Joan Caruso portrays a character in a readers theater.

Who says nothing exciting ever happens here in live theater in Western New York? Lake Shore Center for the Arts in Westfield is in the process of introducing their newest event, the Juicebox Organic International One Act Play Competition.

So, just what in the heck is a Juicebox Organic Theater? Let’s take a look. A juicebox is a small container used for packaging small samples or servings of tasty items. Organic refers to creating products in the most simple and pure way. Theater is well, theater! So in the theatrical sense then Juicebox Organic Theater is referring to a small, simple and pure theatrical event. In this case a one-act competition.

Nearly 200 plays from around the world have been submitted to this new competition from as far away as Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Hungary and Canada as well as, of course, throughout the United States. Playwrights from rank amateurs through polished professionals have submitted entries.

So just how recently was this theatrical adventure started? The competition was announced and begun in May of last year with notification being sent out to hundreds of individuals and organizations that indicated their interest in playwriting. It was the hope of the center that the organization could get 50 participants their first year out. Imagine their surprise when they had close to 200 entries when they closed registrations on Dec. 1. The response was overwhelming and the feedback amazing!

As plays were received they were reviewed and rated by a panel of 10 judges that were made up of a diverse group of individuals including common playgoers through theatrical directors, playwrights, theater educators and arts administrators. In this regard the playwrights were given a broad range of written feedback to their plays rather than just receiving a ranking from one or two strictly theater-oriented people as is usually the case. At the conclusion of initial reviewing, each playwright was mailed the 10 evaluation sheets from each of the 10 judges for feedback and evaluation on their individual play. This is seldom done in play competitions and was a novel feature of the competition and greatly appreciated by the submitting playwrights as many have indicated by their positive feedback.

Currently, judges have narrowed down the plays to the top 20 ranking plays overall, including 10 dramas and 10 comedies. After these 20 plays were determined, each was assigned to a center Readers Theater Ensemble cast to be recorded orally and made available to the general public for their familiarization with the final 20 plays as well as for our next team of judges that will be downsizing the 20 finalists to five dramas and five comedies to compete in the final round.

We invite you to listen to the 20 readers theater versions of the plays selected as finalists at the link below. All 20 will be listed here soon if not there already. Comedy links are listed in the left column and dramas in the right column. Simply click on the link to listen to a high quality audio version of each of the plays. Please be aware it takes a few minutes for all 20 plays to load once you click on the link — https://lakeshorecenterforthearts.com/readerstheater/

So what happens now? That is what is going on as you read. The final 10 plays (five comedies and five dramas) will each be produced as a traditional stage play. Casts will be comprised of LSCFTA members and other regional actors. The plays will be performed live in our Jacqueline Phillips Theater. The five comedies will be performed on Friday, May 26 and the five dramas on Saturday, May 27. Performances on both Friday and Saturday will be judged and rank-ordered by a team of professional judges as well as by the attending studio audience each night. Results from judges and audience results will each count 50% of the total score for each play and will then be rank-ordered from 5th place to 1st place. Judging will take place on May 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. Announcement of winners, awards and live performances of the top three comedies and top three dramas will take place at 2 p.m. May 28 in the Jacqueline Phillips Theater located in Lake Shore Center for the Arts. Tickets are $20 per evening and are available on our site: www.lakeshorecenterforthearts.com

What more could you ask for? A full weekend of live international theater, competition, the work of a multitude of aspiring and professional playwrights all brought together for your viewing enjoyment by Lake Shore Center for the Arts.