Theatre may be heading into the summer doldrums, but dramatists continue to keep busy -- as does New Dramatists, an organization devoted to helping new and established playwrights keep their careers in gear.

On June 17, New Dramatists alumni George Baxt and John Pielmeier (Agnes of God, Voices in the Dark) address "The Craft of Writing the Mystery." Baxt is the author of 16 whodunits, and Pielmeier was recently nominated for the Edgar Allen Poe Award.

Also in June, the New Dramatists' Alumni Program continues its weekly 7 PM reading series at the organization's New York home.

Here are the upcoming plays:
June 17: Electra Fugues by Ruth Margraff.

June 21: Thirst by Neena Beber. June 28: Corporate Law by Herman Daniel Farrell, author of Bedfellows

June 29: Porches by Herman Daniel Farrell

New Dramatists Alumni is the association of former member playwrights of New Dramatists. All events are at New Dramatists, 424 W. 44th St., NYC and are open to the public.

-- by David Lefkowitz