E.S.T. Marathon to Include One-Acts by David Auburn, Neil LaBute & More

The lineup has been set for Marathon 2008, Ensemble Studio Theater's 30th annual festival of new one-act plays . The series offers 15 world premieres in three separate evenings. Performances will start May 8 and end June 28, with three series running in rotating repertory.

The year's "Series A" roster includes David Auburn's An Upset, directed by Harris Yulin; Amy Herzog's Christmas Present, directed by RJ Tolan; Willie Reale's A Little Soul-Searching, directed by Evan Cabnet, with music by Patrick Barnes; Michael John Garces' Tostitos, directed by May Adrales; and Quincy Long's Wedding Pictures, directed by Kathleen Dimmick.

"Series B" includes Neil LaBute's The Great War, directed by Andrew McCarthy; Taylor Mac's Okay; Lloyd Suh's Happy Birthday William Abernath; David Zellnik's Ideogram, directed by Abigail Zealy Bess; and Anne Washburn's October/November.

"Series C" includes Lewis Black's In Between Songs; Michael Feingold's Japanoir; Frank D. Gilroy's Piscary; José Rivera's Flowers; and Jacquelyn Reingold's A Very Very Short Play, directed by Jonathan Bernstein.

"Thirty years ago, before the E.S.T. Marathon, no one did one-act plays," artistic director William Carden said in a statement. "So, in that sense, over the years, the Marathon has given birth to a craze. But three decades later it is still the most respected and sought-after forum for one-act plays. This year's roster reflects that legacy since it combines new plays by established award-winners like David Auburn and Neil LaBute with gifted newcomers like Amy Herzog, Anne Washburn, Lloyd Suh, elder statesmen like Frank Gilroy and José Rivera, and some true originals like Lewis Black and Taylor Mac."