PTC ANNOUNCES RE-INVENTED NORTHERN WRITES NEW WORK FESTIVAL!

With a special eye towards the best new plays sprouting up right here in Maine, PTC’s Northern Writes New Works festival continues to be a creative hotbed for new plays, nationwide. PTC receives over 100 new plays from writers across the country. PTC’s staff reads them all and chooses a select few to workshop via a series of developmental workshops and readings.

And it couldn’t be done without you! Audience participation is a key component of the Northern Writes development process. Along with developing new plays, we have been developing perceptive audiences who know how to help a writer by providing thoughtful and perceptive feedback in a structured environment.

We have made some significant changes to the festival this year. The process will take place the week of June 18 to the 23rd. Each play will have 3 readings, one at an off site venue, one at our home at the Bangor Opera House, and a final presentation of all of the plays of the festival on Saturday also at the Opera House. This was done to ensure that new work is truly being developed, not just read and also to allow multiple opportunities for audiences to hear the plays. A team of actors and a director will be assigned to each piece and will rehearse and workshop it throughout the week. Following the read at the Bangor Opera House, we invite the playwright and audience to discuss the play and share feedback about the work.

In addition to these changes, you will notice the new logo for Northern Writes includes the phrase “new work.” This is due to the fact that we are greatly expanding the events surrounding Northern Writes in order to celebrate local artists and make this event a true festival. Some exciting curated events include a new production from our friends at Her Majesty’s Cabaret, a cd launch party with a very talented local band When Particles Collide, a film screening of “The Way We Get By,” along with a new performance art piece in conjunction with the Power In Community Alliances organization, and a spoken word event featuring Indian Islanders Nick Bear, Allan Trott, and Ethan Dana.  Additionally, Northern Writes breaks down the Opera House walls. Performances, workshops, seminars and readings will take place in storefronts and locations throughout downtown Bangor.

Day Passes that give you access to any Northern Writes event that day will be $10 and the Full Festival Pass has been reduced to $25 this year! Contact our box office at 942-3333 for more info.   Be on the lookout for the official schedule and don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to see and participate in new work!

 

2012 Plays and Playwrights:

Iceland by Michael Tooher from Portland, Maine

Logophile by Joe Musso from Birmingham, Alabama

Angels and Ministers of Grace Defend Us by Elaine Smith from Middleburg, Florida

Private Property by William Fowkes from New York, New York

NIGHT OF SHORTS:

Lifting Rocks by Howard Rosenfield from Brunswick, Maine

Schubert’s Monkey by Bruce Pratt from Eddington, Maine

Words Without Friends by Allen Adams from Orono, Maine