American New Writing Festival 

3  to 14 June, 2014 at Theatre 503, Battersea, London

Tuesday to Saturday at 7.45PM, Sunday at 5PM

 

Over Here Theatre Company, Robert F Bradish and Theatre503 are proud to present ObamAmerica, a festival of fifteen minute plays about life under the Obama administration, looking at all aspects from political to personal. Barack Obama is a powerful and charismatic figure, one whose election promised great change and provided hope for a difference to American society and the world at large after eight years under George W Bush. We asked, did Obama fulfil those dreams of the American people or has he offered more of the same? We received over 250 submissions from playwrights and have now chosen just fourteen to be performed in ObamAmerica:

 

Week One: Tuesday 3 June to Saturday 7 June at 7.45PM, Sunday 8 June at 5PM

1. Knock Knock by Charles Evered, directed by Lisa Cagnacci         

2. Bong Hits 4 Jesus by Eric Henry Sanders, directed by Jennifer Bakst      

3. Off the Cliff by Alexis Roblan, directed by Suzette Coon            

4. Crowd by Judah Skoff, directed by Lydia Parker

5. Water Under the Board by Christopher A Adams, directed by Jonathan O'Boyle

6. Reflection Day by Chuck Cummings, directed by Omar F Okai

7. Bradley-Chelsea-Nameless by Al Sjoerdsma, directed by Benet Catty

 

Week Two: Tuesday 10 June to Saturday 14 June at 7.45PM

1. African Americana by Aurin Squire, directed by James O'Donnell

2. Let Me Be Clear by Kevin Armento, directed by Abbie Lucas

3. They Float Up by Jacquelyn Reingold, directed by Lydia Parker

4. To Defend Freedom by Annalisa Dias, directed by Daniel Burgess 

5. Whistleblower by Nasi Voutsas, directed by Jasmine Woodcock-Stewart           

6.  Alban's Garden by Rich Espey, directed by Robyn Winfield-Smith

7. $<0RP!0 by Kevin Kautzman, directed by Matt Steinberg

 

An Algerian prisoner is finally freed from Guantanamo Bay but what awaits him? An African-American university graduate campaigns for Obama in rough East Cleveland, Ohio but keeps getting stopped by armed and racist state troopers. A drone pilot in Arizona hides out in a nail bar. Edward Snowden chats to an Obama souvenir salesman in Washington DC. Bradley Manning dances in his jail cell. An ineffectual gun law is hotly debated on a TV news show. ObamAmerica will give snapshots of the challenges that Barack Obama faces and the sometimes controversial choices he has made during his term of office.

 

Playwrights include renowned TV and film writers Charles Evered (Adopt a Sailor starring Peter Coyote, USA’s Monk) and Jacquelyn Reingold (NBC’s Smash and Law and Order, HBO’s In Treatment), many award winning playwrights from around the United States whose work has been seen at Primary Stages, Naked Angels, Manhattan Repertory Theater (NYC), Milwaukee Rep, Kennedy Center and New Jersey Rep as well as several American writers who have studied at the Royal Court Young Writers Programme and had work produced in London.

 

Theatre 503 became the smallest theatre to be awarded an Olivier award, when back in 2010, The Mountaintop by Katori Hall, an American writer, won Best New Play.

This seminal production which transferred to the West End, eventually led to a Broadway production starring Samuel L Jackson and Angela Bassett.