Troy, New York – “‘Half-baked’ can have many connotations… Of course, as with everything they do, the Troy Foundry Theatre has transcended all definitions and created something that has not only given emerging artists the opportunity to showcase their work in its earliest and sometimes unfinished stages, but that has also changed my life.”
– Playwright Cris Eli Blak on his experience with the 2023 Half-Baked Festival of Emerging Work. Blak is the winner of the inaugural Black Broadway Men Playwriting Initiative and winner of the 2024 Charles M. Getchell New Play Award.
Second year of the Troy Foundry Theatre Half-baked festival for emerging works is here! From September 11-14 and September 18-21, you can see fifteen pieces of original theatre in various stages of development at several venues in the city of Troy, NY. The festival features work by members of the Troy Foundry Theatre Company, as well as Cris Eli Blak, Wesley Cappiello, Kristoph DiMaria, Brenna Geffers, Aaron Moore, Brian Sheldon, Eliana Rowe and many more!
This year the festival will also feature two special events! On Wednesday, September 11th, the festival will begin with a special benefit performance by Antonio, or what I would docreated by Shayne David Cameris & Brenna Geffers and performed by Cameris, premiered at the TFT Play On Lab earlier this year and is a wild jaunt through history, fantasy, saber-rattling and loot – a love letter to Shakespeare’s most famous gay pirate. All proceeds for this special event benefit our friends at Will Kempe’s Players.
On Wednesday, September 18th, we present the second Half-Baked special event, Gintry: A game with drinks Created by and starring Davey White and developed with Die-Cast. This one-day event will have two performances at 518 Craft in Troy. Each new chapter of Gintry offers a signature cocktail that lets you taste the story as you hear it. Each $100 bar seating ticket includes a minimum of four cocktails mixed right before your eyes. $25 seating tickets are also available, but these do not include cocktails.
For a full schedule of festival events and venues, visit www.troyfoundrytheatre.com.
Advance tickets and All Access Festival passes can be purchased at https://buytickets.at/troyfoundrytheatre.
All Half-Baked performances (except GINTRY) will meet our Pay What You Want tiers for 2024. Single tickets are available in advance online with credit card and can be purchased at the box office with cash, check or PAYPAL.
The All Access Pass gives you access to ALL presentations, performances and special events of the Half-Baked Festival, including a special performance by Antonio or What I want (created by Shayne David Cameris & Brenna Geffers) to open the festival on 9/11/24 and to raise money for Will Kempes Players and one (1) bar seat at our special screening of Gintry (a play with drinks) Created by and featuring Davey White and developed with Die-Cast at 518 CrafT on 9/18/24. Each bar menu includes at least four cocktails mixed right before your eyes, so you can taste the story as you hear it.
The Half-Baked Festival of Emerging Work is supported by the NYSCA-ART/New York Creative Opportunity Fund (a statewide theater program), Stewart’s Shops and the Dake Family Foundation, and the Arts Thrive and Grow program funded by New York State and Governor Kathy Hochul. We thank Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins for her extraordinary commitment and leadership, and our elected officials who represent our grant region: Senators Jake Ashby and Neil D. Breslin; Representatives Scott H. Bendett, Patricia Fahy, John T. McDonald III, Angelo Santabarbara, Phil Steck, and Mary Beth Walsh.
HALF-BAKED FESTIVAL OF EMERGING WORK FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Wednesday, September 11
*A special Half-Baked Fest event* A special fundraiser for Will Kempe’s players!
8 p.m. at The Waiting Room (19 3rd St. Troy, NY 12180 / Franklin Alley Entrance)
Antonio or What I want
Created by Shayne David Cameris and Brenna Geffers
Played by Shayne David Cameris
Thursday, September 12
8:00 p.m. at The Waiting Room (19 3rd St. Troy, NY 12180 / Franklin Alley Entrance)
New clean energy
By Kristoph DiMaria
Foundry F*cks with Farce: PART II
Created by Shayne David Cameris, Raya Malcolm, David Girard, Ethan Botwick and Shannon Rafferty
War of the Worlds
An adaptation by Connor Armbruster
Played by David Girard
Directed and curated by Connor Armbruster, David Baecker and David Girard
Friday, September 13
8:00 p.m. 50 4th St. Troy, NY 12180
10:45
By Brian Sheldon
Director: David Girard
Insulin Piece: TITLE TBD
Created and curated by Brian Sheldon
The last dose
Created and directed by Wesley Cappiello
Saturday, September 14
7:00 p.m. 50 4th St. Troy, NY 12180
My papier-mâché monster
Written and performed by Eliana Rowe
Everywhere is
By Camryn Beck, Mitchell Johnson and Amber Wheeler
Director: Shayne David Cameris
Wednesday, September 18
*A special Half-Baked Fest event*
6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at 518 Craft (200 Broadway Troy, NY 12180)
Gintry
Created by and with Davey White
Developed with Die-Cast
Thursday, September 19
8:00 p.m. at Arts Center of the Capital Region (265 River St, Troy, NY 12180)
Couch potato
Created and directed by Emily Curro and Raya Malcolm
Say her name
By Aaron Moore
Direction (to be announced)
Friday, September 20
8:00 p.m. at The Waiting Room (19 3rd St. Troy, NY 12180 / Franklin Alley Entrance)
Crystal clear life
By Katie Pedro
Direction (to be announced)
Main character syndrome
Based on Dean Giagni’s graphic novel “Main Character Syndrome”
Created by Brenna Geffers, Dean Giagni and David Girard
Director: Brenna Geffers
Saturday, September 21
8:00 p.m. at KBK Studios (10 2nd St 2nd Floor, Troy, NY 12180)
There are black roses under the sea
By Cris Eli Blak
Director: Angelique Powell
