A tradition of homage to one-act plays—from around the world—continues with Theatre Three Productions’ annual festival from March 8 through April 5.
This marks the 26th Annual Festival of One-Act Plays on the Second Stage at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre, located at 412 Main St. in Port Jefferson. Breathing new purpose and new life into the roughly 80-seat Second Stage is a big part of how this festival came to be, Executive Artistic Director Jeffrey Sanzel said in an interview.
“We had a series of full-length shows that were more cutting edge that we couldn’t do on the main stage but we found that there were diminishing returns on that,” Sanzel told South Shore Press. “Then I came up with the idea of why not use this as a place to nurture new works.” From approximately 35 submissions that first year, this outlet for playwrights has grown to more than 1,000 submissions annually, Sanzel said of the event sponsored by Lippencott Financial Group.
Playwrights from around the world, varying in age from 20s to 80s, continue to support this creative outlet that gives the public a look at seven cutting-edge premiers in the condensed format afforded a one-act play.
According to Sanzel, “It's a way to give voice to new playwrights and playwrights at different points in their careers... and with the opening of this festival we'll have presented 154 world premieres.”
Of course, Theatre Three Productions never has to search far and wide for stage talent to give life to the chosen plays. “We’re Long Island’s longest running improv troupe, and we’re housed in our own building, which is a converted Victorian music hall that is 150 years old,” he said.
Sanzel himself has proven both his directing skill and acting chops since he started at Theatre Three Productions over 35 years ago. "I'm best known on Long Island as Scrooge, which I've played over 1,600 times," said this graduate of Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Purchase College in New York.
Those attending, he said, are “going to see different plays in different styles, different genres, different voices. They are going to see things that are comedic and also things that are very serious and dark. We deal with a range of topics each year, cutting-edge things that we don’t necessarily produce on our main stage.”
One of the highlights of this year’s event is the return of Long Island’s Melanie Acampora with “Too Much Fondant,” which follows a couple trying to make sense of their longtime relationship. Acampora is a three-time participant in the festival.
The opening drama by Melinda Gros is another deep dive into relationships as “A Happy Child” underscores the need for delicate balance between parents and their adult children.
The lineup shifts to comedy with D.L. Siegel’s “Monster Love,” highlighting a dad’s all-out efforts to give his daughter the perfect wedding. A dark future closes the first half in “Final Dress, or Places for the End of the World” written by Mathew Green who uses a community theater portrayal of "Romeo & Juliet" for his setting.
Second half presentations include Mark Mulkerin’s insights into how siblings deal with a mother’s illness in “Where Illusions End.” Switching gears again the lineup moves on to James McLindon’s “Sinergy”, where biotech and medieval both have a place. Lastly, “Cliff” by Teri Foltz shows how a magazine quiz influences one man’s life choices.
Because of some mature subject matter and language, parents are advised to show discretion with children.
The festival will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from March 8 until April 5 and includes 3 p.m. matinee performances as evening shows at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $25 through the box office at 631-928-9100 and group sales can be arranged at 631-928-1130.