Tampa Bay Plays Fundraiser to Give Voice to Local Celebrities

Tampa Bay Plays will hold its first fundraiser, entitled 60:25, on December 1, 2011.

Twenty-five local VIPs will be challenged to each write a sixty second play, and all 25 minute-long plays will be presented December 1, 7:30 p.m. at Studio@620 (620 1st Ave S., St. Petersburg). All VIPs are non-playwrights who are well known in the Tampa Bay area.

Local VIP's participating in the event are scheduled to include:

• Lynne Austin
• Beerasana.com
• Olga Bof, The Localista
• Miss Destructo
• Peter Kagayama, author of For the Love of Cities
• Bob Linde, Herbalist
• Michael Reich, American Cancer Society & Yogi
• Pedro el Poeta
• Nathan Schwagler, Creative-in-Residence, University of St. Petersburg College of Business
• Shana Banana
• Jen E Smith, Retreatyourselfwell.com
• Swings Tampa Bay
• Ester Venouziou & the Localshops1.com Girl
• Justin Vilardi, Paint the Town Red
• More VIP's will be announced.

Tampa Bay Plays is a play festival scheduled to launch in 2013 with the purpose of helping local playwrights develop new work. Playwrights will be given the chance to edit and workshop their scripts in an environment designed to foster creativity. The process will culminate in a staged reading play festival. It will engage local talent, including actors, directors and dramaturgs.

"Theater is a community event. When the Arts thrive, cities thrive. Tampa Bay Plays will provide a nurturing environment for local playwrights to create stage-worthy works while providing employment for our local professional actors, stage managers, and directors. By generating quality new plays, we hope to help keep local actors in the region, discover new theater audiences, and challenge Tampa Bay's understanding of the creative process,” says Lora.

60:25 will take place on December 1st at 7:30 p.m. A VIP champagne reception will accompany the event. Tickets are $25 each, $40 for two. Tickets for equity actors are $15, and student tickets are $10. For more information, visit www.tampabayplays.org. 

Tampa Bay Plays and 60:25 are also looking for volunteers to contribute to the events. Those interested can contact Lora Hogan at tampabayplays@gmail.com. To donate to Tampa Bay Plays and secure VIP tickets to the event, visit http://www.rockethub.com/projects/3652-tampa-bay-plays-60-25-one-minute-play-event