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JUNE 11-20, 2021
10 virtual, recorded, and livestreamed shows to support bringing back live theatre across Northwest Indiana. All proceeds will be distributed to participating theatres.
ABOUT THE FEST
Originally planned to be an in-person live event in 2020, Covid prevented the launch of the event until 2021. Out of an abundance of caution and the time required to prepare, we are presenting the 2021 Fest as a fully virtual experience. Thank you for joining us as we build back to live in-person theatre stronger and better than before.
PERFORMANCES
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Four Athenians run away to the forest only to have Puck the fairy make both of the boys fall in love with the same girl. The four run through the forest pursuing each other while Puck helps his master play a trick on the fairy queen. In the end, Puck reverses the magic, and the two couples reconcile and marry.
WEDDING BELLES
Spitwater, TX...1958. The busybody "Belles" of a sleepy little town run across a young girl waiting for her fiance at the bus stop. When he doesn't arrive, they take her into their hearts and home, track him down, and arrange an impromptu walk down the aisle for the little gal and her "intended!"
THE VIDEO GAMAPALOOZA
This virtually designed show reimagines the video games we all loved - PacMan as a sitcom, Legend of Zelda as a talk show, Tetris' clandestine beginnings - A contemporary exploration of the world around us as seen through the wit and whimsy of video and arcade games. Join the fun with PacMan, Link, Zelda, Mario, and so many other lovable characters. Fun for the whole family!
13th, 16th, 18th ONLY
MOM COLE'S
Gail is a stranger in town looking for work, and maybe something a little more. Mom usually hires family, but decides to take a chance on Gail. When the bank comes to try and take the truck stop for unpaid back taxes, chaos ensues. At Mom Coles you can see local celebrities and possibly some not so local and get a Big Charlie free, if you know the gimmick.
THE GRID
This audience interactive improv team takes your suggestions in real time to create scenes, stories, games, and fun. Rated PG-13.
LIVESTREAMED ONLY ON SATURDAY, JUNE 12 AT 7 PM.
NOW. HERE. THIS.
Now. Here. This. is a musical from the team of [title of show], with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and a book by Hunter Bell and Susan Blackwell. It is a collaborative work by Hunter Bell, Michael Berresse, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jeff Bowen, and Larry Pressgrove. The four-person show, set in a natural-history museum, explores many questions of life ranging from reptiles and outer space to friendship and dying.
11th, 14th, 19th ONLY
THE BIG BAD UGLY
The Big Bad Ugly is the story of a handsome prince that is turned into a ugly creature by a witch. He only wants to be friends with all the animals of the forest but all of his attempts to befriend them go painfully wrong. The animals of the forest, led by the wise old owl, get together and decide to put a bell on the BBU so they will always know when he's around. See what happens at the clearing on Bald Mountain.
SELECTIONS FROM THE 10-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
Three 10-minute plays selected from more than 100 submissions and featured in 4th Street Theater's annual 10-minute play festival. FRAMEWORKS by Mike McGeever THE NEW ME by R.A. Pauli GARDEN VARIETY by R.A. Pauli
TRIAL BY JURY
Can you sue someone for breaking off an engagement? In Gilbert and Sullivan’s courtroom farce Trial by Jury, it’s a very serious crime! The fickle and bigoted defendant, Edwin, has fallen in love with another woman and has jilted the plaintiff, the beautiful Angelina. Unfortunately for Edwin, all of the members of the jury (and the judge) have fallen for Angelina themselves. Edwin proposes that in order to solve the conflict, he “marry this lady today and the other tomorrow,” which, naturally, Angelina objects to. Ultimately, the resolution that pleases everyone is for the judge to marry Angelina himself!
VIRTUALLY OFFCAST
Members of the NIETF theatre community perform solo and ensemble acts in a revue of musical theatre as portrayed by opposite characterizations. This is a rebroadcast of our summer 2020 fundraiser during the height of the pandemic.
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