Four new plays will be produced as part of the Fifth Annual Key West Theatre Festival in Florida, running Oct. 3-13. The festival, dedicated to new works, will also offer six staged readings at the Key West Waterfront Playhouse.

The new plays receiving full productions are:
Joseph Coyne's Exploding Love, directed by Michael Rutenberg Rich Orloff's Water Boy, directed by Bruce Peterson Sharr White's Iris Fields, directed by Joan McGillis Alana Macias' Denny's Chronicles , directed by Patrice Bailey.

Exploding Love will play at the Red Barn Theatre; Water Boy and Iris Fields will run at the Waterfront Playhouse; Denny's Chronicles will run at the Eaton Street Theatre.

According to Elaine Chinnis, General Manager of the Festival, all the plays are world premieres. This is Joan McGillis' third year as artistic director, which was founded by Charles Munroe and Nancy Holkamp.

Area hotels are offering "special festival rates," ranging from $55 to $200 per night. (The Pines, Sea Isle Resort and Alexander's Guesthouse cater to an exclusively gay clientele.) For information and tickets to the Key West Festival, call 800-741-6945.

-- By David Lefkowitz