The fourth annual Art Speaks New Play Festival premiers 18 new plays on Creative 360’s Jefferson Avenue Stage. The free event provides a platform for new voices, and their stories, to be uplifted, showcasing the directing and performing talents of over 75 artists from the Great Lakes Bay Region.
 
The showcase begins on Saturday June 1st, at 3 pm, with One Act Plays performed in staged reading style, followed by a short reception to announce the Best One Act Play Award. Art Speaks Performances continue at 4:30 pm with Ten-Minute Plays followed by a short reception with awards for Best Ten-Minute play, and Best Full-Length Play. The festival concludes at 7 pm with a performance of the winning full length play Isolation by Emma Bowen.
 
“The plays that will be showcased this year are funny and wild and thoughtful” said Art Speaks originator and director Laura Brigham. “Each story brings something fresh and unexpected: from the retelling of how a Midland resident’s grandparents met, to an exploration of our phone obsession. A fantastical blind date gone wrong, to how far a clown would go to save a failing circus.”
 
Art Speaks provides an opportunity for playwrights to see how their stories are interpreted and molded by other performing artists, and to learn and grow from that experience. Many of the playwrights attend the performances and take advantage of the designated time between categories to talk to the audience and the artists who have put their mark on the works they are developing.
 
“We love that this happens during the Art Fair weekend,” remarked Creative 360 director, Laura Vosejpka. “Visitors to Midland have a chance to enjoy visual arts in the sunshine and fresh air, then come indoors for performing arts when they need to cool off!”
 
The event is free, donations are gratefully accepted in support of the program. Please call the arts center at 989-837-1885 if you have questions.

Date:
Saturday, June 1, 2024

Time:
3pm - 9pm

Location:
Creative 360,
5501 Jefferson Ave,
Midland, MI 48640

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