CELEBRATING THE 10^TH ANNIVERSARY OF

4^TH STREET THEATER’S 10-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL

4^th Street Theater is excited to announce the 10^th Anniversary of it’s Annual 10-Minute Play Festival.  The Festival is a celebration of original short plays that promise a diverse line-up of theatrical performances.

Each play will deliver a unique story, providing audiences with a tapestry of emotions and ideas in a compact format.  The 10-Minute Play Festival is an excellent opportunity for both seasoned theatergoers and new comers to experience the creative talents of our community.  The ten-minute format challenges playwrights, actors and directors to tell compelling stories in a short time, resulting in an evening that is both wide-ranging and thought-provoking.  On this occasion, we are fortunate to be able to present four of the audience favorites selected over the past 10 years.  They are Garden Variety (August 16^th), Being Ferried (September 1^st), For The Record (September 1^st) and The New Me (August 18^th).

History of the 10-Minute Play Festival

We started the Festival in August 2014 as the 6x10 Play Festival with just 6 plays that were submitted to us.  Starting in 2015, we started asking for submissions, and selected the plays through a blind reading process.  This means that the reading committee does not know who wrote the plays or where they are from when they are reading them and voting on which ones to do.  Since we first started the festival, we have increased the number of plays produced each year to 8 then10, settling on 8 as being the perfect number.  We have added performance days due to audience demand.   In 2018 we received over 400 scripts from 35 states and 7 different countries!  It is a wonderful opportunity for playwrights to see their plays produced while giving directors and actors the opportunity to work with new material that has never been performed in our area. We plan to continue growing the festival to include a variety of workshops centered on writing and theatrical styles. (Narrative by Linda Pauli and Sandra Assarian)

4^th Street Theater has a long-standing tradition of nurturing local talent and providing a platform for new voices in the arts.  “The 10-Minute Play Festival is a testament to our commitment to fostering creativity and bringing fresh, engaging content and talent to our community” says Linda Pauli, Festival Producer and Vice President of North Coast Cultural Association.

Northwest Indiana is rich in artistic talent.  Participants in the play festival come from throughout the Region and areas of Illinois and Michigan.

According to Executive Producer, Sandra Assarian, “4^th Street Theater has a mission of diversity that includes classic plays and musicals and compelling new works that make you think and laugh in the intimacy of our 50-seat venue.”

Performance dates are:  August 16, 17 and 18; 23, 24 and 25; 30, 31 and September 1.  Sunday performances are at 3pm.  All other days are at 8pm.  Reservations are recommended due to limited seating.  To reserve seats call the box office at (219) 926-7875.  Credit cards are not accepted at the box office—cash or check only.  Credit cards may be used online by visiting www.4thstreetncca.com

North Coast Cultural Association and 4^th Street Theater are supported by grants from Illinois Arts Commission through South Shore Arts and National Endowment for the Arts and from Porter County Community Foundation, several other Foundations and Trusts, and the kind generosity of individual patrons.