Running July 13-Aug. 2, MITF 2009 will encompass 43 plays and four readings. Additional plays for the Short Subjects division will be announced shortly. The annual festival is produced by John Chatterton.

A selection of MITF 2009 productions follows:

1812 The Musical book, music and lyrics by Ira Shapiro.
"The adventures of French soldiers trapped in Russia."

The American Black Box by Scott Pardue.
"A disturbing new play by Scott Pardue raises questions about habeas corpus, the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and the social forces that pave the way for terrorist policies."

Benny by Suzanne Bachner.
"Benny is the kaleidoscopic portrait of an adopted woman's quest for identity, intimacy and connection as she is torn between her newly found birthmother and her dad." The Broken Jug by Heinrich Von Kleist.
"Judge and witnesses know more than they dare say in this riot of an antique roadshow."

EXPOSED! The Curious Case of Shiloh and Zahara by Kate Gersten.
"What do you do when Mom's a Tomb Raider and Dad's in a Fight Club? The story of two little media darlings, all grown (and screwed) up."

How to Make an American Family by Jeff Seabaugh.
"Follow one gay man's journey toward creating a family of his own."

I Hate Love by Kyle Baxter and Jon Crefeld.
"A hotshot Navy pilot meets a liberal gay lawyer at a wedding and, despite their better judgment, they fall in love."

Insecurity! book, music and lyrics by Mickey Zetts.
"The recession-proof musical!"

The Lincoln Continental by Kathy Kafer.
"A powerful story of the love between a father and daughter across three decades, driven by a Lincoln Continental."

NeverCracked by Daniel MacIvor and Gwydion Suilebhan.
"It's not about who wins. It's about who gets to tell the story..."

Not My Daughter by Ann Mary Mullane.
"An actress's big Broadway debut reveals more than she bargained for - and forces her parents to confront their own perceptions of their little girl, all grown up."

A Time to Dance by Libby Skala.
"Glimpses into the extraordinary 100 years of Austrian dancer and American dance therapy pioneer Elizabeth Polk expressed through dance and spoken word by her grand-niece."

Whiskey, Beer and Apple Pie by Rob Egginton, Glen De Kler and Eli Sands.
"A trio of quirky New York breakup stories about love lost, gone wrong, and gone awkward."

Yo Mama(s)! by Natalie Kim.
"A woman owns the truth of her nutty upbringing by three different mothers."

Theatres hosting the festival include the June Havoc, Dorothy Strelsin, MainStage and Jewel Box Theatres at the Abingon Arts Complex (312 W. 36th Street), as well as Where Eagles Dare Studio Blackbird (347 W. 36th Street).

Tickets begin sale May 8. For further information visit MidtownFestival.