THE BARS:
Thanks to all these fine locally-owned establishments, we were able to present, and folks were able to enjoy, some great locally made theater.
RED FEZ Located in the heart of Providence's parking garage district, the Red Fez has long been a place to watch theater from the second floor windows. In addition to the Improv Fightclub Players, who perform outside the other, less cool bar down the block, Ed & Sara moved some theater inside this summer.
E & O It's tiny. It's dark. It's crowded. So crowded, in fact, that one of the bartenders there, who is performing in the festival had to hit the road with her show. Contrary to the doubters, it worked out great.
EVERYMAN BISTRO Since her days of running the legendary Custom House Tavern, Leah Reynolds has been a savior for the local DIY music scene, hosting open mics in one of the smallest, warmest venues in the city. She now runs Everyman Bistro, a beautiful space in the American Locomotive building along Valley St., where the open mic still happens, along with a whole lot more.
WILD COLONIAL Despite the fact that there isn't a theater anywhere nearby (except for Barker Playhouse, but that place is kinda cryptic), the Wild Colonial may very likely have a higher concentration of actors in it than any other watering hole in the city
TRINITY BREWHOUSE So often, this is where the audience and the cast end up for dinner and a drink after finishing a show downtown. This summer (Sunday June 20th and Sunday June 27th), we cut the commute out all together.
ABE'S We wanted to perform plays in bars. They were already hosting a reading night on Thursdays. Guess what? We performed some plays there on Thursdays. AS220 From humble beginnings above PPAC, to their long stretch on Richmond Street, AS220 has grown into a hub of artistic energy, supporting both visual and performative artists. A couple of years ago, they redid their space and made a nice big performance space. We used the bar next to that on Sundays and Mondays. 
NICK-A-NEES They've hosted cookouts, fundraisers, birthday parties, jewlery sales, pool leagues, movie nights, and a slew of local musicians. It's a great place to bring your something or other, so we did. And they got a cool shuffleboard table.
THE ARTS:
For the first 2010 Providence Barplays Festival: Plays set in Bars Placed in Bars, David Higgins, Amanda Weir, Adara Meyers, James Celenza, and Mat Provost solicited short plays that either had a bar as the explicit setting or that would be reasonably well set in a bar. We also asked other local performers that either had a history of performing in front of a drinking audience or that we felt had shows or style that suited the venues.
*White Glove, by Charlotte Meehan. Barplays was honored to include a short play by this playwright of international stature. White Glovewas the first play of Charlotte’s to be enjoyed by Providence audiences since Sweet Disaster in 2008 at Perishable Theatre. White Glove was directed by Geoff Monti and presented at AS220 and Everyman Bistro
*Pooting, by Mat Provost was written not just specifically for this festival, but for a specific bar, exemplifies the immediate and local flavor of this festival. Mat directed his own piece and presented it at AS220
*So Far Away by Perishable Theatre founder, David Eliet was directed by RWU professor Robin Stone. It received a warm reception at the Red Fez and Everyman Bistro
*Sometimes Yin and Yang Don’t Always Get Along by Bill McDonnell was directed by Barplays co-producer Amanda Weir, who was happy to discover that Mr. McDonnell’s artistic pursuits were not limited to the visual art that he is best known for. It was featured at AS220 and Everyman
* Belly Buttons by Kevin Broccoli. After working tirelessly this past year directing and producing other plays as well as captivating audiences with his monologues, Kevin has taken an opportunity to write some words for others to perform, direct and produce. Gloria Crist directed the piece which was hosted at E&O, Trinity Brewhouse, Nick-a-Nee's, and Wild Colonial
*Dust on the Bible, a one-act play from Mark Cook focuses on the three topics that should often not be brought up in a bar and will be performed by a cast of familiar faces and newcomers. Mat Provost directed and brought the play to Wild Colonial and Abe's
*What Hope is About by James Celenza, is a new play from a local writer that has already been bringing his drama to the drinking public at Abe’s. This time Martha Swetzoff directed and, along with showcasing the show at Abe's, also moved it into the second floor of the Red Fez
*Public Response by David Higgins is a short play with a long intermission. And an even longer break between writing and production. It has yet to see an audience, due to his ignoring casting concerns in favor of production responsibilities for the festival.
*Omen Experts, a new play written and directed by Barplays co-producer Adara Meyers. Directed by the playwright, Omen Experts was a delight at both the Red Fez and the E&O Tap
*Fracture is the latest from Providence writer, producer, and puppeteer Amanda Weir, who among the other countless jobs she had on this festival, managed to direct her own play and get it in front of audiences at Everyman, Trinity, and the E&O.
*Tipping by Jill Blevins is a good reminder of what we should be doing throughout this festival and beyond. Mat Provost directed. E&O and Abe's witnessed.
*Life Preserver by Kobun Kaluza is a short play with a epic story. It was directed by David Higgins and it inhabited Everyman and Wild Colonial.
*L'Opera del Paradiso, a text and music based movement piece written and performed by Will vanNostrand, who took her bartending and performing expertise and combined them to bring a show based on mating rituals to audiences at Trinity Brewhouse and the Red Fez
How to Become a Lesbian in Ten Days or Less by Leigh Hendrix. Leigh has been writing, directing, and performing her one woman full length piece over the past few years. For BarPlays, she performed scenes from this instructional and multi-character extravaganza.
Special Visits by Rory Raven. When he's not writing books, Rory is mentalist and mindbender.
PiF! previews with Melissa Bowler et al. The last weekend of Barplays overlapped with the Providence Improv Fest, which meant that Melissa and others were geared up and looking to get out in front of audiences. The audiences at Barplays were happy about about that
Phil Goldman More than a story teller, Phil created and hosts the LIVE BAIT series as part of Perishable Theatre's Late Night Series.
Jerry Gregoire A true professional, Jerry provided the music for our opening night party.
Chris Frangel provided pre-show and halftime entertainment
Kevin Broccoli In addition writing one of the plays, Kevin performed one of his monologues which he has been sharing with area folks for the past several years.
Rick Massimo andRichard Goulis provided their film This is a Good Job. Yes, we even had movies.
ALL SHOWS STARTED AT 7PM
Monday June 14:
AS220- Sometimes Yin & Yang Just Don't Get Along by Bill McDonnell
- White Glove by Charlotte Meehan
- Pooting by Mathew Provost
Tuesday June 15:
Red Fez
- So Far Away by David Eliet
- Omen Experts by Adara Meyers
- Antipasto's by David Higgins
- PiF! Preview by Bit Players
Wednesday June 16:
Everyman Bistro
- Sometimes Yin & Yang Just Don't Get Along by Bill McDonnell
- Special Appearance by Rory Raven
- White Glove by Charlotte Meehan
- Providence Improv Fest Preview by Melissa Bowler
Thursday June 17:
Abe's
- What Hope is About by James Celenza
- How to Become a Lesbian in Ten Days or Less by Leigh Hendrix
- Tipping by Jill Blevins
Friday June 18:
E&O- Belly Buttons by Kevin Broccoli
- Tipping by Jill Blevins
Saturday June 19:
Nick-a-Nees- Belly Buttons by Kevin Broccoli
- How to Become a Lesbian in Ten Days or Less by Leigh Hendrix
- Providence Improv by Melissa Bowler et al
Sunday June 20:
AS220- Something New by Kevin Delaney and Angela Colford
- White Glove by Charlotte Meehan
- Pooting by Mathew Provost
- Belly Buttons by Kevin Broccoli
- L'Opera del Paradiso by Willa vanNostrand
- What Hope is About by James Celenza
Monday June 21:
AS220- Sometimes Yin & Yang Just Don't Get Along by Bill McDonnell
- Belly Buttons by Kevin Broccoli
- Public Response by David Higgins
Tuesday June 22:
Red Fez- What Hope is About by James Celenza
- L'Opera del Paradiso by Willa vanNostrand
- So Far Away by David Eliet
- Omen Experts by Adara Meyers
Wednesday June 23:
Everyman Bistro- Fracture by Amanda Weir
- White Glove by Charlotte Meehan
- Life Preserver by Kobun Kaluza
- Special Visit by Rory Raven
Thursday June 24:
Abe's- So Far Away by David Eliet
- Tipping by Jill Blevins
- Dust on the Bible by Mark Cook
Friday June 25:
E&O- So Far Away by David Eliet
- Fracture by Amanda Weir
- Life Preserver by Kobun Kaluza
- Omen Experts by Adara Meyers
Sunday June 27:
AS220- Sometimes Yin & Yang Just Don't Get Along by Bill McDonnell
- Tipping by Jill Blevins
- Pooting by Mathew Provost
- Belly Buttons by Kevin Broccoli
- Fracture by Amanda Weir
- A Knightsville Tale by Kevin Broccoli
- Special Visit by Rory Raven
- A Bar Story by Phil Goldman
- So Far Away by David Eliet
- Ukulele Expeditionary Force by Ukulele Armada
- Life Preserver by Kobun Kaluza
- Dust on the Bible by Mark Cook
