Dionysia -- A Festival of Short Plays returns to the Ring

PORTSMOUTH – After last year’s successful inaugural run, ‘Dionysia’ returns to the Players’ Ring Theatre, in collaboration with Outcast Productions, April 25, 26 and 27.
 
“Dionysia” was a large festival in ancient Athens in honor of the god Dionysus, the central events of which were the theatrical performances of dramatic tragedies and – later on – comedies. It was the second-most important festival in Greece.

The Players' Ring is thrilled to present the second edition of this festival, aimed at showcasing 11 excellent original works in the form of short plays selected among 159 submissions from everywhere in the US and beyond (Spain and New Zealand) and performed by an ensemble of 10 actors playing 33 different roles!
 
“Dionysia Festival is an experimental platform for new talent,” said the Ring’s Executive Director Margherita Giacobbi.
 
“Despite being a relatively new program, it means a lot to the Ring. We are very grateful that longtime friend and artistic director Alex Bickerstaff decided to pitch it to us and we had our first production last June.”
 
When the Ring was created 33 years ago, founders Gary and Barbara Newton envisioned it as a safe space for new playwrights and artists of all experience levels to take risks, be bold, learn and grow. Since then, the organization and its mission have naturally evolved. 
 
“The Ring today professionally produces 9 to 10 top-notch plays every Season, featuring great performances by local and regional actors. This has allowed us to grow our brand and our audience base and we are really proud of what we are achieving,” Giacobbi said. 
 
“By the same token, we want to remain true to our original mission. New work excites us and so does the opportunity to meet and develop new talent. ‘Dionysia’ offers us the chance of producing many original works in one single event, and engaging a new circle of performers in the process.”
Bickerstaff started at the Ring 12 years ago as an actor with little experience and infinite enthusiasm. 
“At the time The Ring had a show every single weekend, put on by the dozens of independent companies that called this little brick building home,” they said. “What's more, most of those shows were written by local playwrights, an amazingly talented artist colony where I received a practical education that rivals some universities.”

Two years into this apprenticeship, Bickerstaff founded his own company, Outcast Productions, and began directing. 

“My goals were new play development, and giving actors their debut performance at the Ring,” they said. “Several of those actors have gone on to make companies of their own, and I couldn't be happier to see them succeed.”

Bickerstaff said thanks to The Ring's mission to showcase local talent, they’ve been able to try every field of stagecraft. In 2019, they co-wrote their first play, "Opening Night Mutiny: A Fiasco in 2 Acts." Then, they wrote "C33: The Queer Tale of Oscar Wilde's Undoing" (2023), and "The Scottish Play" a short which was part of Dionysia's inaugural run last year.

“My work has always been pay-it-forward, with the hope that the next generation of Players’ actors can receive the same opportunities I did,” Bickerstaff said. “This is why, two years ago, at the annual 'Ring Toss', I pitched a partnership instead of a production. A two-act anthology of short plays, in all genres, that would serve our community and honor our roots.”

‘Dionysia’ is the original theater festival. It gave rise to Oedipus, Antigone, Medea, and The Bacchae to name a few. Dedicated to Dionysus, the gender-flexible God of Wine & Theater, Athens would transform into a celebration of life, culminating in the theatrical competition. At The Theater of Dionysus, Greece's best authors would stage their finest plays for a week, and the audience would vote for their favorites. Regardless of who won, Athens prospered.

“In reviving this festival, I hope to bring that prosperity to the Players' Ring. This tiny black box theatre has originated more plays than I could see in a lifetime, and far more talented artists than we can fit in our season,” Bickerstaff said. 

“‘Dionysia’ gives us the chance to showcase dozens of playwrights, directors, and actors in a single evening. It gives the next generation of Players a chance to show the Ring just how amazing they are, and give our audiences the chance to see everything this little brick building can do. I'm so grateful the Players' Ring has partnered with me to make this festival happen, and you definitely shouldn't miss out.”
 
Giacobbi hopes its audience will come and support this important part of the Ring’s mission.
 
“Our gratitude goes to the Eppes-Jefferson Foundation. Their mission to build life skills through the arts and their generous contribution truly fuel our work in support of emerging artists,” she added.
 
The cast of “Dionysia” includes Emily Andrews, Andrew Bickerstaff, Cassandra Casey, Thom Freitag, Laura Hoglund, Dan Kehr, Dan Kelly, Sarah Khun, Jill Maloney, Noir Oliver. Directors are Alex Bickerstaff, Jordan Formichelli, Christopher Savage; stage manager, Mark J. Parker; and setting and light designer, Ben Bagley.
 
“Dionysia” runs April 25 – 27, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. General Admission: $15. Tickets can be purchased at www.playersring.org
 
 
 
THE PLAYS
“Alone” – A Thriller By Angelica Rosenthal
“Fight for the Apron” – A Comedy by Rex McGregor
“Fighting Mr. Right” – A RomCom by Barbara Lindsay
“For Whom the Yell Tolls” – A Loud Comedy by James C. Ferguson
“My Girl” – A Drama by Lilly Ritter
“Night Shift” – A Psychological Thriller by Nancy Peavy
“Snow Falling Faintly” – An uplifting drama by James McLindon
“Something is Rotting on the Stage of Glenmark” – A Comedy by Ken Preuss
“The Hireling Horror” – A Dark Comedy by R. D. Murphy
“The Part Mermaid Play” – A Dramedy by Dylan Malloy
“THR33” – A Dark Comedy by Chuck Brestman