I learned today that my play “Fifteen Men In A Smoke-Filled Room” is one of six winners of a new play contest sponsored by the Historic Elitch Gardens Theatre.

The New Works Festival is the first of its kind sponsored by the Historical Elitch Gardens Theatre and represents the premiere venture of the organization after its 2015 re-launch.

The Historic Elitch Gardens Theatre is nestled in Denver, Colorado and was built in 1890. “The theatre has been described as “one of the cradles of American drama.” The stage has hosted such stars as Grace Kelly, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., Cybil Shepard, Vincent Price, and many more. The theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and locally landmarked by the City of Denver in 1995.”

Since 1990, the Historic Elitch Gardens Theatre has been closed down for a sustained period of renovations, assisted by the Office of Economic Development in Denver and a grant of $425,000. You can see a great story about the theater on local Denver TV here! Elitch Gardens trumpets the New Works Festival as “marking the return of the Elitch Gardens Theatre as a vital component of Denver’s cultural landscape.”

The New Works Festival involved the submission of some 90 theatrical works from playwrights around the United States. The plays were then judged by an esteemed panel of experts, including many local and national theatrical professionals, such as author Christina Crawford, Broadway actress Billie McBride, casting and literary agents, directors, and Elitch Theatre alumni.

The festival will take place from August 20-August 22, 2015, with my play being read at 6pm on Saturday, August 22.