40/40 Project
2015 marked the 40th anniversary of the Samuel French OOB Short Play Festival. To celebrate this milestone in the festival’s history Samuel French launched the “40/40 Project.” With the goal of licensing 40 productions of OOB Festival-winning plays last year, the project celebrated the festival’s history, as well as highlighted the power and versatility of the short play form.
In celebration of the festival’s grassroots, hands-on aesthetic, and Samuel French’s creed, “Make Theatre Happen”, producers were encouraged to present these plays everywhere and anywhere, in both traditional venues and theatre spaces, but also in site-specific productions. Licensees who participated in the project were featured on the OOB Festival’s website as well as its social media channels.
“The OOB Festival has been an extraordinary launching pad for so many major dramatists in contemporary theater – everyone from Theresa Rebeck, to Steve Yockey, to Rachel Bonds,” says festival co-Artistic Director Amy Rose Marsh. “We are eager to share the amazing work that’s come from the Festival with performing groups around the country and are looking forward to some innovative, adventurous productions.”
“Short plays are the perfect vehicle to ease anyone into theatre: new actors, new directors, even audience members new to theatre! The OOB Festival has been instrumental in finding the best new short plays available and bringing them front and center for the general public to access,” says Casey McLain, co-Artistic Director. “The OOB Publication has been bringing top theatre to middle of the country theatres for 40 years.”
The 40/40 Project was a tremendous success in bringing OOB plays to new venues. Check out the companies that have participated below! To browse OOB Festival-winning plays, visit the Samuel French website.