Hundreds of playwrights across the nation Who will be America's Playwright of 2008? You decide!

Congratulations to the
winners of the
8 Minute Madness Playwright Festival
2008

Best Playwright

Aoise Stratford
Our Lady of the Sea

Best Production

I Understand Your Frustration

Playwright
Steven Korbar

Direction
David Leduox

Actors
Patrick Cann
Pia Ambardar

Best Performance by an Actor

Justin Morck

Pia Ambardar

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Finale Performances

Mar 12, Wednesday / 8:00 pm

Mar 13, Thursday / 8:00 pm

Mar 14, Friday / 8:00 pm

Mar 15, Saturday / 3:00 pm Matinee / 8:00 pm Evening

Awards & Gala Event

Mar 16, Sunday…..6:00 pm
@
The Irish Rouge second floor

Congratulation to the following Finale Playwrights and Actors!!!!

I Understand Your Frustration. .........Steven Korbar

Low & Away......... ......... ......... ..... Demetra Kareman

Smile....... ......... ......... ......... ...........Nina Mansfield

Tic-Tac-Toe. ......... ......... ......... ......Jeremy Handelman

Meeting Without End......... ......... .....Walter Thinnes

Surprise.... ......... ......... ......... ...........Mark Harvey Levine

Parthy and Me.......... ......... .......... ....Ben Lewis

Rats........ ......... ......... ......... ............Shaun Raviv

the ta ta song of the aftermore... .........Constance Parng

A Lovely Moon........ ......... ......... ......Evan Guilford-Blake

What's On Your Mind........ ......... .... David Fox

Our Lady of the Sea......... ......... ........Aoise Stratford

Abuse from Another Life........ ............Fran Handman

Turtle Shell Productions' hugely successful annual event in its Fifth season, 8-MINUTE MADNESS PLAYWRIGHT FESTIVAL OF 2008 is BACK! This DO NOT MISS event will take place in our beautifully renovated new theater space in the heart of Times Square. We received an overwhelming number of scripts written by incredibly talented playwrights from clear across our country, as well as internationally, looking to compete in this year's award-winning event. The 8 MINUTE MADNESS FESTIVAL will feature the top 27 plays chosen by our search committee over a three-week period and you, the audience, get to weigh in on which playwright wins the highest honors: 8 MINUTE MADNESS PLAYWRIGHT OF 2008.

We've chosen 27 of the best short plays by ingenious writers from all over the United States. These witty plays are each 8 minutes in length and are directed by four exhilarating New York directors. Once our semi-finals finish on March 8 th , those chosen by, you, the audience, will advance to the Finals.

The finals are on fire! You and New York's top Talent and Literary Agents will review the final 12 plays left standing and vote. Let your voice be heard!  As a member of the audience, you'll not only witness the birth of fresh up-and-coming writers, but you'll also have the opportunity to partake in the 8 MINUTE MADNESS PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL OF 2008!

Awards and musical entertainment will be presented Sunday March 16 at 6:00pm.

This festival promises to display some of the most innovative writing, directing and acting talent in modern American theater. This production brings together directors, and designers by award-winning artists and Turtle Shell Productions very own in house acting members The Terrapin Troupe.

Produced by John W. Cooper & Turtle Shell Productions & Directed by: David Leduox, David Letwin, Gaye Taylor Upchurch and Arthur French. Asst. Prod. Manager: Amanda-Mae Goodridge, Set Design: Ryan Scott, Light Design: Eric Larson. Costumes & props Christina Gianinni. Stage Managers: Sheldon Gilbert & Nate Brauner.

Semi-Finals

Group A Performances

Director Gaye Taylor Upchurch

Playwrights: Walter Thinnes, Mark Harvey
Levine, Aoise Stratford, Ben Lewis, Shaun
Raviv, Constance Parng, Henry W. Kimmel,
J. Stephen Brantley and Rich Rubin.

Actors: Christie Booker, Robin Madel, *Kaolin
Bass, Kevin Porter Young, Monika Schneider,
Christian O’Brien, Eric Glawe, Rob Welsh, Emily
Coffin, *Bill Toscano, Santana Dempsey, Audra
George, Natalie Anderson, Justin Tensen,
Constance Parng

February 26, Tuesday / 7:00 pm

February 28, Thursday / 9:30 pm

March 1, Saturday / 1:00 pm Matinee / 9:30 pm Evening

March 2, Sunday / 3:30pm

March 3, Monday / 7:00 pm

March 5, Wednesday / 9:30pm

March 7, Friday / 7:00 pm

March 8, Saturday / 3:30pm

____________________________________

Group B Performances

Director Arthur French

Playwrights: Evan Guilford-Blake, Edward Musto,
John Buczko, Rich Espey, David Fox, Aoise
Stratford, Ann Marie Oliva, Jane Prendergast,
Fran Handman.

Actors: Barbra Ann Smilko, *Traci Hovel, Tony
Mirrcandani, Alison Crane, Justin Morck, Renato Biribin
Edward Sheldon, *Cynthia Fellowes, Jonathan M. Castro,
*Carol Lambert, *Bill Toscano, Coleen Sciacca, Ingrid
Kullberg-Bendz, Deidre Lynn, *Kendall Zwillman,
*Susan Wallack, Anna Savant,

February 26, Tuesday / 9:30 pm

February 27, Wednesday / 7:00 pm

February 29, Friday / 7:00 pm

March 1, Saturday / 3:30 pm

March 2, Sunday / 1:00 pm Matinee / 9:30 pm Evening

March 5, Wednesday / 7:00 pm

March 6, Thursday / 9:30 pm

March 7, Friday / 9:30 pm

March 8, Saturday / 7:00 pm

_____________________________________

Group C Performances

Director’s David Leduox & David Letwin

Playwrights: Steven Korbar, Spence Porter, Eric Alan
Bower, Mark Harvey Levine, William Munt, Lynn
Snyder, Demetra Kareman, Nina Mansfield, Jeremy Handelman

Actors: Patrick Cann, Pia Ambardar, Bernardo Cubria,
Mark Becker, Annie Mistak, Emily Simoness, Bristol
Pomeroy, Tara Gadomski, Danielle Faitelson, Collin
Smith, Kaolin Bass, Elise Rovinsky, Shiloh Klein,
*Lauren Robert, *Byron Loyd.

February 27, Wednesday / 9:30pm

February 28, Thursday / 7:00 pm

February 29, Friday / 9:30 pm

March 1, Saturday / 7:00 pm

March 2, Sunday / 7:00 pm

March 3, Monday / 9:30pm

March 6, Thursday / 7:00 pm

March 8, Saturday / 1:00 pm Matinee / 9:30pm Evening

Finale Performances

Mar 12, Wednesday / 8:00 pm

Mar 13, Thursday / 8:00 pm

Mar 14, Friday / 8:00 pm

Mar 15, Saturday / 3:00 pm Matinee / 8:00 pm Evening

Awards & Gala Event

Mar 16, Sunday…..6:00 pm

Congratulation to the following playwrights!!!!

I Understand Your Frustration....................Steven Korbar

Men/Women.................................................Spence Porter

The Dali Lama Drinks His Own Pee................Eric Alan Bower

Scripted..........................................................Mark Harvey Levine

Big Red Button...............................................William Munt

DON'T LOOK!................................................Lynn Snyder

Low & Away...................................................Demetra Kareman

Smile..............................................................Nina Mansfield

Tic-Tac-Toe...................................................Jeremy Handelman

Meeting Without End.......................................Walter Thinnes

Surprise...........................................................Mark Harvey Levine

Elephants and Coffee.......................................Aoise Stratford

Parthy and Me.................................................Ben Lewis

Rats................................................................Shaun Raviv

the ta ta song of the aftermore........................Constance Parng

The Dilemma of A Standing Ovation................Henry W. Kimmel

Struck.............................................................J. Stephen Brantley

A Most Unsuitable Conversation......................Rich Rubin

A Lovely Moon................................................Evan Guilford-Blake

Poor Hearts.....................................................Edward Musto

The Final Chuckle...........................................John Buczko

Peelers.............................................................Rich Espey

What's On Your Mind......................................David Fox

Our Lady of the Sea.........................................Aoise Stratford

Momology.........................................................Ann Marie Olivia

Abuse from Another Life..................................Fran Handman

The Diers........................................................Jane Prendergast

Production Staff

John W. Cooper……………………………………………………Producer/Artistic Director

David Letwin……………….………………………………………………Director

David Ledoux………….…………………………………………..……….Director

Arthur French………….…………………………………………...……....Director

Gaye-Taylor Upchurch………………………………………………..…....Director

Nate Brauner....................………………………………………....Stage Manager

Ryan Scott………………………………………………………...Scenic Designer

Eric Larson………………………………………………….......Lighting Designer

Christina Gianinni……………………………………………...Costumes & Props

Susan Smale...................………………………….………….…...Sound Designer

Jacky Chan………………………………………………...Assistant Prop Master

*Member of Actors Equity Association & Equity Approved Showcase

Festival Information

Purchase your tickets today!

Please Note:

We have three separate grouped performances and each group is listed by the “Directors” name.
If you are attending a performance to see a particular actor and or playwright
scroll down this page to see which group they are in.
The names are also listed on the theater mania calendar once you have selected the performance day you wish to attend.