NEWS RELEASE
Contacts:
Thom Penn
Artistic Director
thom_penn@atlanticstage.com
843-424-0224
Marjorie Craig Mitchell
Managing Director
marj_mitchell@atlanticstage.com
877-287-8587, (press 4 to bypass recording)
1-877-ATS-TKTS (1-877-287-8587)
www.atlanticstage.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLAY READING FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS April 20-21 at ATLANTIC STAGE
Online Silent Auction to benefit the launch of our first summer season
(Myrtle Beach, S.C., April 11, 2012) - To follow in the great regional theatre tradition of encouraging
young playwrights, Atlantic Stage, the only non-profit, professional theatre in the Myrtle Beach, is pleased
to announce our first annual Festival of New Plays from playwrights around the country and locally.
Readers will bring playwrights’ characters to life, some voicing for the first time outside the head of their
playwright, for the enjoyment of the audience and the edification of the playwright. Talk Backs after each
reading will be moderated by playwright and dramaturg, Kevin Ferguson (MFA in playwriting, Hollins
University) or playwright Richard Castrodale (MFA in playwriting, Yale School of Drama). Talk Backs are
meant to lead the audience in discussion of the work and provide constructive criticisms for the
playwright. Four local playwrights participating in the festival are Vikky Gentry Ferris of Pawley’s Island,
Janet Hobson of Myrtle Beach, David Zinman of Conway, and Kevin Ferguson of Florence, SC. Coming in
from Alaska is playwright Jerry McDonnell. Playwright George Loukides from Florida will be joining us via
SKYPE.
Presented at the 79th Avenue Theatre in the Coastal Carolina University Myrtle Beach Education Center,
900 79th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29572, the festival will hold an invitation-only preview performance of
a new treatment for Jack and the Beanstalk written by Janet Hobson of Myrtle Beach. This reading is open
to the media.
Play readings will be held starting Friday afternoon and conclude Saturday evening. In total, 8 new plays
are being presented.
On Saturday to round out the festival, a wine and cheese reception will precede the reading of our
featured play, Child’s Play. During the reception, our online silent auction items will be available for review
and final bidding. These goods have been donated by Branded goods manufacturers such as Tumi, Bose
and Maui Jim to help raise funds to assist in launching Atlantic Stage’s first summer season.
ONLINE AUCTION LINK:
This link is posted on the Atlantic Stage website www.atlanticstage.com
http://www.imraonline.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=32
The complete festival schedule is as follows:
FRIDAY, APRIL 20th (ALL DAY TICKET $10)
3:00pm THE PORCH by Vikki Gentry Ferris (Pawley’s Island, SC)
7:30pm FLOWERS IN THE DESERT by Donna Hoke (East Amherst, NY)
9:00pm ENGINES OF TIME by Jerry D. McDonnell (Anchorage, AK)
SATURDAY, APRIL 21st (AFTERNOON TICKET $10)
12:00n THREE ONE-ACT DRAMAS by Julius Galacki (Los Angeles, CA)
My Death, Empty Slot and A Haunted World
1:00pm BOOTH IN THE BARN by by George Loukides (Sarasota, FL)
3:00pm WHAT’S IN A NAME? by David Zinman (Conway, SC)
SATURDAY, APRIL 21st (RECEPTION & FEATURED PLAY TICKET $20)
6:00pm Wine & Cheese RECEPTION with Silent Auction
7:30pm CHILD’S PLAY by Kevin Ferguson (Florence, SC)
ATTENDANCE TO THE WHOLE FESTIVAL CAN BE PURCHASED FOR $30. A $10 SAVINGS!
More information on each play and ticket information can be found at www.atlanticstage.com.
Tickets can also be purchased by calling the Atlantic Stage box office at 1-877-287-8587.
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Working members of the press are invited to all preview nights and may contact Kimberly Miles at
Kimberly.Miles@Fahlgren.com to reserve tickets.
About Atlantic Stage
In partnership with Coastal Carolina University, Atlantic Stage is the first and only professional non-profit
theatre company in the Myrtle Beach area. Atlantic Stage was formed in August 2008 and is comprised of
professional directors and designers, as well as professional actors and stage managers who are members
of the Actors Equity Association. Atlantic Stage is committed to bringing the Myrtle Beach area the best in
Broadway, Off-Broadway and new plays from regional theatre across the United States. Atlantic Stage is a
not-for-profit theatre and is funded through ticket sales, private donations, and in kind donations from
Coastal Carolina University, the Department of Theatre and individuals. For more information, visit
www.atlanticstage.com.
The website was designed by graphic design artist Daryl Fazio of www.DarylFazio.com and purposed to be
both an easy to navigate informational tool as well as a hands-on space where visitors can book tickets,
become a subscriber or learn about latest events.