Clockwise, from top left: Molly McMahon, Jackie Strez, Kelly Rossi, Madison Lynn McEvilly. Photo: Kelly Rossi and Molly McMahon

BoxFest Detroit announces 2012 festival schedule

DETROIT - The producers of BoxFest Detroit are pleased to announce "BoxFest Detroit 2012," an annual theater festival that showcases and creates opportunities for women directors. The festival will run Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons and evenings, Aug. 3 – 18, with a celebratory opening event on Thursday, Aug. 2. "BoxFest Detroit 2012" will be held at The Furniture Factory in Midtown Detroit.

This year's festival showcases the work of 10 women who direct original plays. Half of the directors participating this year are new to the festival, and, along with some returning directors, they all exhibit a creative diversity not previously seen at BoxFest Detroit. "While many of this year's directors have focused on more familiar theatrical genres, we also have some participating drawing from strong performance art and puppetry backgrounds," said artistic director Molly McMahon. "With the overwhelming majority of this year's directors having BoxFest Detroit or other professional credits on their resumes, this may be our most experienced group of directors gathered together in one festival yet!"

Directors reshaping the box this year include Stephanie Buck, Kennikki Jones-Jones, Madison Lynn McEvilly, Carrie Morris, Ileah-MaRe Nichols, Natividad M. Salgado, Terie Spencer, Jackie Strez, Kristen Nader and Megan Wright.

The production staff for this year's festival includes Molly McMahon and Kelly Rossi, serving as executive director.

While the festival officially begins Friday, Aug. 3, "BoxFest Detroit 2012" will commence with an opening celebration on Thursday, Aug. 2. Festivities will begin with cocktail hour at 7 p.m. where patrons can meet and mingle with the BoxFest Detroit directors and staff. Live entertainment follows at 8 p.m. Following the performance, there will be a live podcast hosted by Encore Michigan featuring a panel of women associated with BoxFest Detroit. Complimentary food and drink will be provided. Admission for this event will be $7 per person.

The Furniture Factory is located at 4126 3rd St, Detroit, MI 48201.

Admission is payable by cash only at the door, with day passes for $10 and festival passes for $30.

For more information, please visit www.boxfestdetroit.com.

About BoxFest Detroit
BoxFest Detroit is an annual theater festival that showcases and creates opportunities for women directors. Though the main focus of the event is the directors, BoxFest Detroit creates a festive energy by using the lobby to create an art gallery for female-inspired art. Proceeds from the event are given to two directors as a scholarship to help further her career, and the winner of the audience vote competition is given the opportunity to direct a show with Planet Ant Theatre's Late Night Series. BoxFest Detroit has served and continues to function as a springboard for many women and their directing careers. Directors who have participated in past festivals have gone on to pursue graduate studies at highly competitive universities, become directors at professional theaters, and form their own successful theater and production companies.

BoxFest Detroit 2012

"BoxFest Detroit 2012" opens Friday, Aug. 3 and runs through Saturday, Aug. 18 with a performance schedule as follows:

Fridays:
7 p.m.: Cocktail hour
8 p.m. – 10 p.m.: Two hour-long blocks of programming

Saturdays:
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Two hour-long blocks of programming
7 p.m.: Cocktail hour
8 p.m. – 10 p.m.: Two hour-long blocks of programming

Detailed Schedule of BoxFest Detroit 2012

Block 1:
"Apples and Oranges" by Audra Lord, directed by Stephanie Buck
"Saudades" by Savannah Ganster, directed by Natividad M. Salgado

Block 2:
"Here Comes the Bride" by Ron Morelli, directed by Kennikki Jones-Jones
"This is the Play" by Aaron Timlin, directed by Jackie Strez

Block 3:
"The Blankie" by Suzanne Baillie, directed by Carrie Morris
"When I Was" by Rhea MacCallum, directed by Terie Spencer

Block 4:
"Bronte's Mom" by Jacquelyn Priskorn, directed by Megan Wright
"Sam's Secret" by Ileah-MaRe Nichols, directed by Ileah-MaRe Nichols

Block 5:
"It's Not Like It's a Cat" by Suzanne Baillie, directed by Kristen Nader
"Objects, Rooms" by Madison Lynn McEvilly, directed by Madison Lynn McEvilly

Friday, Aug. 3:
7 p.m.: Cocktail hour
8 p.m.: Block 2
9 p.m.: Block 3

Saturday, Aug. 4:
4 p.m.: Block 3
5 p.m.: Block 4
7 p.m.: Cocktail hour
8 p.m.: Block 1
9 p.m.: Block 5

Friday, Aug. 10:
7 p.m.: Cocktail hour
8 p.m.: Block 2
9 p.m.: Block 3

Saturday, Aug. 11:
4 p.m.: Block 1
5 p.m.: Block 5
7 p.m.: Cocktail hour
8 p.m.: Block 4
9 p.m.: Block 1

Friday, Aug. 17:
7 p.m. Cocktail hour
8 p.m.: Block 3
9 p.m.: Block 2

Saturday, Aug. 18:
4 p.m.: Block 4
5 p.m.: Block 2
7 p.m.: Cocktail hour
8 p.m.: Block 1
9 p.m.: Block 5
10 p.m.: Awards and Variety Show