About

The Dirty Blondes presented DETROIT, NY a collaboration between artists in Detroit and New York City. Seven playwrights were selected to write short plays around the theme of “What is Detroit?”

​DETROIT, NY took place on June 19-22, 2014 at renowned 4th Street Theatre. The evening featureed seven ten-minute plays by Detroit based playwrights, directed by New York based directors and starring New York based actors. The plays were complemented by live music, and theatrical interludes. The goal of the project is to let Detroit speak for itself.
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

The Artists

PLAYWRIGHTS
Shawntai Brown
Melissa Clay 
David MacGregor
Matrix Theatre Writers' Circle
Mike McGettigan
Micealaya Moses 
Maureen Paraventi
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
Picture
Photo by Lalita Chemello
Read the full program online here

Press

Check out this great shout out on HELL YEAH DETROIT, a Detroit-based blog and your guide to being a better Detroiter. 
StageBuddy caught up with co-producer Elizabeth Sarkady, who shared her thoughts on putting the festival together, "ruin porn," and how the festival can help the city of Detroit.

Contact

Presented by The Dirty Blondes
Executive Director, Elizabeth Sarkady
Artistic Director, Ashley J. Jacobson
Festival Artistic Director, Darren Johnston