ACTS OF LOVE Opens at Bleecker Street Theater, 5/31

Following award-winning productions in the 2010 and 2011 Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, playwrights Mark Jason Williams and Gabrielle Fox return to New York's premiere eco-friendly and socially-conscious arts festival this year with Acts of Love, an evening of short-plays to be held at the Bleecker Street Theater, 45 Bleecker Street, from May 31 - June 22.

Through five distinct dramatic works, Acts of Love explores the joy, heartbreak and hilarity of personal relationships. Williams' show, Smiles to Saturn (directed by Elena Zazanis) centers on a man with Aspergers syndrome trying to overcome social anxieties and make human connections, while Fox's The Reincarnation of Doe Doe (directed by Anthony Valbiro) is a poignant drama that captures the frailty and humanity of mother-daughter relationships.

The evening's line-up includes: Darcy & Duke starring David Berman and Kathleen Boddington, Goodbye Party starring Jenny McCray and Mary Roberts, The Reincarnation of Doe Doe starring Lorenzo Cambriello, Jess Erick and Misti Tindiglia--all directed by Anthony Valbiro; Midnight Musings, written and directed by Mark Jason Williams and starring Margie Ferris and Thom Christensen, and Smiles to Saturn starring Danny Hilt, Amadeo Fusca, Suzanne Lenz and Kat Ross.

Acts of Love benefits the Arc of Westchester, a non-profit agency that empowers children and adults with developmental disabilities to achieve their potential based on personal choices, abilities and interests.

Acts of Love plays six performances on the following schedule: Thursday, May 31 @ 6pm, Sunday, June 3 @ 4pm, Wednesday, June 6 @7pm, Friday June 8 @ 4:30pm, Thursday, June 14 @ 9:30pm, Friday, June 22 @ 8pm.

All tickets are $18. Advance tickets are available at planetconnections.org or by calling 1-866-811-4111.

Mark Jason Williams received the 2011 Planet Connections Award for Outstanding Playwriting of a New Script for his play, The Other Day, which was also performed at the 2011 Chicago Fringe Festival. Theatre credits include: Recovery (2010 Planet Connections Theater Festivity, 2011 Minnesota Fringe Festival, 15th Annual New York International Fringe Festival) Crazy at Heart (Barrow Group Theater), The Prince Charming Conspiracy (78th Street Theater), and Birthday Wishes (Manhattan Theatre Source). Mark has a BFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. For more information, visit www.markjasonwilliams.com.

Gabrielle Fox is a New York-based playwright whose productions have garnered several award nominations. Her short play, Winfluence (Fox Tales was nominated for Outstanding Production of a Short Play, One Act or Monologue in the 2010 Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. Recent works include: Blackout (The Barrow Group Theatre), Freedom Tower (Robert Moss Theater, Axial Theatre) Independents Day (Richmond Shepard Theatre) Gin Joint (Roy Arias Theatre, Looking Glass Theatre) The Talk (Where Eagles Dare Studios) and Fox Tales: An Evening of One Act Plays (Planet Connections Theatre Festivity). For more, visit www.gabriellefoxwrites.com.

The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is New York's premiere eco-friendly/socially-conscious theatre festival. Fostering a diverse cross-section of performances, the festival seeks to inspire artists and audiences both creatively and fundamentally, in a festive atmosphere. At the heart of the festivity are like-minded individuals striving to create professional, meaningful theatre, while supporting organizations, which give back to the community at large.

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