Pride Films and Plays Announces a 3 Play Roster for 2012-2013
Pride Films and Plays announces a three-play roster for 2012-2013, its first season of full productions, while recommitting to its third series of international playwriting and screenwriting competitions.
Since it was founded in 2010, Pride Films and Plays has reexamined classic LGBT texts while also becoming an international center for the development of fresh work for the stage and screen. PFP’s developmental work comes of age this season with the staging of Jeff-eligible world premieres At The Flash and Under a Rainbow Flag, both discovered in PFP’s 2012 Great Gay Play and Musical Contest. The final selection of the season is a 20th anniversary revival of Jonathan Harvey’s coming-of-age classic Beautiful Thing.
At The Flash, by Sean Chandler and David Leeper, was the winner of PFP’s 2012 Great Gay Play and Musical Contest. This fierce and funny show condenses LGBT history into the story of five characters – a closeted man in the 1960s, a black drag queen in the 1970s, a club kid in the 1980s, a budding lesbian activist in the 1990s, and a family man/entrepreneur in the 2000s. It will run November 16 to December 16 in the Hoover-Leppen Theater at Center on Halsted, 3730 N. Halsted. David Leeper stars under the direction of PFP Executive Director David Zak.
Beautiful Thing, focusing on a working-class family outside of London, illustrates the struggle of growing up in a world that can be cruel and unforgiving to anyone perceived as different. Beautiful Thing premiered in 1993. The 20th anniversary production, co-produced with Glitterati Productions, is directed by PFP Artistic Associate John Nasca and stars PFP Ensemble Member Michelle McKenzie-Voigt. It will run from January 17 to February 17 at Luna Central,3914 N. Clark Street.
Finally, PFP presents the world premiere of Leo Schwartz’s hilarious and heart-warming musical about gay soldiers in World War II, Under A Rainbow Flag, with direction by David Zak and musical direction by Robert Ollis. Based on the real-life story of a WWII naval corpsman (who still lives in Evanston, Illinois), Under A Rainbow Flag is an upbeat work about a group of soldiers who meet on a transport train heading west from Chicago and about the choices they make during and after the war. Under a Rainbow Flag was the first musical finalist selected in PFP’s Great Gay Play and Musical Contest in 2012. Performance times and location will be announced.
PFP’s mission is to develop professional-caliber stage plays and screenplays. To date, two dozen authors have come toChicagofor developmental workshops of their writing with PFP’s Artistic Ensemble of actors and directors. The workshops culminate in enhanced stage readings during festivals hosted by PFP’s sponsor, Center on Halsted. PFP has also provided more than $20,000 in contest winnings to authors around the world over the last two years.
In late August 2012, PFP will announce the five finalists in the Great Gay Screenplay Contest, and those works will be performed as enhanced staged reading during Gay Screenplay Weekend October 17 to 20 at Center on Halsted. An additional highlight of Gay Screenplay Weekend will be Queer Shorts Film Program, guest curated by Indie Boots Film Festival. The program features local and international LGBTQ short films with a variety of genres from both emerging and experienced filmmakers.
Entries for the 2013 Great Gay Play and Musical Contest will be accepted by PFP from August 15 to October 16, 2012. The five finalists will be judged by a panel of professionals including Artistic Directors from around the country, and they will be performed as enhanced staged readings in Gay Play Weekend during the first quarter of 2013.
Finally, PFP’s program for women writers – Women’s Work – will accept entries in spring 2013 for stage and screen works written by women that feature lesbian characters. The finalists in that program will be performed as enhanced staged readings in Women’s Work Weekend during summer 2013.
Pride Films and Plays is now offeringPremiumPlayPassesandPlayPassesfor its 2012-13 season. Premium Passes are $50 and include one ticket for each of the three full productions, plus 6 free tickets to the Gay Play Weekend, Gay Screenplay Weekend or Women’s Work Weekend. The names ofPremiumPassholders will be also be listed in the season’s programs. This is a $120 value!
Play Passes are $40 and include one ticket for each of the three full productions and three tickets to the Gay Play Weekend, Gay Screenplay Weekend or Women’s Work Weekend. This is a $90 value.
Students and seniors over 60 can save $5 when purchasing either the Premium Pass or Play Pass.
About Pride Films and Plays
Pride Films and Plays, based inChicago, links an international network of writers with professionals working in film and theater. PFP fosters excellent writing for the stage and screen that speaks not only to the LGBT community, but is also essential viewing for all audiences.
Using stories with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters or themes, Pride Films and Plays develops human stories that become a cultural bridge to understanding.
Through readings, contests, classes, screenings, and full theater productions, PFP engages artists and audiences in the full developmental process needed to make great artistic experiences.
For more information on PFP Productions and Development Programs, including the writing contests, please visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com.