Event

Detroit, NY

The Dirty Blondes present DETROIT, NY a collaboration between artists in Detroit and New York City. Seven playwrights have been selected to write short plays around the theme of "What is Detroit?" The evening will be a high-energy evening of collaborative performances between New York and Detroit artists featuring seven short plays, historical footage, short films, performance art, and live music.

The mission of the festival is multifaceted. At its core, it is a direct response to the off-the-cuff, soapbox proclamations of the "problem with Detroit" by well-intentioned, but uninformed New Yorkers; it is a defense of the need for art, art makers, story tellers, and theater even in the most dire economic circumstances; it is an opportunity to shed a spotlight on the stories and storytellers of America's beloved but neglected city. It is an opportunity for New York theater goers to think outside of themselves and hear stories they just aren't hearing firsthand. The most important part of the mission of DETROIT, NY is to give Detroit artists the opportunity to speak for themselves. We should all be talking about Detroit, and when we do, we should keep in mind the people and the artists that continue to call Detroit home.

The performance will be a high-energy, celebratory evening with an audience full of theater makers, Detroit ex-pats, producers, artists, critics and friends.

**THE PLAYS**
GHOST TOWN by Shawntai Brown
OLD CITY APARTMENTS by Mike McGettigan
RUIN PORN by Maureen Paraventi
TAILYPO by Micealaya Moses
CAN I GET THERE ON MY BIKE? by Melissa Clay
PARIS OF THE WEST by David MacGregor
DO YOU SEE IT COMING? by the Matrix Theatre Writers' Circle

**DIRECTORS**
Rod Gailes OBC
Courtney Harge
Neal Kowalsky
Molly Beach Murphy
Courtney Laine Self
Cezar Williams

**ACTING COMPANY**
Ayomide "Ayo" Akinsanya
Andi Foster
Ryan Guess
Derrick Marshall
Violeta Picayo
Bello Pizzimenti
LaTonia Phipps
Glenn Quentin
Antwon Smallwood
Chelsea Wolocko

**OPENING NIGHT PARTY immediately following Thursday, June 19's performance at Swift Hibernian Lounge**