The 36th Marathon of One-Act Plays: Series B
EST held its first Marathon in 1977 and launched an industry-wide revival of the short play form and broke new ground by putting new and established writers together on one stage. This year's 36th Marathon of One-Act Plays will be presented in three series. Series B includes new short plays by Christina Gorman, Christopher Shinn, Julia Specht, Lloyd Suh, & Leah Nanako Winkler.
Promotional support was provided by the NYC & Company Foundation
On the Outs, by Christina Gorman
directed by David Auburn*
featuring Joe Holt†, Lynnette R. Freeman*†
After almost two decades, Jonas is back. Leticia is his only surviving link to his past—whether she likes it or not. Becoming reacquainted ain’t easy for these two long ago lovers as they grapple with conflicting definitions of what is “home”.
Christina Gorman’s plays have been produced and/or developed at The Public Theater, Alley Theatre, American Blues Theater, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Hangar Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, Prospect Theatre Company, Samuel French Short Play Festival, New Harmony Project, NYC’s Summer Play Festival, Stageworks/Hudson, Playwrights Foundation, Lark Play Development Center, Stella Adler Studios, Berkshire Playwrights Lab, Luna Stage, |the claque|, and Theatre Artists Studio. Christina is an inaugural member of The Public Theater Emerging Writers Group. She is a former New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow, Ensemble Studio Theatre New Voices Fellow, Stella Adler Studios Harold Clurman Playwright-in-Residence, and Women’s Project Playwright Lab member. She is an Artistic Affiliate at American Blues Theater.
Falling Away, by Christopher Shinn
directed by Mark Armstrong*
featuring Sara Bues & Charles Socarides†
A woman and a man sit discussing their lives. As they talk, the nature of their relationship -- and the agonizing question between them -- is finally confronted.
Christopher Shinn is the author of twelve plays, including Now or Later (shortlisted for the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play), Dying City (Pulitzer Prize Finalist), and Where Do We Live (Obie in Playwriting). His work has recently been produced by the Donmar Warehouse, Goodman Theatre, and Hartford Stage, and is forthcoming at the Almeida. He is an alum of Youngblood, which produced his one-act Sockdolager in 1997.
Down Cleghorn, by Julia Specht
directed by Ralph Peña*
featuring Patricia Randell*†, Emily Jackson†, & Lauren Hines†
Deanna Zalinski is just trying to drop by her daughter's house to say hello on a Saturday afternoon. But when she discovers that both of her children are baking a casserole to pay their respects to a recently deceased neighbor, she can't understand why. Down Cleghorn is a love letter to central Massachusetts, and a reflection on motherhood, food, and self-centeredness.
Julia Specht is a Brooklyn-based writer, born and bred in central Massachusetts. Past theatrical credits include Partners & Bridal Boutique (Dirty Blondes), Allston Rat City (Warner International Playwriting Competition semifinalist), and Patty (currently in workshop). She also writes fiction, loves her parents, and is a Taurus.
Disney & Fujikawa, By Lloyd Suh*
directed by Linsay Firman*
featuring Jeff Biehl*† & Tiffany Villarin†
A meeting of two very different cartoonists, Gyo Fujikawa and Walt Disney, in 1942. An uncomfortable conversation on power, personal responsibility, and the art of animation at a time of great uncertainty and national crisis.
Lloyd Suh* is the author of Charles Francis Chan Jr’s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery (NAATCO at Walkerspace, forthcoming at Guthrie with Mu Performing Arts), The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra Go! (Children’s Theatre Company, Ma-Yi with La Mama, ArtsEmerson, Cultural Center of the Philippines), American Hwangap (Magic, Ma-Yi, Halcyon/A-Squared, Cultural Center of the Philippines, with PCPA in Seoul, Korea), Jesus in India (Magic, Ma-Yi), Great Wall Story (Denver Center), and others. He has received support from the NEA Arena Stage New Play Development program, the Andrew W. Mellon Launching New Plays Into the Repertoire initiative via the Lark, NYFA, NYSCA, Jerome Foundation, TCG and Dramatists Guild. His plays have been published by Sam French, Smith & Kraus, Duke University Press and American Theater magazine. He is an alum of Youngblood and the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, resident playwright at New Dramatists, and member of EST. He currently serves on the Dramatists Guild Council and has since 2011 served as Director of Artistic Programs at The Lark.
Linus and Murray, by Leah Nanako Winkler*
directed by RJ Tolan*
featuring Curran Connor*† & Debargo Sanyal*†
Linus is a cat. Murray is dog. But that doesn't even begin to describe their differences. An unlikely pair works through modern cultural issues to see if they can be neighbors and maybe even friends. It’s a comedy.
Leah Nanako Winkler*’s play Kentucky (2015 Kilroys List) recently received its world premiere at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in coproduction with Page 73 and Radio Drama Network and a subsequent West Coast Premiere at East West Players. Other works include Death For Sydney Black (terraNova Collective), The Adventures of Minami: The Robot From Japan Who Makes You Feel Safe When Loneliness Is Palpable (The Brick), Double Suicide At Ueno Park!!! (EST/Marathon) and Two Mile Hollow (upcoming this fall at Artists at Play LA). Publications include Sam French, Dramatists Play Service and American Theatre Magazine. She is a member of the Dorothy Strelsin New American Playwrights Group, Ma Yi, Ensemble Studio Theatre, a 2016-2018 Time Warner fellow at the Women’s Project and a 2017 Sundance/Ucross fellow. Learn more at leahwinkler.org Tweet @leahnanako