The Riant Theatre

The Strawberry One-Act Festival embarks on its 15th season this winter . . . the Strawberry Festival, the brainchild of Artistic Director, Van Dirk Fisher, is a play competition in which the audience and the theatre's judges cast their votes to select the best play of the season. Twice a year, hundreds of plays from across the country are submitted for the competition, of which 40 are chosen to compete. Plays move from the 1st round to the semi-finals and then the finals. The playwright of the winning play receives a grant and the opportunity to have a full-length play developed by the Riant.

Plays that have appeared in the past Strawberry One-Act Festival can be viewed online at www.therianttheatre.com/video starting at $3.99.

The Strawberry Festival is a wonderful opportunity for the audience and the industry alike to see some of the best talent in the nation. Every performance features three to four dynamic one-act plays. There's always a lot of buzz surrounding each performance as artists converge and network on future projects. Several of the playwrights whose plays are featured in the festival have written for the literary world as well as television and film. "We are very fortunate to be able to fulfill our mission, which is to discover and develop talent and playwrights for the stage," says Mr. Fisher. "We are very proud of this accomplishment, but the work doesn't stop there. Competition aside, everyone's a winner in the festival, because several actors, directors and playwrights are chosen to work on future projects at the Riant."

We are also happy to announce The Core Project, an ongoing workshop for playwrights, actors and directors to collaborate and develop new plays. For further information to participate in this workshop click here.

Now available in bookstores nationwide: The Best Plays From The Strawberry One-Act Festival: Volume One. Compiled by Van Dirk Fisher. This anthology features 11 plays from The Strawberry Festival in the summer of 2003 and winter 2004. For further information click here.

To join The Riant Book Club click here. No fee to join. No admission charged. All meals and/or drinks al la carte. Once a month the The Riant Book Club will meet at a restaurant in Manhattan and mingle, dish and discuss 2 plays chosen from our anthologies of The Best Plays From The Strawberry One-Act Festival. To see the schedule of The Riant Book Club events click here www.theriantbookclub.blogspot.com

Also Available The Best Plays From The Strawberry One-Act Festival: Volume Two. Compiled by Van Dirk Fisher. This anthology features 15 plays from The Strawberry Festival between summer 2001 to winter 2005. For further information click here.

The Best Plays From The Strawberry One-Act Festival: Volume Three. Compiled by Van Dirk Fisher. This anthology features 25 plays from The Strawberry Festival Summer 2005 to Winter 2006. For further information click here.

STRAWBERRY ONE ACT FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

August 13th through August 23, 2009
At The Theatre at St. Clement's, 423 West 46th Street, between 9th Avenue & 10th Avenue

Tickets are $20 for Round 1 when purchased online and $25 when purchased at the Box Office.

Click here for tickets.

Series A
Thursday, August 13th at 7pm

AT NIGHT IN PRAHA by Steve Capra
The most awful things happen at night in Praha – under German occupation. But the heart is never defeated.

JUMPING THE GUN by Kyle Overstreet
Falling in love is about timing, or is it?

DREAMING OF A WHITE HOUSE by Leanna Renee Hieber

I DO . . . I GUESS by Michael Musi
His future arrived before his entrée.

Series B
Thursday, August 13th at 9pm

ANOTHER CHANCE by Keith R. Higgons
Ultimatums and hangovers seldom go hand in hand.

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE by Tom Diriwachter
A Spanish lesson a the local Starbucks turns into more than what each player bargained for.

THE CONCRETE WALL by J. C. Svec
The most difficult time in life is when you say goodbye.

A BROKEN BARBIE by Ree Merrill
Barbie, broken before shipping.

Series C
Friday, August 14th at 7pm

THE DEBT by Jerry Della Salla, Jr.
There is a price to coming home.

MELT INTO THE SUN by Camilla Maxwell
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, and love leaves a memory no one can steal.

HOW TO BE CUTE AND BREAK HEARTS by Tommaso Matelli
Love and fear are good to be laughed at. Especially when they surface to make and break the walls you had.

CHRYSALIS by Sue Hodara
In the winter of their life together, a husband and wife consider the marital vows they made to each other.

Series D
Friday, August 14th at 9pm

THE BABY by Susan Kaessinger
A husband runs for cover when his pregnant wife becomes hormonal.

STRAIGHT MEN ARE BITCHES TOO Written & Directed by Anthony Fusco
Watch what happens when 4 friends reunite at a local gay club in NYC to celebrate a 25th birthday party that turns into SCANDAL. Dirt will be dished tonight.

COMPUBOTS by Paul Trupia
Isn't technology wonderful?

PRESCRIPTIONS by Ellen Orchid
House sitting for your shrink can be weird.

Series E
Saturday, August 15th at 5pm

DOUBLE FEAR by Joseph Lizardi
A couple is suddenly paralyzed by a fear they are afraid to reveal.

DRIVING: A LESSON by Lucy Gillespie
Do you know who is behind the wheel?

CRIME STOPPERS by Paul Schmitt
Do you want to be prey or predator?

LOOKING FOR TALIKA by Von H. Washington
An evening of shared memories turns sour when hidden suspicions erupt in an outpouring of accusations that threaten to destroy what has been considered an ideal relationship.

Series F
Saturday, August 15th at 7pm

JOINING THE PACK by Will Lenihan
Things heat up when Jack's girl friend comes to his house for dinner to meet his parents.

LIZ AND PAUL by Jude Hinojosa
Breaking up is hard to do.

GENERAL ADMISSIONS by Crish Barth
A neurotic couple's lovely night out at the theatre turns into a relationship altering revelation.

INTRODUCTIONS by Laurence C. Schwartz
An incoming college freshman has her own ideas about female fertility, sex and the future; only to rouse the fear of her peers.

Series G
Saturday, August 15th at 9pm

TAMING THE BULL by C.C. Corry
A powerful emotional drama depicting the last living moments of a larger than life man and his wish to die at home.

NOVEMBER MOURNING by Rachel Knowles
Love never dies. It just waits for fresh air.

IN A TIME IN SOUTH AFRICA by Ayanna Nichell
A tale of liberation and retribution.

Series H
Sunday, August 16th at 5pm

JUST LIKE YOUR UNCLE AL by Michael Monasterial
A man reflects on his childhood and the turning point in his life.

UP A RIVER/DOWN THE AISLE by Jake Lipman
The neurotic girl's guide to scattering ashes and finding the right wedding dress.

I JUST WISH by Burt Grinstead
Three different people find themselves feeling something we've all felt, alone.

Series I
Sunday, August 16th at 7pm

BIRD WATCHING by Jeffrey L. Hollman
Should a young man invite his mother's lover to go bird watching with him?

THE LIFTERS by Carol Hollenbeck
When two teenage girls rebel, they definitely have a cause.

16 T0NS by Adam Harlan
A man has a job to do and soon that's what he becomes. The job is all he knows.

STROLLER WARS by Heather Gault
Two Park Slope couples collide in this hilarious battle of friendship, hypocrisy, and what it means to be a parent.

Series J
Sunday, August 16th at 9pm

DIFFERENTIATION by Charlotte Rahn-Lee
What's love got to do with it?

BEASTIE BUSTER by Gretchen O'Halloran
A woman confronts the scavengers taking away her independence.

DEUTERANOMALY by Jessica Fleitman
If you can't see the difference between red and green, how do you know when to stop and when to go?

TURKEY DAY by E.K. Deutsch
An Arkansas farm family experiences revelation and tragedy on Thanksgiving Day.

The Strawberry One-Acts Festival Semi-Finals Summer 2009
Monday, August 17th and Tuesday, August 18th at 7:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m.
The best plays from Series A thru J of the competition.
Tickets: $20.00 online. $25.00 at the Box Office.
Call the box office 646-623-3488 after August 18th to see which shows are in the Semi-Finals or check OUR BLOG on our website.

The Strawberry One-Acts Festival The Wild Night Summer 2009
Wednesday, August 19th at 7pm & 9pm
The Artistic Director selects a few plays and gives them one more chance to be in The Finals.
Tickets: $20.00 online. $25.00 at the Box Office.
Call the box office 646-623-3488 after August 6th to see which shows are in the Wild Night or check OUR BLOG on our website.

The Strawberry One-Acts Festival Finals Summer 2009
Friday, August 21st at 7pm
The best plays from the Semi-Finals & The Wild Night
Tickets: $25.00 online. $30.00 at the Box Office.
Price includes a reception during intermission.
Call the box office 646-623-3488 after August 19th to see which shows are in the Finals or check OUR BLOG on our website.

The Strawberry One-Acts Festival Awards Ceremony & Performance Summer 2009
Sunday, August 23rd at 1:30 pm
The four best plays from the Finals will perform. Awards will be given to the Best Play, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Actor.
Tickets: $25.00 online. $30.00 at the Box Office.
Call the box office 646-623-3488 after August 21st to see which shows are going to be performed or check OUR BLOG on our website.