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Magic Theatre, Landmark Building D
 The summer 2009 Bay Area Playwrights Festival celebrates hot new thespians from the San Francisco Bay Area and provides opportunities for young or emerging authors to present their work to the public on stage at Magic Theatre.
For three glorious weeks in July, the selected playwrights collaborate with theater professionals in a workshop environment. The festival then showcases their plays in two staged public readings a week apart. During the intervening week, the playwrights and their collaborators rewrite and rehearse the work for the grand finale reading.
Among the 2009 participants is local playwright and native San Franciscan Robert Henry Johnson. Johnson's festival piece, The Othello Papers, cranks Shakespeare up a notch by having the black characters from Othello plan a revolution against their overlords.
The festival also offers BASH -- Bay Area Shorts -- short, one-act plays by local writers. Lauren Yee's Reconstructed is one of the short plays featured.
In addition to staged readings, the festival also includes an opening night reception, and showcases for Theatre Bay Area and workshop playwrights.
Tickets for most events cost $15-$25. A Festival VIP Pass for all plays and events costs $90 and flex passes are $75. The Playwrights Foundation offers 20 percent discounts to those purchasing passes prior to July 1. For tickets and more information about the festival events and schedule, visit www.playwrightsfoundation.org or call (415) 626-0453.
Photos: Courtesy of Playwrights Foundation
Playwright Robert Henry Johnson (top)
Playwright Lauren Yee (bottom)
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