregoers. An unforgettable event."

LIVE MUSIC!
One popular feature of the festival last summer was the live music that was featured during each reading reception in our gallery space. This year's festival will feature the bands and musicians Bianca Giselle, Stage 11, Engine of Survuval, End of Ever, Louahn Lowe, Reconciler and Irish band sensation Slugger O'Toole. The reception will be held in our backyard patio-Bettina's Cantina-and will feature wines from Los Angeles' own San Antonio Winery and home baked treats made by our company.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY
Located in the heart of the NoHo district (the fastest growing arts district in Los Angeles County) the company has called the Historic Lankershim Arts Center home for the past 16 seasons. Now on the verge of their 21st season of bringing new works to Los Angeles, the company is coming off a very successful 20th season featuring the smash hit Pursued by Happiness (festival featured playwright Keith Huff) and The Butcher of Baraboo (another festival featured playwright Maris Wegrzyn).

Fiercly committed to that most dangerous of theater missions-the dedication to new works-the Road Theatre Company led by founding artistic director Taylor Gilbert and artistic director Sam Anderson, is a multi-award winning theater that has been named one of the top ten intimate theater companies in Los Angeles (LA Weekly). It is home to over 100 theater artists devoted to the creation of the highest level of work. This festival is our way of sharing the process of play development with our community and allows participants playwrights the chance to hear their plays in a professional setting of talent and artistry.The festival is also a fundraising event for the theater to help us launch our 21st season. A suggested donation of $15 is requested of festival attendees and they are invited to give as little or as much as they want during each days performance.

SCHEDULE AND PRICING
SUMMER PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
Performances are Monday-Friday at 8pm;Saturday at 2pm and 8pm; Sunday at 2pm, 5pm and 8pm. Ticket prices are suggested donation of $15; For more details and to view complete schedule, play descriptions and cast lists visit roadtheatre.org