2006 NVTA One-Act Play Festival

(As of Revision - March 7, 2006)

26th Annual Festival

Press Contact:  Zina Bleck, (703) 615-6626

ONE-ACT FESTIVAL OPENS IN FALLS CHURCH JUNE 2

The 25th annual NVTA One-Act Play Festival will be staged on Fridays and Saturdays, June 2, 3, 9, and 10, at the James Lee Community Center in Falls Church, Virginia. NVTA, formerly known as the Northern Virginia Theatre Alliance, organizes this event each year to showcase the talents of community theaters in the Washington metropolitan area. This year’s festival features seven theater companies performing a total of ten works, half of which will be new plays. Three persons with credentials from regional professional theater will adjudicate the performances. Awards will be announced after a gala reception on Sunday June 11.

Curtain time is 7:30 each evening. The James Lee Community Center is located at 2855-A Annandale Road in Falls Church. For the center’s website go to: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec/Comm_Ctr/JamesLee.htm.

Tickets are $8 for each of the four sessions (for two or three plays). Cash and checks will be accepted (no credit cards). A festival pass is available for $25, and includes admission to the award ceremony on June 11. For tickets, information or reservations call 703-866-6238.

Here is a list of the companies and shows to be performed:

Press Contact: Zina Bleck, 703-615-6626.

Festival Schedule

Friday June 2
Harvesting the Marigold Seeds – Original - Little Theatre of Alexandria
That Day In September - Published - Springfield Community Theatre

Saturday June 3
Baltimore Waltz - Published - Castaways Repertory Theatre
The Belle of Amherst – Published - Prince William Little Theatre
Fin & Euba – Original - Springfield Community Theatre

Friday June 9
Baker's Meadow – Original - Castaways Repertory Theatre
The Box Step – Original - Leesburg Theatre Company
Gas n Go – Original - Fauquier Community Theatre

Saturday June 10
Trash – Published - Fauquier Community Theatre
A Life in the Theater – Published - Kensington Arts Theatre - 2nd Stage

Festival Judges

JACK FRENCH - Jack is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, a former Navy officer, and a retired FBI Agent. He has been acting on stage in this area since 1979, beginning with Trinity Players' "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." Since then he has appeared in over forty local plays, including productions of Washington Shakespeare Company, American Century Theatre, and Quotidian Theatre Company. He is a membership candidate for Actors Equity Association and has understudied major roles at Signature Theatre. Jack won the MVP Award at Source Theatre and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the Washington Theatre Festival. He was accepted for membership in both SAG and AFTRA in 1992 and since then has appeared in several movie and television roles, including "Homicide," "Unsolved Mysteries" and "America's Most Wanted."  Jack portrayed Mark Twain in a PBS television special and his industrial film, "Simple Justice," received the Best Take Award from the International TV Association. His most recent film role "Crazy Like a Fox", with scenes with Mary McDonnell, debuted in New York City and Cannes Film Festival this spring.

RAHALEH NASSRI – Rahaleh is an actress and director in the DC metropolitan area. She is an Artistic Partner with Rorschach Theatre, where she has appeared in THE ILLUSION, THE SCARLET LETTER and FAIR LADIES AT A GAME OF POEM CARDS, assistant-directed  FAMILY STORIES: A SLAPSTICK TRAGEDY and most recently directed Tony Kushner’s A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY. She has appeared on the stage of many other theatres in the area, including Theater J, Studio Theatre, Source Theatre, Washington Shakespeare Company and Theater Alliance. She has acted in numerous independent films, commercials and industrials and her television credits include HBO’s SOMETHING THE LORD MADE and NBC’s HOMICIDE.

RICHARD PELZMAN – Richard most recently appeared as the train engineer in Ford Theatre’s musical Shenandoah. He also created the role of Daedelus in Theatre of the First Amendment’s Lift: Icarus and Me. Other DC credits include The Shakespeare Theatre (Pericles, Macbeth, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2), Arena Stage (Guys and Dolls, Of Thee I Sing), Signature Theatre (Over and Over, The Rink, Four Dogs and a Bone), The Kennedy Center (Romeo and Juliet), American Century Theatre (12 Angry Men), Olney Theatre (Omnium Gatherum), and Round House Theatre (Pippin) and others. Film work includes roles in Music High (Upcoming), Red Dragon, A Dirty Shame, Serial Mom, Replay, Hudson River Blues, Chasers and For Richer or Poorer. TV credits include The Wire, The District (pilot), Adversaries (pilot), The Pennsylvania Miner’s Story, Liberty!, Homicide and Prime Suspect, among others.  Richard received a BA from Boston University, an MFA in Acting from Catholic University and served on the faculty of Cornell University as a Resident Theatre Associate.