May 30-31, 2019 – Previews
Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. – Opening Night
through Sunday, June 23, 2019
Tickets: $35-$70*
Carnival Studio Theater
City Theatre (@citytheatremia) and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) are proud to present SUMMER SHORTS 2019, America’s Short Play Festival. Playing May 30-June 23, 2019 in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater (Ziff Ballet Opera House) and led by City Theatre Artistic Director Margaret M. Ledford, SUMMER SHORTS is an annual theatrical celebration that showcases the diversity of Miami through a variety of new short plays and musicals.
Considered as the kick-off of the summer theater season, City Theatre’s SUMMER SHORTS will celebrate 24 years of presenting the best short plays in the country this season. City Theatre is the national leader in producing innovative, original “short” plays that enlighten, inspire and entertain.
Tickets to SUMMER SHORTS 2019 are $35-$70*. Tickets are available now and may be purchased through the Adrienne Arsht Center Box Office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at arshtcenter.org.
Penned by the country’s leading playwrights, composers and lyricists, and performed by a company of South Florida theater all-stars, SUMMER SHORTS offers theatergoers a fun-filled 90-minute program of new comedies, dramas, and mini-musicals.
SUMMER SHORTS 2019 features the following:
BIG FAT COW – World Premiere!
By Hillary Rollins (Book & Lyrics), William Johnson (Music)
Directed by Margaret M. Ledford
Finalist 2017 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contest
Where is she now? A moooving tail-all moosical about the celebrated Cultured Dairy Icon who rose like cream, and then …spoiled.
FRANKLIN PIERCE: DRAGON SLAYER – World Premiere!
The Untold Story of America’s Debatably Least Effective President
By Preston Max Allen (Books & Lyrics) and Will Buck (Music)
Directed by Michael Yawney
Finalist 2018 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contest
When eighth-grader Jennifer is assigned Franklin Pierce for her class’s President’s Day project, she’s bummed to have gotten one of the history’s most forgettable presidents. However, a visit from Franklin himself one night challenges everything Jennifer thought she knew about his presidency, dragons, and even herself.
FROZEN FOODS – Southeastern Premiere!
By Ian August
Directed by Michael Yawney
Finalist 2018 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contest
Linda finds Carol in the middle of the frozen foods aisle of the Superfood Market having an existential crisis. Can she snap her friend out of it or will she be sucked into the never-ending cycle of despair?
SCHRODINGER’S GUN – Southeastern Premiere!
By Greg A. Smith
Directed by Gladys Ramirez
Finalist 2018 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contest
A white police trainee faces two black officers. A briefcase between them might or might not hold a loaded gun. The officers claim to be teaching a lesson about truth, trust, and discipline, but are all three playing a dangerous game?
TELEPHONES AND BAD WEATHER – Commissioned World Premiere!
By Steve Yockey
Directed by Gladys Ramirez
Finalist 2019 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contest
Brenda is at the end of her rope. Her husband won’t stop building in their backyard, the neighbors won’t stop complaining, the phone won’t stop ringing, and it may never stop raining. It’s almost too much for her. And then things get really strange.
THE FORGOTTEN PLACE – Southeastern Premiere!
By Jeff Locker
Directed by Gladys Ramirez
Finalist 2019 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contest
All Eric ever wanted was a friend. He just never knew how to find one.
THE PRESENTATION – Southeastern Premiere!
By Lia Romeo
Directed by Margaret M Ledford
Finalist 2019 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contest
Samantha has to give a presentation on sexual harassment in the workplace…to a very unusual audience.
THIS IS HOW GHOSTS SPEAK
By Jen Diamond
Directed by Margaret M Ledford
Finalist 2019 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contest
It’s nearly show time at Theatre 33 when the power goes out. Three theatre workers caught in the darkness tell a ghost story as they stumble into literal magic.
SUMMER SHORTS 2019 Creative Team is listed below. For bios please click here.
City Theatre Artistic Director
Margaret M. Ledford
The Directors
Margaret M. Ledford, Andy Quiroga, Gladys Ramirez, Michael Yawney
The Acting Ensemble
Lindsey Corey, Jovon Jacobs, Daryl Patrice, Brian Reiff, Hannah Richter* Gregg Weiner
The Playwrights, Composers and Lyricists
Ian August, Jen Diamond, Lia Romeo, Greg A Smith, Steve Yockey, Hillary Rollins & Bill Johnson, Preston Max Allen & Will Buck
Musical Director: Caryl Fantel
Production Stage Manager: Naomi Zapata*
Production Manager: Amy Rauchwerger
Choreography: Sandra Portal-Andreu
Lighting Design: Eric Nelson
Costume Design: Ellis Tillman
Scenic Design: Jodi Dellaventura
Sound Design: Steve Shapiro
Assistant Stage Manager/Deck Manager: Oriana Urdaneta
Properties Design: Natalie Taveras
Photography: George Schiavone/Justin Namon