Local Playwrights Featured In New Works Festival In Somers Point

SOMERS POINT, NJ — Enjoy new works from local playwrights, as well as those across the country, when SPQR Theatre Company holds their fifth annual "New Play Festival" on Feb. 18 and 19.

The two-day showcase of eight original plays comes to life at Studio;Space in Somers Point. The festival, produced by SPQR Artistic Director Bill Sterritt, will also have a live-streaming option on Saturday.

Sterritt, a playwright himself, has been a supporter of novice playwrights for years and emphasizes the importance of needing a place to showcase original works.

"Writing a play and putting it down on paper is challenging in the sense that there's really no way to know what works and what doesn't," said Sterritt, of Somers Point. "Testing a new play in front of a live audience and gaining real-time feedback is paramount to its development. I want to provide that opportunity for up-and-coming writers so that they are able to grow and evolve their art."

Playwrights were chosen from a pool of applicants stretching across the country. Some are from Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, Pittsburgh and New York.

Others are more local, hailing from Ocean City, Ventnor and North Cape May.

The eight plays, each of which runs for approximately 10 minutes, will be divided up into acts titled "New Jersey" and "Not Jersey."

The plays and playwrights included in New Works Weekend are:

• “Slave Trade” by Ken Levine: A man and his Alexa – what could go wrong?
• “Cape Cod Evening” by F.J. Hartland: Divorce is never easy
• “Gaslit” by Judith Pratt: Drilling down upon and unpacking emotions in the corporate setting.
• “Harv’s Surprise” by Michele Markarian: Vanity and love loss.
• “Killeen” by John C. Davenport: A violent memory in a tap room.
• “As though” by Tom Chin, Ocean City: An assault on PC politics.
• “Running Across” by Heidi Mae, Ventnor: Relationships in the Age of Dissonance.
• “Testimonial! (It’s not me, it’s you.)” by Susan Tischler, North Cape May: High praise and obsession.

Performances are 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 18 and 19, at Studio;Space, 112 Woodland Ave., Somers

Point. Tickets are $10 (cash) and can be purchased at the door. Saturday’s performance will also be live-streamed for $12. For more information, please call 323-793-2153 or email spqrstageco@aol.com

“Pat’s Place for Comedy” will take place later Saturday evening at 8 p.m. for a separate admission. More information on SPQR Stage Company can be found at StudioSpaceSPNJ.com or Facebook.com/spqrstagesco.