On May 1 members of the "Family Guy" writing team were paired with two actors for the 48-hour play festival. Provided only with an opening line and a cultural reference, the teams worked overnight to create a five-minute skit for the May 3 presentation of Spontaneous Combustion.
Actors involved in the event include James Edward Becton, Bill C. Davis, Sarah Doudna, Stuart Green, Kate Middleton, Barbara Mundy, Ridley Parson and Brandon Ruckdashel.
Created by Seth MacFarlane, the Fox animated series "Family Guy" incorporates numerous Broadway and theatrical references into its story lines. Patti LuPone, Alex Borstein and Janeane Garofalo took part in a "Family Guy" benefit at Carnegie Hall last January.
Spontaneous Combustion will play two performances at 7 and 9 PM on May 3. Tickets, priced $30, are available by visiting www.ovationtix.com. Manhattan Theatre Source is located at 177 MacDougal Street.
* Founded in 1999, Manhattan Theatre Source is a non-profit arts service and resource devoted to independent theatre artists and the Off-Off-Broadway community.