LabWorks 15-Minute New Play Contest

The Valley Repertory Company will be holding a New Play Contest from February 17 - 19, 2011. Come see all twelve plays for $15 or buy single tickets at $10 per night. Reservations are recommended, as seating is limited.

You may mail your ticket requests to Valley Rep Tickets c/o Estvanik, 14  Winter Way, Enfield, CT 06082, or download an order form online at http://www.valleyrep.com/LABWORKS%20ORDER_01.pdf.

Visit Valley Repertory Theatre on the Web, as well, at www.valleyrep.com.

Below is a list of directors and synopses of the plays being performed this year:

• Becky Beth Benedict, Director - Mirror Touch by Michael Burgan - William catches a man about to break the cardinal rule of the museum…no touching the artwork. But the man is not just any art lover: his special gift lets him experience a new dimension of great art through his hands. William is unimpressed until he realizes that unfulfilled dreams leave lasting scars. William: Glenn Anderson, Man: Tim Carson.
• Missed Connections by Brianne Hogan - A chance meeting on a southbound subway prompts 20-somethings Tom and Betty to post on Craigslist’s "Missed Connections" for the first time in hopes of reconnecting. Their Craiglist and Facebook posts and IM’s show what love is like in today’s "instant" society. Tom: Jeffrey Flood, Betty: Amy Rucci.
• Reservations Cancelled by John Zygmunt - As she waits for her boyfriend in a restaurant, a handsome man comes up to Janie and asks what she’d like to have—and he’s not the waiter. She has reservations…but is she willing to lose them? Janie: Amy Rucci, Michael: Tim Carson, Ben: Glenn Anderson.
• Paul DiProto, Director - Best Laid Schemes by Courtney M. Brown - Jerry has lost his job and lives with his mom—but he says she lives with him. He decides to rob the local bank, but no one thinks he’s serious. Between the misconceptions of the bank staff and the machinations of his friend Dave, Jerry leaves the bank without money, but with a job prospect. Jerry: Peter Scibak, Dave: David Basile, Casey: Stephanie Maloney, Tom: Jeffrey Flood, Frank: Robert Javinett.
• The Thong Snipper by Matt Hanf - When Mrs. Ruzak starts on her crusade to rid the world of thong underwear, she discovers what Jenny’s been hiding in her room. Dad: David Basile, Mrs. Ruzak: Elizabeth Reynolds, Mom: Amanda Bates, Billy: Peter Scibak.
• Amelia’s Untimely Demise by Michael R. McGuire - After Amelia dies on the operating table she comes back to life. Turns out she’s an extra on a TV medical show and she isn’t ready to be written off just yet. Dr. Handsome: Tim Carson, Nurse: Laura Wittenberg, Amelia: Elizabeth Reynolds, Henry: Jeffrey Flood.
• Buce Showalter, Director - Henry’s Ear by Richard Davis, Jr.- Frankie has shot Henry’s ear off, and Henry wants revenge: an ear for an ear. Before he can get it, Margaret interrupts with an agenda of her own. Frankie: Aaron Gilberto, Henry: Robert Javinett, Margaret: Janine Flood.
• Uncle Arnie on Fire by St. John Karp - Uncle Arnie has everything a man could want—money, teevee, and nieces and nephews who wait on him hand and foot. But when they find out exactly what’s in Uncle Arnie’s will, the knives and forks come out. Just how far will they go to inherit the old man’s money? Andrew: Aaron Gilberto, Mel: Janine Flood, Karen: Karen Balaska, Phil: Mark Vogel, Dr. Anor: Robert Javinett.
• The Card by Michele Markarian - Carol, a card-carrying customer of a national coffeeshop chain, is horrified to learn from a chatty underground barista that her rewards card contains much more than just a balance. Carol: Karen Balaska, Man: Mark Vogel.
• Charles Schoenfeld, Director - Duped by Marv Hall - In a high-tech world of the near future, a man chooses a humanoid replica of his wife over the real thing. He receives a rather unusual intervention from a pair of deprogrammers assigned to take no prisoners. oman/Tracy: Amanda Marschall, Dale: Stephanie Maloney, Spud: Glenn Anderson.
• Dark King Kills Unicorn by Reina Hardy - The unicorn’s mission is to guard the Schism, a narrow pass between Draegermandia and Sylveness, from the violent nation that has declared war against the Sylvian queen. The draegerman’s mission is to get his army through the Schism. Both are mighty warriors who have never fallen in battle…which of two is destined to win? The Unicorn: Frank Chiera, The Draegerman: Charles Schoenfeld, The Other Unicorn: Amanda Marschall.
• To Crash (like waves crash) by Christine J. Schmidt - Alex and Nate are caught at different stages of life’s circular pattern. Through meeting Eleanor, they realize there are indeed rest stops along the way. Alex: Karen Balaska, Nate: Frank Chiera, Eleanor: Laura Wittenberg.