Modern Works Festival Returns to Urbanite Next Month

SARASOTA – A playwriting contest, reading festival and celebration of women in theatre, the second annual Modern Works Festival will take place October 8 -13 at Urbanite Theatre in downtown Sarasota. The three plays chosen as finalists were recently announced and will have readings performed during the festival.

The festival-winning playwright will win a $3,000 honorarium for her work. Audience members who see readings of all three finalists will qualify to vote for the winner. In addition to the professional competition, Urbanite Theatre is holding a student playwriting competition for students in the Sarasota Cross College Alliance and will perform a staged reading of the winning play, announced in September.

After hosting Pulitzer-winning playwright Martyna Majok last year, Urbanite Theatre will again host a prominent female American playwright to discuss her career. The guest playwright will be announced later this month.

The three finalists are: The Last Broadcast by Carey Crim; Daisy Violet the Bitch Beast King by Sam Collier; and Regular by Marjorie Mulle.

The Festival will also include a special one-night performance of Thrice to Mine, written and performed by Roxanne Fay. Thrice to Mine explores the historical figure of Lady Macbeth and presents the story of a woman denied personal power by the society and gender politics of eleventh-century Scotland. Thrice to Mine will be performed on October 10 at 6 p.m.

Full calendar and information: www.urbanitetheatre.com/modernworksfestival

Tickets Finalist Play Readings: $15 Panel Discussions: Free, but ticket reservations required Thrice to Mine: $40 regular, $20 under 40, $5 student.