Dentyne(R) Gum and Manhattan Theatre Club Bring The Work of Aspiring Playwrights to Life at City Center in New York
Posted on: Friday, 15 May 2009, 09:48 CDT
Winners Chosen after Live Performance of Five One-Acts that Examine Modern Relationships in Today's Digital World
PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Dentyne(R), the gum brand behind the popular Make Face Time(TM) campaign, and Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC), one of the country's most prominent and prestigious theatre companies, announced Dina Epshteyn and Mike Salomon as winners of Dentyne's(R) REALationships competition for their original one-act plays about personal relationships in the digital age. Dentyne partnered with MTC to celebrate "face time" through theater, one of the original forms of face-to-face entertainment, to encourage participants to express their own views about the state of modern relationships in the digital age. Epshteyn and Salomon, along with three other finalists, received the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of producing their plays with MTC at City Center in New York City and participating in REALationships, a live production event hosted by actor and artistic friend of MTC, Josh Lucas.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090515/NY17688 )
"As an actor, I am lucky that spending time interacting with audiences and fellow cast members is an integral part of my job," explained Josh Lucas. "I'm honored to have presented the plays tonight on behalf of Dentyne and Manhattan Theater Club. The five productions were a true expression of how today's technology overload is affecting our personal relationships."
In the national contest, New York native Dina Epshteyn's play, No Blueberries, was chosen from more than 200 entries for the unique characterization and originality of her topic. Epshteyn's play focuses on a 70-year-old woman who tries to connect with her daughter. In an age where technology plays a major communication role, the daughter consistently encourages her mom to embrace technology: send emails, use a cell phone and a blackberry. Unfortunately, the newly established tech communication does little to strengthen their relationship. Epshteyn was awarded the chance to work alongside MTC's production staff for a week to produce her play, in addition to receiving a monetary prize of $7,500.
In the student competition, Northwestern University student Mike Salomon beat three other finalists from participating universities with his play titled, RMEO + JULEZ, during the REALationships performance at City Center. The Boston native's play about the impact today's technology would have on one of the most famous romantic couples of all time won him the top honor of a one-year mentorship with MTC, in addition to a monetary prize of $7,500. The student competition was judged by three notable playwrights, including David Auburn, Pulitzer Prize Winner for Proof, which was originally produced by MTC, published playwright Adam Bock and Liz Flahive, who won the Outer Critics Circle's John Gassner Award for Outstanding New American Play for her first professional play last year From Up Here, which MTC also produced.
Competition finalists Mike Salomon (RMEO + JULEZ) of Northwestern University, Kelby Siddons (off the couch) of Northwestern, Olivia Swanson Haas (Love Story: A Revelation in One Act) of Stanford and Nhi Hong (Presence) of UCLA gained valuable experience working with MTC during the week of May 12 to produce their plays and have them performed at City Center.
"The winning plays are a thoughtful and creative reflection of how technology impacts relationships today. The hundreds of plays we judged reinforced the need for people to communicate face-to-face and the benefits we gain from human interactions," commented MTC's Executive Producer Barry Grove and Artistic Director Lynne Meadow. "We're thankful to Dentyne for their continued support of our education programs that help cultivate the next generation of American playwrights. Judging by the caliber of entries we received, the next generation looks extremely promising."
The theme of the five presented plays mirrors Dentyne(R) gum's popular Make Face Time(TM) ad campaign, which depicts everyday people in relationships spending time getting close to each other. Growing up in the digital age, Epshteyn and Salomon are well immersed in social networks and communicate with friends and family online. The plays represent different stories and views on the balance in relationships between high-tech and high-touch.
"The 'Make Face Time' campaign reminds us that there is no substitution for the powerful bond we create through face time," said Josette Barenholtz, marketing director for Dentyne(R) gum. "We are pleased to support the Manhattan Theater Club in its efforts to foster up-and-coming playwrights and provide us with the unique face-to-face experience of live theater."
For additional information on the Dentyne(R) playwriting contests, visit www.dentyne.com/realationships/.
About Manhattan Theatre Club
MTC is one of the country's most prominent and prestigious theatre companies. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, MTC productions have earned numerous awards, including 16 Tony Awards and five Pulitzer Prizes, an accomplishment unparalleled by a New York theatrical institution. Renowned MTC productions include LoveMusik; Blackbird; Translations; Shining City; Rabbit Hole; Doubt; Kimberly Akimbo; Proof; The Tale of the Allergist's Wife; Love! Valour! Compassion!; Sylvia; Four Dogs and a Bone; Putting It Together; Lips Together, Teeth Apart; Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Crimes of the Heart; and Ain't Misbehavin'. MTC produces work on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre and off-Broadway at New York City Center. MTC is committed to reaching out to young audiences with innovative programs in education and maintaining a commitment to cultivating the next generation of theatre professionals.
About Cadbury North America
Headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, Cadbury North America is the Canadian and U.S. combined business unit of Cadbury plc -- a leading global confectionery business with number one or number two positions in over 20 of the world's 50 largest confectionery markets.
In the United States, the brand portfolio of Cadbury includes some of the best-loved confections in the US, including Trident(R), Dentyne(R), Halls(R), Bubblicious(R), Sour Patch(R), Swedish Fish(R), Chiclets(R), Certs(R) and Stride(R), The Ridiculously Long Lasting Gum(R) and Green & Black's(R) organic chocolate. Our people create brands people love with passion, dedication and drive.
For more information visit www.cadbury.com.
SOURCE Cadbury North America
Source: PR Newswire
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