Nine one-act plays comprise the festival, eight making their world premieres. Broken into two separate series, the productions will run in repertory Aug. 2–30.

Authors contributing work for the festival include John Augustine, Michael Domitrovich, Tina Howe, Skip Kennon, Warren Leight, Leslie Lyles, Eduardo Machado, Tom O'Brien, Keith Reddin and Randee Smith.

The line-up of productions for the Summer Shorts Festival follows:

Series A:

Amici, Ascoltate by Warren Leight. Evan Yionoulus directs a cast including Derek Lucci and Tony Campisi.
"A son's imminent departure for Iraq prompts his father to examine the fate of men in his family when sent to war." Afternoon Tea with book and lyrics by Eduardo Machado and music by Skip Kennon. Billy Hopkins directs a cast including Ann Talman and John Hickok.
"A two-character musical about the power of reconciliation. The play tells a story of the later years of the author J.M. Barrie's life. After twenty years of being apart, Barrie's wife comes back to reconcile their marriage…but he is still lost in the world of fantasy, youth, and Peter Pan."

Rain, Heavy at Times by Leslie Lyles and directed by Billy Hopkins with a cast including Judith Roberts, Stephanie Cannon, and Mark Elliot Wilson.
"A woman and a wealthy aunt pass a rainy afternoon in a Red Bank, New Jersey, restaurant, one eye on recently purchased undergarments the other on the bartender."

Real World Experience by Michael Domitrovich. Eduardo Machado directs a cast including J.J. Kandel, David Marcus, and Nicole LaLiberte.
"After splitting up with his girlfriend Roxanne, Jeff is looking for a role he can sink his teeth into. When Jeff's meeting with Eli, an emerging playwright, starts to go sour, he learns just how flexible the meaning of 'reality' can be."

Series B:

Skin Deep by Tina Howe and directed by Laura Barnett. The cast comprises Grant Shaud, James Katharine Flynn and Joe Kolbow.
"A fleeing nymph with a greenish cast to her skin dashes into the R train late at night. The only other rider is a celebrated dermatologist who happens to be sitting under his own ad. Can he save her?"

Merwins Lane by Keith Reddin and directed by Billy Hopkins. The cast features J.J. Kandel and Clara Hopkins Daniels.
"A three character play set in a bus station, strangers meet and find they're much less strangers than they thought."

Father's Day by John Augustine. Daniel Winerman directs a cast including Catherine Curtin, Chris Wright and Colby Chambers.
"Three friends meet on Father's Day to close up the apartment of their friend, who has died unexpectedly: a grief counselor who's become short-tempered and sick of it all; a young man still coping with the murder of his father from years ago; and their friend with a trust fund, who expounds on many things, including whether or not it is wise for the privileged to volunteer -- knowing all the while they could be sued."

The P.A. written and directed by Tom O'Brien and starring Ean Sheehy.
"A comic look at the day in the life of a production assistant on a movie set in the streets of New York City."

Windowshine by Randee Smith and directed by Rob Decina. The cast includes John Sierros and Pilar Witherspoon.
"Two estranged siblings come together over the impending death of their father, each on their own separate journey, and find that they don't know how to communicate."

Maruti Evans will provide scenic and lighting design for the productions.

The Summer Shorts Festival will take place at 59E59 Theaters, located on 59th Street between Park and Madison Avenues in Manhattan.

For tickets and further information call (212) 279-4200 or visit www.ticketcentral.com.