#InTheLoop | One-Act Play Festival Starts on July 18
BY QEDC It's In Queens
Drama in Queens!
The Secret Theatre will host Act One: One Act Festival 2023 from Tuesday, July 18, through Saturday, Aug. 19.
Brian Leahy Doyle — a playwright, director, and teacher who’s also organizing this festival — has culled 56 works into seven groups featuring eight plays each. They get four separate performances from July 18 to Aug. 12, and audiences vote for them via a ranked choice format. The top two vote-getters from each group then head to the semi-finals on Aug. 16 and Aug. 17. And from the semis, eight plays make it to the grand final and BBQ party on Aug. 19.
At the grand final, the audience and two professional judges will determine the winning play, actor, actress, and director with an additional category for nongendered actor and director. (Each one gets a cash prize and a trophy.)
Ticket prices run from $15 to $23 in advance. They cost $25 at the door.
The Secret Theatre is located at 38-02 61st St. in Woodside, about one block north of the 7 train’s 61st-Woodside station. There’s on-street parking.
Editor’s note: The Secret Theatre used to operate at 44-02 23rd St. in Long Island City, but the owner, Richard Mazda, closed that facility in 2020. About a year later, he re-opened it at the current, 60-seat spot, which provides full access to the differently abled.
Images: The Secret Theatre