Weekend Theater Fest To Awaken Emotions In West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Folks looking for something unique and different to do might want to partake in a very unique theatrical event in West Hartford this weekend.

The third annual Fern Street Play Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Universalist Church of West Hartford, 433 Fern St.

This festival of short, original plays by local playwrights will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

"The Fern Street Play Festival is entering its third year of performing a thought-provoking collection of short plays as staged readings," wrote event organizers.

The show will feature eight original works that were chosen from over 300 entries by playwrights from around the world in a "blind" juried selection process.

"You'll experience these plays in their purest form of dynamic readings by skilled actors," wrote organizers.

The festival highlights original plays that "delve into the human condition – with themes from poignant to lighthearted – and offer a chance to uplift the community through the broadening experience of readers' theatre."

Each performance includes all eight 10-minute plays and post-show discussions with the cast and directors.

All three performances include the following original plays:

• "The Late Gordon Kaplan "— When love and grief get all tangled up. Playwright: Robin Anne Joseph

• "The Person in Charge" — Stepping up to the plate…and the pizza. Playwright: Loretta Bolger Wish

• "Up on the Roof" — The unexpected sound of a stranger's voice can change everything. Playwright: Betsy Maguire

• "Eighteenth Quinquennial Ending Picnic" — Sometimes you just have to party. Playwright: Jillian Blevins

• "Safe Harbor" — A tug of war between medicine and the law. Playwright: James McLindon

• "In the Same Boat" — What’s a nice boa like you doing in a place like this? Playwright: Domenick Scudera

• "Billy and the ADHD" — The voices in your head can sometimes get really loud. Playwright: Mark Mulkerin

• "Smith and Jones" — What would the neighbors say? Playwright: Kevin Christopher Snipes.

Tickets are available at the door or online at https://tinyurl.com/fernstreetplayfest. The suggested $20 donation goes toward cash awards for eight winning playwrights. Free parking at the church is also available. Plays are appropriate for ages 12 and up.

For the latest information on the Fern Street Play Festival, click on this link.