THEATRE + COMEDY

Theatre Southwest presents the 12th Annual Festival of Originals.

Theatre Southwest continues to give new playwrights a chance to shine and Houstonians a chance to enjoy the work of up and coming authors and playwrights. This year the Festival will feature five original one-act plays, by five different playwrights with five different casts - all being premiered on the Theatre Southwest stage. An eclectic mix that never fails to please.

In the realm of professional theatre, for years The Alley has been staging new plays before they hit Broadway, but did you know that July 17 - Aug 8, Theatre Southwest, a local community theatre, is in it's 12th season of giving new playwrights a chance to have their work staged? Theatre Southwest's Festival of Originals is taking the best of local writers' plays and offering them a venue for new unproduced works. It's a wonderful stepping-stone. Some of the writers have gone on to having works produced Off-Broadway.

This is a perfect example of how all throughout Houston we are stepping up to help foster the arts in our community. It's what keeps Houston the most vibrant city in the US!

Last year's Festival was so well attended we found ourselves turning audience away, so this year we're adding another week to the run.

This years originals include:
* Portrait of a Mannequin written by Carl L. Williams, directed by Sam Martinez
* The Shifflet Project written by Joe Barnes, directed by Jay Menchaca
* The Wrong Door by George Rapier, directed by Malinda L. Beckham
* Matching Designs by John Zygmunt, directed by Barbara S. Hartman
* Better Living Through Science by Lauren Tunnell Verdeyen, directed by Mack Hays

Click here to read about the playwrights and the performers.

For more information or tickets: THEATRE SOUTHWEST 8944 Clarkcrest off Fondren, Houston, TX 77063 www.theatresouthwest.org  713 - 661 9505.