Samuel French has announced the winners of the 2018 Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival, the nation’s premier short play competition.
The six winning titles were selected and announced at the conclusion of the week-long festival at the Dimson 15th Street Theater (Vineyard Theatre) on Saturday, August 25. The five plays and one musical will be published and available for licensing by Samuel French in the 43rd edition of its Off Off Broadway collection:
Baked Goods Book by Charlie Cohen, Lyrics by Christyn Budzyna, Music by Helen Park and Orchestrations by Collin Martin
Ballgirl by Gracie Gardner
Better by Vince Gatton
The Ferberizing of Coral by Patrick Flynn
The Forgotten Place by Jeff Locker
Rabiosa by Nelson Diaz-Marcano
“We’re excited to be publishing such a varied collection, from an award-winning musical comedy about the perils of selling Girl Scout cookies to a solo drama piece that grippingly highlights Hurricane Maria’s lasting effect on Puerto Rico,” says Abbie Van Nostrand, Director of Corporate Communications at Samuel French. “Lovers of short plays and musicals need look no further than the 43rd edition from this year’s OOB Festival.”
The Final 30 Playwrights competed for the six prize spots chosen from over 850 submissions worldwide. Samuel French assembled a judging panel of theatre industry professionals who selected the finalists including playwrights (Kirsten Childs, David Greenspan, Hansol Jung and Max Vernon) and industry professionals: John M. Baker (SPACE on Ryder Farm), Nan Barnett (NNPN), Ken Cerniglia (Disney Theatrical Group), B.J. Evans (BRIC), Chris Giordano (Theatre Now New York/SOUND BITES), Adam Greenfield (Playwrights Horizons), Lisa Rothe (freelance director) and Susan Westfall (City Theatre, Miami). From the pool of finalists, the Samuel French staff selected the winners.
“I’m always happy to judge OOB because of the opportunity to meet dedicated playwrights and experience interesting work. This was an exceptionally rich and rewarding festival!” commented Westfall. “I congratulate the Samuel French staff, all of the playwrights and artists who participated, and the audiences who enjoyed exciting and entertaining plays by OOB’s Class of 2018.”
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