By Lonnie the Theater Lady
The Becoming Arts Collective, in partnership with Broken Arts Entertainment, recently held a play festival at Carnegie Stage on September 19-20. The Twenty-four 10-minute plays were staged over the two days. Playwrights from Pittsburgh and beyond were featured in this entertaining festival. The subject matter covered many themes: father/son relationships, suicide, interracial marriage, childless women, life support, presidential behavior, missing children, death, ecology, and futuristic internet dating–among others.
A panel of festival judges chose the “Best of” in several categories. The top three plays selected will be filmed by Broken Arts Entertainment, a Maine- based production house that focuses on art that “gets you to think, and effect positive cultural change.”
The winner for the best play was “Familiar” by Robert J. Le Blanc. The two runners up (in no particular order) are “King of Spades” by Kim El and “From Day One” by J.D. Trafford.
Darrin Freidman, Founder and Managing Director, and Art DeConciliis, Artistic Director, describe the recently formed Becoming Arts Collective as “a thriving theatre company of artists dedicated to bringing the transformative power of live theater to the Pittsburgh stage.”
One of their goals is to “explore storytelling that fosters empathy and connection in a time when the world needs it.” Through the Collective, they strive to “create a space where every voice matters and where everyone can feel connected.” And that “every spoken word and play performed infuses compassion, resolve, and hope into a world that desperately needs it.”
The festival featured forty-four gifted actors, thirteen directors, and sixteen playwrights. Each of the plays addressed topical, relevant themes with compassion and sensitivity.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this relevant, successful project.
-LtTL
To learn more about the Becoming Arts Collective, click here.
Thank you. Lonnie. This festival was a joy to watch and be part of as well.