THE STRAWBERRY ONE–ACT FESTIVAL GOES WORLDWIDE WITH ON DEMAND VIEWING

THE RIANT THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES

Its 27^th Anniversary Season’s Lineup Of 30 New One-Acts

Available ON DEMAND February 12^th – February 22^nd

And Presented at the Hudson Guild Theater (441 West 26^th St., NYC)
February 11^th – February 22^nd

 

(New York, NY) – The Riant Theatre under the direction of Artistic Director Van Dirk Fisher, has announced its 27^th Anniversary season lineup for the Strawberry One-Act Festival, which consists of 28 new one-acts and 3 full length plays that will run February 11^th – February 22^nd at the Hudson Guild Theatre at 441 West 26^th Street and ON DEMAND beginning February 12^th.  Each Series features 3-5 short One-Act Plays.  See the Trailers for each Series at the links below:

You may Preorder the Series of Plays now.  (You can view the plays on your Mobile Devices, Computers and TV in HD.)

 
After you view the plays ON DEMAND you will be given an opportunity to cast your VOTES for Best Play, Best Director, Best Actor & Best Actress.

 

The Strawberry One-Act Festival – ON DEMAND (Pre Order Now)
February 12^th through February 22, 2015

Series A: (Release Date 2/12/15):

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/strawberryfestsa

Voting For Series A ends at Midnight 2/12/15

_____________________________________________________________

Series B: (Release Date 2/12/15):

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/strawberryfestsb

Voting For Series B ends at Midnight 2/12/15

__________________________________________________

Series C: (Release Date 2/14/15):

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/strawberryfestsc

Voting For Series C ends at Midnight 2/14/15.

__________________________________________________

Series D: (Release Date 2/14/15):

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/strawberryfestsd

Voting For Series D ends at Midnight 2/14/15

__________________________________________________

Series E: (Release Date 2/15/15:

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/strawberryfestse

Voting For Series E ends at Midnight 2/15/15

_________________________________________________

Series F: (Release Date 2/15/15):

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/strawberrysf

Voting For Series F ends at Midnight 2/15/15

__________________________________________________

Series G: (Release Date 2/15/15):

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/strawberryfestsg
Voting For Series G ends at Midnight 2/15/15

   

The Riant Theatre Company’s Strawberry One-Act Festival began in 1995 as a competition to help one emerging playwright secure a development deal and develop a full-length play. The event in its entirety, is a competition in which the audience and invited industry judges cast their votes to select the best play of the season.  Twice annually, hundreds of plays from across the country are submitted for the competition.  Plays move from the 1st Round to the Semi-Finals and then the Finals.  The playwright of the winning play receives a $1,500.00 grant and the opportunity to have a full-length play developed by the Riant Theatre Company.  Awards are presented for Best Play, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress.

The Award Ceremony & Performance will be on Sunday, February 22^nd at 5:00pm.  In addition, some of the plays in the festival will be selected for publication in The Riant Theatre Company anthology: The Best Plays From The Strawberry One-Act Festival: Volume 9.

From SELMA to FLORIDA in the 1960s, The Themes Of Racial Inequality, Desegregation And Unjust Deaths Are Told Through The Eyes Of A Young Boy In R. Jim Stahl’s Play HAMLET, ME AND MUHAMMAD ALI

By Kristopher Karcher

Following the unfortunate and unjust deaths of African American citizens like Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, and others, Americans across the country have had to face the fact that institutional racism is still very prevalent in our society. Progress has been made, but we are nowhere near equality. It’s important to learn from our past. 

The inspiring images of protesters all across the country have shown the bravery of American citizens, of all ethnicities. However, this is not the first time American citizens have had to protest racial inequality; in R. Jim Stahl’s play Hamlet, Me, and Muhammad Ali we see the 1960s civil rights movement from the point of view of young boy.

            Though Stahl’s play takes place over 50 years ago,

many of the themes running throughout the touching, autobiographical one-man-show mirror those today. “Some themes just never die, whether they’re 50 or 2500 years old: father-son relationships, justice and mercy, revenge, being an outsider,” Stahl remarked in a recent interview, “My play looks at these ideas [and] I imagine plays a thousand years from now will too.” Other than these universal struggles we all go through, Stahl’s character, Jim, also takes a very interesting perspective on what it was like to live in 1960s Florida. 

Jim takes us through

his experience with desegregation at his school through the innocent eyes of a young boy and how other white families reacted. Growing up with a black maid, he has trouble understanding what makes them different. Stahl’s character stands up for those who are being discriminated against and unfortunately has to pay for it. 

            No one wants to admit that racism is still an issue in 2015, but it’s time we learn and fix it. “EVERYONE this character knows teaches him something -- the racists and bigots, the white parents and the black surrogate parents, the

6 year old Ruby Bridges desegregates all white school

fighters and the healers, Grandpa Harry, Hamlet, and the housekeeper – everyone adds paint to the boy’s canvas,” Stahl explained. Everyone teaches us something. Whether they are our parents, our teachers, and even our newscasters. In the same way, everyone we meet, we teach them something, so isn’t it our responsibility to teach what is right? 

          Through this play Stahl teaches us as well; He shows us possibly something we don’t want to see and makes us accept it. Now it’s up to us to fix it. 

HAMLET, ME AND MUHAMMAD ALI by R. Jim Stahl will be performed in the Strawberry One-Act Festival on February 14th & 15th at 7pm at the Hudson Guild Theatre, 441 West 26th Street, NYC.  For tickets go to www.therianttheatre.com or call the Box Office at 646-623-3488.  Click here to buy now.

SERIES F – February 14^th & February 15^th at 7pm

HAMLET, ME AND MUHAMMAD ALI
By R.J. Stahl
In race-torn Miami in the late ‘60s, a loving black housekeeper and her husband care for a white, Jewish boy.  Will the boy’s own racism disguise his love for them? Will he defend his love in public when the fighting starts?

A SONG A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY
By Freddy Valle
A play about an ailment so embarrassing, you wouldn’t tell your Mom about it.  Say Aahhh.

FRANKENSTEINS’ MONSTER v. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
By Michael Napoles
What if there were a book detailing your greatest mistakes? Frankenstein’s Monster files a lawsuit against the Board of Education.

 

BLACK SHEEP By Nader Valian
What is the definition of normal?  Is there really such a thing?

 

THE GLAMOUR OF EVIL
By Thomas M. Walsh
Three young people take a desperate chance on a criminal act that will change their lives.