"Pass the Salt, Please." heads to Miami in June for SE premiere in "America's Short Play Festival"!

What do the following playwrights have in common: David Ives, Jeffrey Hatcher, Kenneth Lonergen, Brian Friel, Jose Rivera, David Mamet, Tina Howe, Christopher Durang, Jane Martin, David Lindsay Abaire, Shel Silverstein, Neil LaBute and Steven Dietz?

They've all had at least one short play performed at City Theatre's Summer Shorts Festival in Miami. And my award-winning "dirty little play" - "Pass the Salt, Please." - will be among those represented at this year's festival, dubbed as the home of “America’s Short Play Festival”. From City Theatre's website - "With a growing reputation for artistic excellence, the company has a strong following with thousands who celebrate this popular festival as the official kick-off of the summer season and “the COOL thing to do on a HOT summer night”.

With packed houses and rave reviews annually, Summer Shorts is one of the few festivals nationally devoted to World or Florida Premieres of “shorts”, original comedies and dramas running 3 - 20 minutes each. "PTSP." will get a 5-week run in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale from May 30 - June 28 and, as this is an Equity (union) production, I get a contract...which my father is very happy about. Check out City Theatre's site here.

City Theatre also has an artistic alliance with one of the nation’s most prestigious regional theatres, the Actors Theatre of Louisville, which sponsors the internationally renowned Humana Festival of New American Plays. As co-sponsors of the National Ten-Minute Play Contest, City Theatre and ATL receive over 1,200 annual submissions for consideration for the Summer Shorts and Humana Festivals.

Incidentally, I had submitted "PTSP." for the National Ten-Minute Play Contest last year. Probably too risque. City Theatre Artistic Director Stuart Meltzer got ahold of it and I got the call Tuesday. Seems in the last year there's been a demand for "naughtier" productions, so City Theatre added "Undershorts" to their festival's slate. Enter "PTSP."

I'm not gonna sit here and tell you that I'm of the same caliber as the playwrights I mentioned above. But I will say that a burgeoning playwright such as myself can't ask for better company. This sort of exposure is excellent for the playwright and the play, as well as the opportunity to foster a relationship with two very influential theaters - City Theatre and Actors Theatre.

Check back for updated information.

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Got dirt in me shoes & bits of skull at me feet. "A Skull in Connemara" feckin' awesome!

That's right - those are bits of skull left over from the A+ production of Martin McDonagh's "A Skull in Connemara" by Theatre Tribe in North Hollywood.

Billed as "a bone crushing dark feckin' comedy", this was one of the best theater experiences of my life (as a patron). Theater Tribe is an intimate space - I don't think it's even a 99-seat theater. I sat in the front row - I did some research on the play and I wanted to be in the thick of the action (ergo...the bits of dirt and skull left at my feet). McDonagh wrote the screenplay, In Bruges; won a 2007 Academy Award for his short film, Six Shooter, and has published some wonderfully dark Irish plays - including, "The Cripple of Innishmaan" (reading), "The Pillowman" (read), "The Lieutenant of Innishmore" (read) and "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" (Tony winner). I enjoy his sense of humor and his dark comedy.

Director Stuart Rogers outdid himself. The acting was superb (Irish accents were excellent and I'm a stickler for 'either do them right or don't do them at all' - which would be hard 'cause it takes place in Ireland), the story was fascinating and the set - never saw anything quite like it. In front of my eyes, the Irish cottage was transformed into a graveyard - I mean the actors were actually standing in half-dug graves shoveling dirt. If part of the job of theater is to make one believe you're actually there (that's a rhetorical question), it succeeded. I congratulate the actors - Morlan Higgins, John K. Linton, Jeff Kerr McGivney and Jayne Taini (that's Jenny O'Hara above, who was taking the night off), as well as the crew. Brav-feckin'-o!

Here's the review in Variety. I went last Saturday on closing night. The audience's rousing cheers and clapping soon morphed into a beat that complemented the Irish music and we continued clapping until the actors returned for a 2nd bow. Too bad. You missed a great show.

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Banned in Malta, it's "Stitching's" turn to shock me.

“Superb, often disturbing."
- The New Yorker

Kenneth Jones wrote in Playbill (5/16/08), ' "Stitching" follows the increasingly disturbing and inventive games the couple plays in order to connect. As they circle and test each other, they role-play with reality and fantasy to the point where even they don't seem sure what is real anymore.'

He also said "Stitching" 'would make Edward Albee's characters sit up and take notice'. That's "George" and "Martha" from "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". You know the play, right?

Going to see "Stitching: A Twisted Love Story" tomorrow evening with my friend, Marisa. Looking forward to a rousing night of theater.

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"Nuru i' Yondo". The title of my newest play.

"Nuru i' Yondo".

'Course that's in code so you'll have to figure it out yourself. I've been working on this full-length for some time and it's just nearing the end - first draft, mind you. I'm excited. I can tell you it's a dark comedy in three acts - with the 3rd act being a very, very dark drama.

And if I've spoken to you already about this play, please refrain from commenting about it on this blog (under COMMENT section) by using it's working title. I have two interested publishers and I don't won't no cats left out of no bags. If you love me, you'll do that for me.

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Double vision.

The cover shot of my play, "Stan's Addiction" (Heuer Publishing 2006) which I took next to the cover of playwright/screenwriter David Mamet's book, "A Life in the Theatre".

Mine was published first.

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The Biggest Little Play Festival in the World

Short & Sweet in Melbourne, Australia, showcases bite-sized dramatic treats – each less than 10 minutes. Over 200 new plays are premiered at festivals in Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore annually. The Sydney season alone features 90 main stage theatre productions (one week run), 50 wildcards and 10 music theatre pieces. It's anticipated that 1400+ scripts will be submitted from around the world – the bulk of them from Australia and New Zealand.

I submitted two 10-minute plays – "PASS THE SALT, PLEASE." is a dinner conversation between a married couple in their 50’s which resembles the script pages of a scene in a pornographic film. It won BEST OF SHOW honors at UNcover: An Art Exhibition with an Erotic Vibe, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, March 2007. The other new play is 4 1/2 MINUTES (give or take) TO CLIMAX, a drama about three couples attending a Christian swingers convention who are trapped in a janitor's closet by a gun-wielding religious fanatic.

This is my first year submitting to Short & Sweet – they offer over $20,000 in total prize monies and only a small percentage of their submissions come for the U.S. You Aussies and Kiwis will rue the day you met Jeffrey James Ircink. Wish me luck.

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Pix from New York City

I originally posted a few pictures from the NYC trip (see May 25, 31 and June 5) and I said I'd post more. Well - here they are ('cause I knew you were foaming at the mouth to see these...am I right, huh, huh?).

Tulips in the Shakespeare Gardens - 4 acres reserved for "quiet time alone".

View of The Great Lawn from the highest point of Belvedere Castle.

Angel of the Waters Fountain (Bethesda Angel - 1868) - South End of Central Park.

Tony Clements and I go way back to high school in Waterford. We worked on the school paper - he used to have layout parties at his house (he was editor his senior year, then I replaced him the next year). Kick ass layout parties (that's all I can really say - what's the statute of limitations on....oh, forget it).

Great actor, singer, musician, musical theater playwright. He and his partner, Rob, live on the Upper West Side - two blocks from Central Park, and Tony read in Stan's Addiction. I stayed with he and Rob for a couple days and they showed me around the city. Great tour guides. Tony and I sorta stayed in touch and kind of knew what we were each sorta doing - he was with one of the National Tours of Mama Mia for four years and doing other acting stuff in Milwaukee and I was in Iowa acting there. Anyway, we hooked up again and I'm very happy. There are people in your life that, if you never saw them again, no biggie. And there are people you wish you could see more often. Tony's one of those people.

So is Michael. Me with Michael Harrington (center), director of Stan's Addiction and John having a Guinness at some Irish pub. I met Mike back in Cedar Rapids when I first got into theatre. I think he was a freshman in high school at the time, but already a fantastic tapper and dancer. He just received his Masters at NYU in directing. Good man. Fun guy. And I believe he's gonna be a helluva director. It had been a few years since we had talked as well (before this play reading came up). So, I'm glad the play brought us back together. Thank you, Michael.
The cast of Stan's Addiction outside the Manhattan Theatre Source in Greenwich Village (the East Village). The woman is Elena Shaddow - Mike's wife, who is an up and coming Broadway theatre actress and singer, having starred or performed in several Broadway shows, and most recently the National Tour of The Light in the Piazza. I didn't get to chat with her as much as I would've liked but a nice girl.

My theater debut in Cedar Rapids at the Paramount Theatre for Follies...I had a picture taken in my tux in this exact same pose. That was 13 years ago - I haven't really changed much either. Huh.

Tony and Rob in Times Square .

Times Square. Bright. Crowded. Loud. Nuts. Chaotic. Exciting. Busy. It's a sight, that's for sure. But I could never stay down there long.

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Me and my clone, Maria. By "clone", I mean Maria's a great catch - and we're similar in many ways. This was taken at my work Christmas party, December 2006, in Venice Beach. I met Maria and her husband, Donovan (who by the way is the kindest man I have ever met, except that he's a Bronco's fan), many years ago when we were all part of the Coronet Theater Lab in West Hollywood. They are my closest friends in CA and they're expecting their first child, Grace, in July. I'm jealous - of Grace, already. Maria's even met my brother, Jason, several times - I think she may like him better than me. Hmmmmmm.

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Plug For a Band That Deserves a Plug

AEROSOL HALO. Their favorite place to practice is in the white room with black curtains at the station, awah-wah-wah, wah-wah-wah-wha, wha-wha. This is my buddy, Nick's band, outta Cedar Rapids and Chicago. Alternative stuff. Original music. Nick wrote a piece for my play, STAN'S ADDICTION. By the way, Nick's the one shading his eyes. I think they have four CD's out - if you have any suggestions as to where they can play, let me know. If you don't, then go to HEEEEEEEELL!!! I'm kidding - come on, that's musician talk, man.

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"Theeeeese little town blues...", or "Stan's Addiction's" Headed to Broadway, Baby (well, Off-Off B'way)!

More breaking news...I confirmed yesterday that I'll be flying out to New York in May for a private, two day reading of "Stan's Addiction" by the Bleeker Street Irregulars Theatre Company - sorta between Greenwich Village and the lower east side of Manhattan. A theater-friend of mine from Iowa, Michael Harrington (we were in A Chorus Line together) is one of the partners in this production company, along with the former president of NYU. Barring any unforeseen hitches, Bleeker Street will put up an Equity Showcase run of the play late summer. Stay tuned for more updates!

Hey - wait a second. That means - BROADWAY, BABY!!! Well...Off-Off Broadway, but hey - who's really gonna bust MY chops, right NOW? And I said I had no interest in ever visiting the Big Apple...

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BREAKING NEWS!

I received official word that "Pass the Salt, Please." - my 10-minute erotic play - won BEST OF SHOW in the inaugural juried show, UNcover: An Art Exhibition with An Erotic Vibe, which was last weekend in Cedar Rapids, IA (see below post from April 2). Wow! So-o...I'd like to thank my actors - Gary Benser and Julia Corbett (who were fantastic, by the way), Casey Kasparek, artist and organizer of the event (and those who helped him), and everyone who attended the event and voted for us. In particular, thanks to my friends who showed up. It was fun, wasn't it? It would've been a different experience without you. My mother thanks you; my father thanks you; I thank you.

If you missed UNcover, and are curious as to what all the hub-bub's about concerning "Pass the Salt, Please.", I'd be happy to email you a copy of my "dirty play" - keeping in mind plays "read" much better when seen "live". Or go to my play site: http://www.playsofjeffreyjamesircink.blogspot.com/
for a sampling of "PTSP." The website for the event is at: http://www.uncovercr.com/

It was a wonderful event and I hope Casey puts it up next year.

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Stan's Addiction in American Theatre magazine

The April '07 issue of American Theatre magazine features an ad for my play, Stan's Addiction - page 86, lower left corner. Pretty cool. This national publication is widely read by theater professionals across the country (or we hope it is), so - we'll see. The ad includes an excellent quote by Leslie Charipar, director of the Urban Theater Project of Iowa, which first read Stan's last year (just click on the picture and it'll open up in a bigger window). And that's Scott Humeston tak'in a drag (which is part of the cover of the play book). I met Leslie and Scott in 1994 at Theatre Cedar Rapids in Iowa while the three of us were performing in a Broadway review called, Echoes.

Oh-h come now - don't tell me you haven't heard of Echoes???

(c) Copyright Jeffrey James Ircink

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UNcover was the Tits - Tops, I mean

HUGE success! More details to follow on my long weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for UNcover: An Art Exhibition with An Erotic Vibe. Between 350-400 attended over the two days and the crowds loved the event. "PASS THE SALT, PLEASE." - my 10 minute erotic play - was a SMASH! Honestly, it was a second-hand tick away from perfection, and...AND they wanted to do an encore later Saturday evening as the crowds were changing throughout the night but my actress had already left. No problem - anyway, an orgasmic thanks to Gary Benser and Julia Corbett for their hard work (my actors). You BOTH stared controversy in the face and said, "Pass the Salt, Please.".

Like I said, more to follow when I get my pictures in. You're gonna wanna see these.

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An Erotic Exhibition I'm Not Gonna Miss

I'm headed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa this weekend, March 30-April 1, for UNcover: An Art Exhibition with An Erotic Vibe. Hey, Cedar Rapids is becoming hip these days. Back to my old theater stomping grounds for a fun-filled weekend of nude paintings, nude photography and dirty performance pieces. Artists from 13 states, Russia and Norway will have their art on display. I wrote and entered a 10-minute play called, "Pass the Salt, Please". Synopsis? OK - imagine what would happen if the dinner conversation of a married couple in their 50’s resembled the script pages of a scene in a pornographic film? As these two catch up on the day’s events, their banter morphs from “ho-hum” to “whoop-eee!” – without missing a “bite”. The scene reflects the state of sex in the America of the feminine mystique, as viewed by feminist Betty Friedan.

Anyway, lots of my theater compadres will be in attendance, along with a few nude - and painted waitresses - which made my decision to attend all the more worth it. A little wine, some fancy appetizers and the right music and who knows - maybe we'll have a reenactment of the "be-in" scene from HAIR (which I actually performed in). Plus I cast the play and directed it - the little direction it needed, so I'm excited. Oh - the photo is by photographer Tracy Lee of Washington D.C. She'll have seven of her photographs on display at the exhibit. Check out http://www.uncovercr.com/UNcoverPoster.pdf for the poster information and look in the top right corner.

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