May 29 to June 22, 2008 Arsht Center for the Performing Arts - Carnival Studio Theater, Miami
June 26 to 29, 2008 Broward Center for the Performing Arts - Amaturo Theater, Fort Lauderdale

Theater in round for 'Summer Shorts'

By Hap Erstein
Palm Beach Post Theater Writer

Friday, June 08, 2007

City Theatre's Summer Shorts is on the move, moving this season from the University of Miami's Ring Theatre into the Studio Theater of Miami's new Carnival Center. Overseeing the site change along with the usual challenges of opening 15 10-minute-or-so plays in a single evening is Lake Worth's J. Barry Lewis, City Theatre's artistic director.

"The big difference is we moved to a full in-the-round configuration," says Lewis of their chosen set-up in the compact "black box" space. "I think we gain a certain intimacy, between the text, the cast and the audience." This arrangement seats 200 on all four sides of the stage, with the furthest seats only six rows away.

The other adjustment for the company is moving from a theater on a university campus to a performing arts center with a union tech staff. "That comes with a price tag," says Lewis. "We have to be much more aware of the numbers of hours that we are in the space."

City Theatre again is sharing the script submissions - estimated to number about 1,200 - with Actors Theatre of Louisville. That way, newly arrived literary manager Marco Ramirez and his literary committee has to read only 600 scripts, which is enough to turn one bleary-eyed anyway.

"We have a ranking system, 1, 2 and 3," notes Lewis. "One being 'You've got to do this' and three 'Don't even think about it.' " Fortunately the first cut took the pile down to between 50 and 75 scripts.

Of the chosen 15, two are by local favorites Michael McKeever and Susi Westfall, plus one by literary manager Ramirez. (Yeah, that reminds us of Dick Cheney heading the search committee for vice president too).

As usual, the plays are divided into two programs, to be performed on separate nights or, as this Saturday for the first time, both in one evening. Although it was not intentional, Lewis says, "I think that Program A has a little more dramatic work in it and Program B more comedic work." Choose accordingly.

After five weeks at the Carnival Center, Summer Shorts 2007 moves to the Broward Center's Amaturo Theatre in Fort Lauderdale, July 12-15.