Short Plays Marathon

This will come as no surprise, but the 18th Culture*Park Short Plays Marathon originally scheduled for 11/21/20, has been postponed. The (tentative) reschedule date is Saturday, March 20, 2021. (We have little certainty that the new date will work out, but will secure yet another one if necessary!) The Call for Plays has been extended, and five selected Virtual Plays will be presented this November. 

We are taking this opportunity to say how very much we will miss being “in-person, up-close and personal” with our dedicated and vital ensemble of collaborators – oh, the playwrights!, and actors, and directors, and the dedicated audience members. It’s a cherished day – to see new and exciting work for theatre, and catch up with friends and kin, while sharing warm handshakes, pats on the back, and performing full-on bear hugs. We will miss our volunteer staff pasting posters onto the doors of the Museum – and tearing them off 12 hours later – deftly putting raffle tickets into a bag, and handing out baked goodies. Wow! Just think of actors running to and fro throughout the theatre, folks heaving furniture and music stands on stage and off, the quick changes “backstage.” AND the Playwright Panels that punctuated the day. How about the recurring characters – can you say Cyjoe Barker – and the odd Late Night Camp? Not to mention all the rehearsing going on leading up to the day. So much more, that can’t be put into words. (Funny, that!) Keep these things in mind as we look to a future day when we do it again, rubbing shoulders together!!

New Call Deadline, and Call for Virtual Plays:

The CALL FOR PLAYS, including plays written for Zoom, or a Virtual Platform, has been EXTENDED until 9/30/20. Plays written to be presented live, on-stage, will be presented in 2021. Selected plays specifically written for Zoom or a Virtual platform, will be Streamed in late November, 2020.

How many plays have we presented over the past almost two decades? (Thanks for your trust, all!) Nearly 400 short plays have been presented as staged readings. Many of the plays have traveled elsewhere, and have received further develop­ment. Others have had full produc­tions, including  at the Samuel French Off Broadway Festival of New Plays. Oh but, back here in New Bedford, the day had ENERGY!

For further information, please email us at culturepark.ed@earthlink.net

Thank you, Patty & Rebecca