SPARKy PRODUCTIONS: 2013 SUMMER LINE UP

06 Jun SPARKy PRODUCTIONS: 2013 SUMMER LINE UP

Dan Castellenata, in town for the Telluride Playwrights Festival

Sparky Productions‘ summer programming begins Tuesday, June 11, at the Palm Theatre, where SPARKy presents “This House” by James Graham. The is a live simulcast of a National Theatre of Great Britain’s theatrical production is currently playing to sold-out houses in London. This is the second of a series of SPARK NT LIVE programs running throughout the year, a collaboration with the Palm Theatre.

This summer, SPARKy’s Telluride Playwrights Festival teams up with the Bloomington Playwrights Project for two Main Stage readings. Both “The Banana Tree” and “Sequence” will go on to Bloomington, Indiana for full productions in the upcoming year.

The Telluride Playwrights Festival (TPF) will take place Tuesday, July 23 – Saturday, July 28 at the Sheridan Opera House. Featured playwrights are Deb Lascusta and Dan Castellenata – Dan is better known as the voice of Homer Simpson – with their very funny new play is set in a convenience store in Reno, Nevada, “The Banana Tree.” Deb and Dan, both highly talented actors and writers, come from a rich improvisational tradition. Both were members of the original and iconic Second City troupe in Chicago.

The second Main Stage play is Arun Lakra’s brilliant new drama, “Sequence,” which has already won the 2011 Grand Prize at the Alberta Playwrighting Competition. The Playwright Festival’s production marks the first time this remarkable play will be heard in the US. “Sequence” weaves together two stories, one about the luckiest man in the world and another about the unluckiest. The plot touched on cutting-edge science and in particular, cracking the genetic code to discover the DNA of luck.

In addition, The Playwrights Festival will present informal readings of Rich Orloff’s latest play, “Chatting with the Tea Party” and from Los Angeles, two young comedians, Zachary Steel and Adam Carpenter will bring their off-off-Broadway show “Me Rich, You Learn!” for a late-night showing at the historic Sheridan Opera House.

Deb Lacusta, in town for the Telluride Playwrights Festival

The week-long theatre festival kicks off with SPARKplaySLAM. The event includes both locals and TPF company members at the Steaming Bean, displaying their talents. The SPARKImprov night at the Opera House features locals, students, plus special guests Deb Lacusta and Dan Castellaneta.

On the heels of the Playwrights Festival, on Tuesday, August 20, SPARKy and the Palm will present another NT LIVE. This program stars Helen Mirren in the hit London production of “Audience” by Peter Morgan, who wrote “The Queen.” Once again Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth ll.

SPARKy Productions is in the process of offering SPARKsalon memberships to all SPARK events. Tickets for the Festival go on sale  Monday, July 1.

If you would like to volunteer for the Festival or need more info, please contact info@playwrightsfestival.org.