The Virtual Playwrights Festival Continues With 'DIRECTIONS'

PREMIERING FRIDAY, 11/20 at 7 PM:
"DIRECTIONS" by Penny Jackson (NY)
Directed by Sharon W. Houk
Featuring Priscilla Squires and Kelly White
"The war is never over. Twenty-five years after The Bosnian war, Sofia a Bosnian refugee now living in New York City, recognizes the military general who brutalized her family. She summons, Hana, a young woman from her town to assassinate him. Yet can revenge ever bring redemption?"

TRIGGER WARNING: This production will discuss a specific person's experiences with PTSD as a result of sexual assault. This may be triggering to audience members with similar experiences. Strong use of language also appears in this production and may not be suitable for young audiences.

ABOUT PENNY JACKSON: Penny is the recipient of many awards for her writing including a MacDowell Colony Fellowship, The Pushcart Prize, and The Gary Garrison prize for best short drama. Her plays have been produced in New York City, Los Angeles, Dublin and Edinburgh. She is also a screenwriter. Pennybrandtjackson.com

INSPIRATION FOR DIRECTIONS: “Directions” was inspired by the Bosnian women refugees who were in my ESL class in New York City. Many shared their stories of war and how several of the military wanted for war crimes were still hiding in plain sight. I was interested in the theme of revenge and can it truly bring redemption? I hoped this play provokes questions.

DIRECTIONS will remain available for viewing on our YouTube and Facebook pages from Friday, November 20 at 7:00 pm through Thursday, December 3 at 11:59 pm. Original music by James Luurtsema and videography by Jeffrey B. Schlichter.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the International Playwrights Festival will be a virtual event! Each production will be available to view online for a period of two weeks before being taken down. There is no fee to watch but donations are always accepted. This virtual festival is made possible with a generous donation from The Marine Family.

The remaining streaming schedule for the winning playwrights:

AN INVITATION TO MY CIRCUS by Charlene Donaghy, CT (12/4-12/17)
ANALOG by George Kelly, NH (12/4-12/17)
PUT ON A GRUMPY FACE by Reed Halvorson, SC (1/1-1/14)
GOOD MORNING by Anne Lucas, MA (1/15-1/28)
PERMANENT INK by Charlene Donaghy, CT (1/29-2/11)
FOLDED by Bara Swain, NY (2/12-2/25)
EXTENDED PLAY by Ben Marshall, NJ (2/26-3/11)
RELATIVITY AND ME by Len Cuthburt, Ontario, Canada (3/12-3/25)
MOTHERHOOD by Lawrence Aronovitch, Ontario, Canada (3/26-4/8)
SAUL by Colleen O'Doherty, NE (4/9-4/22)