first annual short play festival 2025

*A portion of sales will be donated to Bethany Congregational Church

Friday, may 2, through saturday, may 17, 2025, 8:00 PM

FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS ONLY AT : BETHANY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, EAST ROCKAWAY

After receiving over 450 plays from writers all over the world, our selection committee chose six of their favorite plays, authored by award winning playwrights, to be performed for you at East Rockaway’s Bethany Congregational Church. A leaf-cutting ant, a shifty bishop, a woman confronted by her younger selves and prisoners on a march are just some of the characters in this short works festival.

90 minutes of both comedy and drama with no intermission.

 Produced by Tony Leone and Marla D’Urso

$25.00

BETHANY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

100 MAIN STREET

EASTROCKAWAY, NY 11518

Featuring the following original plays:

  • the rummage racket

    By Dave Carley

    A noir saga of shifty Bishops, hardened Church Ladies, and a Private Detective with a bulging briefcase.

  • the late gordon kaplan

    By Robin Anne Josephy

    Just before the funeral of her husband is about to begin, the wife makes an unusual request of her rabbi.

  • up the down elevator

    By Arianna Rose

    A widow is hesitant to sign up for a dating service when she is confronted by her younger selves. Together they must sort out past romantic complications and mistakes. Will they move up or down?

  • i love a parade

    By Arianna Rose

    Three prisoners of the state are marching against their will towards their demise when they are accosted by a woman who has made the colorful masks they wear. Each character comes to terms with the masks they wear, both in everyday life and on their final march.

  • the art of the deal

    By J. Thalia Cunningham

    A leaf-cutting ant wants to take leaves from a rainforest tree as mulch for farming to feed its family. The rainforest tree objects to the depletion of its resources. Ultimately, both discover that their coexistence is to their mutual benefit.

  • the new me

    By R.A. Pauli

    On their seventh wedding anniversary, Sylvie and Edward discover that people can change in surprising ways.

Directed by John Torres

JOHN TORRES (ARTISTIC DIRECTOR) has been making theater for a while, performing in or directing shows across LI and NYC, including appearing in and directing plays for the Northport One Act Play Festivals and serving as Artistic Director for the two Long Beach Short Play Festivals. His 2022 production of Sweat for The Collective was named Best Play by Broadway World Long Island and also recognized for Best Direction of a Play. John has taught acting for teens and adults, and secured grants to fund productions for several nonprofit theater companies. He cannot wait for the Strongbox mainstage to open next year, which will be an absolute jewel for theater in the NY metro area. John thanks this cast and crew for their time and humbling talent. Theater isn't for everyone, but when it's for you, there’s simply nothing else like it! Much gratitude to Lucy, without whom, none of this ever happens.