Actors Theater Humana Festival tips off month of new plays

March Madness isn't just for basketball fans. If you love the theater, you have reason to be excited over Actors Theatre of Louisville's  33rd Humana Festival of New American Plays through April 11.

Past Humana Festival plays have gone on to win Pulitzer Prizes or receive regional theatre productions across the country and off-Broadway. All six of the full-length plays that were a part of the 32nd Humana Festival of New American Plays last year were picked up for subsequent productions.

This year's slate of original plays includes his year's lineup includes:

• Wild Blessings: A Celebration of Wendell Berry, based on the writings of Kentucky poet and author Wendell Berry and  adapted for the stage  by Marc Masterson and Adrien-Alice Hansel;
• Absalom by Zoe Kaza, in which the children of an aging literary giant gather for a party at a Berkshires country house to celebrate the release of their patriarch's tell-all autobiography. When an unexpected guest appears, the family of writers and  editors must reckon with their stories and who owns them, and with the secrets, betrayals and deep bonds that define what they'll do for love.
• Under Construction by Charles L. Mee.  Mee's play juxtaposes the 1950s of Norman Rockwell and the current  nation of states red and blue in a piece that that is, like America, permanently under construction.
• Slasher by Allison Moore.  When she's cast as the "last girl" in a low-budget slasher flick, Sheena thinks it's the big break she's been waiting for. But news of the movie unleashes her malingering mother's thwarted feminist rage, and Mom is prepared to do anything to stop filming…even if it kills her.
• Ameriville by UNIVERSES (Gamal Abdel Chasten, Mildred Ruiz, William Ruiz aka Ninja and Steven Sapp from New York City).  America goes under a microscope for a close look at race, poverty, politics, history and government -- examining the nation through the lens of Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. The play uses poetry, music, movement and drama to focus on the national tragedy.
• The Hard Weather Boating Party by Naomi Wallace. Three men meet in a hotel to plan an ugly crime against a powerful adversary. Inspired by research on Louisville's Rubbertown neighborhood, Wallace's play explores the struggle between growth, greed and the health of the community.

A trio of 10-minute plays will round out the Festival. They include 3:59am: a drag race for two actors by Marco Ramirez (winner of Actors' National Ten-Minute Play Contest), On the Porch One Crisp Spring Morning by Alex Dremann and Roanoke by Michael Lew (music and lyrics by Matt Schatz).

Check the Full Performance Calendar at the Actor's Theatre website for dates and times. You can buy tickets at the box office, by calling (502) 584-1205 or on the website's Box Office page.

Season subscribers to Actors Theatre of Louisville can buy additional Humana Festival tickets for half off! Take a friend or buy tickets to festival plays not included in your subscription series. The 50 percent savings is not available when purchasing tickets online. Please call the box office instead. Actors Theatre also has special getaway packages that include hotel discounts. Check the New Play Getaway page on the theater's website or call Sarah Peters at (502) 585-1210 for details.

Theater Humana play