For Immediate Release
Attention: News Desks
RE: Newmarket International Festival of One Act Plays
Location: Old Town Hall, 460 Botsford St., Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Event Date: Thursday September 5 – 8 2024
Times: Doors open 1/2 before each show time
Thursday Sept 5 – 6:45 pm Opening Night Red Carpet Party – 8:00pm Show Start
Friday 6, Saturday 7 – show times 8pm: Sunday Matinee – 2pm
Contact: Tom @ 289-221-0928 – tpeproductions@gmail.com
Tickets: www.newtix.ca, New Roads Theatre Box Office, 1/2 before shows at O.T.H.
2024 Newmarket International Festival of One Act Plays
The 8th annual Newmarket International Festival of One Act Plays returns to the Old Town Hall Thursday September 5 -8th 2024. The festival features a number of one act plays – a short play consisting of only one act – this year having received an overwhelming number of entries from all over the world.
“ We were overwhelmed with almost 300 entries this year in only a month which shows you that this festival is certainly gaining a reputation as one to be in in circles outside of the G.T.A.,’ said The Very Useful Theatre Company President, Tom Pearson, adding “ so many in fact, we had to cut off the call early because our reading committee simply would not be able to read them all in good conscience. We believe we picked some really good plays but we also had to leave many good ones on the table. But that’s a good problem to have”.
In fact, festival organizers, as well as The V.U.T.C. board, meet all year long putting together the festival, as there are many moving parts – such as finding willing directors and actors willing to commit all summer, to locating affordable meeting and rehearsal spaces, additional volunteers to work it and of course sponsors to help pay for everything. And all those parts have to be working in unison to pull it off.
Festival runs September 5-8
Thursday Sept 5, Opening Night Red Carpet 6:45 pm – Show times 8pm
The 2024 edition features 7 plays in the main draw and 3 in The V.U.T.C. Young Compny’s entry. Thursday it’s Phone Solicitor (dramedy) by Brad Dickson, directed by Kay Valentine followed by The Next Move (drama) by William Ivor Fowkes, directed by Lee Clements and Killing Time (comedy) by Len Cuthbert – the only Canadian entry that made the festival – directed by Amanda Dempsey-Laughlin. Those attending the opening night also gain entry to the pre-show Red Carpet Party featuring charcuterie & finger foods by A Million Mouthfuls and live entertainment by Love & Light Muses. Friday night features The Third Rule (mystery) by Dan Aibel, directed by Joan Burrows and House of the Holy Moment (drama/social satire) by Cary Pepper, directed by Marlene Charney while Saturday it’s The Nature of Stars (drama) by Rosemary Parrillo directed by Gerri Sefi as well as Queen Mari’s Castle:Live (dramedy) by Lisa Dellagiarino, directed by Erika MacNeil.
Sunday Matinee : 2pm Start – Proceeds to Aphasia Intstitute
Sunday is the family friendly matinee show which features Battle of the Plays (musical), The White’s Family Funeral (comedy) and The Green Secrets (mystery). All the plays are written, directed and performed by The V.U.T.C. Young Company led by Kira Rosenbloom who this year has also made the show not only wheelchair accessible, but using the latest technology is also making it fully Aphasia accessible too, which is groundbreaking! Aphasia is often associated with those who have had a stroke and it can impair a persons ability to understand or produce speech as a result of brain damage. Proceeds from the matinee show will also be donated to the Aphasia Institute.
There are a couple of other notable additions to the 2024 N.I.F.O.A.P.’s including the introduction of a professional, experienced Adjudicator, Janet Kish, who will critique the plays after each and make the awards selections for the festival, as well the festival has added a Production Manager, Joan Burrows to help coordinate the play directors leading up to the festival along with Marlene Charney the Artistic Director.
Says Pearson, “ We are not only a springboard for actors, directors and playwrights but believe we have become a cherished community commodity that brings people from both local and abroad together in a very unique way. So please come out and support YOUR festival.’
The Newmarket International Festival of One Act Plays is produced by The Very Useful Theatre Company a registered charity committed to creating stage opportunities in Newmarket as well as raising awareness and funds for good causes.
Contest
Interested to win passes to the festival, a guided tour of historic Newmarket, and / or a stay at the beautiful new Postmark Hotel? Visit the website or Newmarket International Festival of One Act Play’s Facebook page.
Tickets
Tickets for the festival are available at the town’s ticket site at www.newtix.ca or at the New Roads Theatre box office, 505 Pickering Crescent, Newmarket or 1/2 hour before the show at old town hall while they last. Single shows are $25, $20 for seniors and students, while full festival passes ( listed under subscriptions) are only $50. Beer & Wine is available.
Additional information about this year’s festival can be found on the website at www.oneactplayfestival.com under the heading 2024 Season or search #nifoap2024.
2023 Best play w Derek Groulx top and Glen Reid
Robert Mcneely 2023 Most Outstanding Actor in a male role
