StageQ, Inc, a local not-for-profit theater company, announces its first festival of short plays. Queer Shorts will play one weekend only, June 22-24, at the Bartell Theatre, 113 E Mifflin St. Madison, WI.

Inspired by this being the first of many annual festivals, Queer Shorts will present 13 one-act plays all based around the concept of “first.” Prepare to be entertained by first kiss, first love, first flood, first bank robbery (!), and yes, even first sex-toy. Over 125 short plays were submitted and the final production will sure to bring laughter and the occasional tear to your eye.

Local playwrights Greg Harris, Kent Forsberg, Laura Varela, Tara Ayres, Abbie Hill and Mary Waitrovich are joined by the brilliance of national writers Cindy Cooper, David-Matthew Barnes, John A. Donnelly, Dwayne Yancey, Matthew J Hanson, Edward Crosby Wells, Ted Williams and Andrew Black.

Make this a night of firsts. First date, first anniversary, first night at the theater! StageQ encourages you to contact us if you want to do something special for a “first.”

Queer Shorts will play Thursday through Saturday, June 22-24, 2006 at the Bartell Theater.

Performance Times are Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm.

Contact Tara Ayres, StageQ’s Artistic Director for more information, or to discuss ideas of “firsts” at special performances.