William A. Zolla II, an aspiring playwright who lives in Manchester, N.H., said he’s excited to see his words come alive on stage again, this time as part of a festival much closer to home.
Zolla, who has been writing short plays for about five years, said most of his experience has revolved around festivals in New York City. But last summer he and others began discussing how they might bring a similar experience to the Queen City.
Now, eight months later, their idea is ready for the spotlight.
The inaugural Palace Theatre Short Play Festival will run Friday and Saturday, April 4-5, at The Rex Theatre in Manchester, where organizers have selected six short plays from among more than two dozen submissions. All six plays, each with a runtime of roughly 10 to 15 minutes, will be performed each night, offering audiences a concise sampling of varied genres.
“I don’t know what the other five plays are about,” Zolla said in a phone interview while driving to a recent rehearsal. “They could be comedies, dramas, romances, anything.”
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That roll-the-dice sense of uncertainty about what unexpected stories, characters, and memorable lines might pop up on stage next is part of what makes this type of festival exciting.
“For someone who loves theater, I think it’s a fun night out,” Zolla said.
William Kanteres, a co-producer for the festival, said three of the plays came from playwrights in New Hampshire, two came from writers in Massachusetts, and one came from someone in Michigan.
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One of the plays, “The College Game,” is about five high school seniors competing on a game show for acceptance to an Ivy League college. Another, “Bob in 4B,” is about two women who bond with each over reflections on life with men. And Zolla’s contribution, “Marriage Counseling on Valentine’s Day,” explores a therapist’s unconventional tactics to help a bickering couple.
At the end of Saturday night’s performances, a panel of judges will select the best play to win the festival’s “Astro Award” and a small cash prize, and attendees will vote to select an audience favorite, organizers said.
Tickets for the event, which is presented by Kanteres Real Estate, are available for $24 online (fees included).
This article first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you’d like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.
Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.