Theater Masters Presents TAKE 10: MFA Student Playwright Competition, May 1-5

Aspen's acclaimed Theater Masters will present its sixth annual "Take 10," an evening of six 10-minute plays from award-winning MFA graduate playwriting students across the country as part of its National MFA Playwrights competition on May 1st – 5th at Off-Broadway's The Studio Theatre on Theatre Row (410 W 42nd Street).

Theater Masters' Associate Director Pesha Rudnick, award-winning playwright A.R. Gurney and Julia Hansen read over 100 scripts submitted from twelve of the top graduate playwriting programs. According to Hansen, Rudnick and guest adjudicator Gurney selected the six winning plays. "These remarkable new plays are from some of the finest young playwrights this country is developing," said Julia Hansen, Theater Masters founder/Artistic Director. Theatre insiders will remember Hansen as the former President of New York's Drama League and founder of its esteemed "Directors' Project." In many ways, how she started the Drama League's "Director's Project" and helped launch the careers of Diane Paulus, Christoper Ashley and Michael Mayer --- is what she is trying to do with developing new playwrights and giving them their first chance to have their work receive a New York premiere.

The 10-minute plays are:
-Neurons and Photo Albums by Erin Austin (Northwestern)
A bevy of doctors and an assortment of photos-mostly old, but one very new-force Mom and Claudia to face their future.
-The Other Brother by Eve Crusto (NYU)
During a prison visit, two twin brothers learn that it is more than fate that made one destined for college and the other destined for a life behind bars.
-Everybody Hurts (sometimes) by Emily Dendinger (University of Iowa)
Ramona works in a record store and has her eye on a certain someone, but when his taste in music suddenly plummets to levels no man should ever sink, the time has come for drastic measures.
-Fruit by Abe Koogler (University of Texas at Austin)
A young army recruit meets his unusual bunkmate.
-Grandmaster by Joe Marciniak (UCLA)
Chess grandmaster Hank Morphy faces his greatest fear: losing.
- Paper Cut by Kate Tarker (Yale)
A mother turns to bold action (and flowery language) when her son is not admitted to a competitive college.
The evening will be directed by Tom Dugdale, Nancy Robilard, and Pesha Rudnick and features set design by Tom Ward.

Based in Aspen, Colorado, Theater Masters is a non-profit organization whose core mission is to seek and nurture the next generation of artists for the American Theatre and present their work.

All performances of "Take 10," at The Studio Theatre on Theater Row (410 W 42nd Street) Tuesday, May 1st – Saturday, May 5th are at 7:30PM. General Admission is $18. (Special reserved seating available for $30 & $50, which includes a contribution to Theater Masters' sixth season sponsor campaign). For more information visit www.theatrerow.org/ and to purchase tickets visit www.telecharge.com.

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