Each of the plays, according to ARTC press notes, will "deal with life's beginnings and endings and how they transform us," while exploring themes of family, friends, love and anxiety. The festival runs through Jan. 18.

ARTC was founded 40 years ago by actors Robert Elston and Elizabeth Perry. The slate of new works includes plays by Julius Landau, a two-time Rockefeller grant recipient; and Bill Cosgriff, a finalist in the Eugene O'Neill Playwrighting Conference and winner of the Thomas Barbour Playwright Award.

The full schedule of plays includes Tombstones by Landau, directed by Kathleen Swan; Universal Experience by Elizabeth Perry, directed by Janet Sarno; A Real Workout by Deb Armelino, directed by Byron Loyd; The Beeping by Josh Drimmer, directed by Kathleen Swan; Being There by Fran Handman, directed by Elowyn Castle; Dog by Dan Socolov, directed by Joseph R.Sicari; Sleepwalker Time by Linda Kampley, directed by Dale Davidson; and Playmates by Janet Sarno, directed by Elowyn Castle.

Part of the festival's programming also includes three comic works inspired by Pinter, Chekhov and Ionesco: Pinteresque Dot Com and Vanya Goes Vegas, both written and directed by Cosgriff; and The Button Man, written and directed by Margo Hammond.

The casts feature Deb Armelino, Carla Brandberg, Dave Bobb, Brandon Boruch, Joseph Capone, Marc Castle, Kati Rae Cowardin, Meghan Crosby, Richard Craven, Dale Davidson, Karin de la Penha, Nick Garr, Anita Keal, Frank Hankey, Mikel Sarah Lambert, Kam Metcalf, Anne Newhall, James Nugent, Robert Quinn, Eric Percival, Marisa Petsakos, Ralph Pochoda, Bernard Rachelle, James Rutledge, Kathleen Swan and Jenny Vallancourt. To purchase tickets, which begin at $16, visit brownpapertickets.com (keyword ARTC) or call (800) 838-3006. For more information visit AmericanRenaissanceTheater.com. The Shop @ Cap 21 Theatre is located on 18th St., Manhattan.