The New New York Playwright Festival

TheProject Y Theater Companyis launching the first run of its New New York Playwright Festival. The off off broadway company, alongside co-Artistic Directors Andrew Smith and Michole Biancosino, has promised that the one-week festival will not disappoint.

The festival will run from Oct. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 16 andfeatures three playsby three up-and-coming playwrights. "We are excited to give these new plays the space to come alive, and these playwrights the chance to grow," saidBiancosino. The festival is "an incredible mix of strikingly engaging and diverse plays" adds Smith.

The first show on the bill is How. What. Now., written and and performed by Michael Warner and directed by Campbell Scott. The story chronicles recovery process of a drug addicted, alcoholic.However Warner describes it as a story as wildly funny, and universally relatable, ""everyone is recovering from something," hesays. The show was an official selection at the 2011 New York Fringe Festival. How. What. Now.shows on Monday, October 10th at 7:30pm, Wednesday, October 12th at 8pm, and Saturday, October 15th at 7pm. Gidion's Knot, written by Johnna Adams, directed by Michole Biancosino, with Lisa Velten-Smith and Amy Lynn Stewart is the second addition to the festival's lineup. The play offers a fly-on-the-wall perspective of a conference between a mother and a teacher discussing an 11-year-old boy who is being bullied. A devastating new play that asks, "who is ultimately responsible for the actions of children?" Performances will take place Tuesday, October 11 at 7:30pm, Thursday, October 13 at 8pm, and Sunday, October 16 at 3pm.

I'm From Driftwood,adapted by Nathan Manske, directed by Luke Harlan, rounds out the festival's trio. The performance, which doubles as a non-profit organization, is a collection of stories from theLGBTQ community. The featured stories span cultures, races and backgrounds to send a simple yet life-saving message to LGBTQ youth around the globe: "You are not alone." The show will run on Friday, October 14th at 8pm and Saturday, October 15th at 9pm.

The New New York Playwright Festival takes place at Access Theater (380 Broadway at White Street in Tribeca). Tickets are $15 for advanced ticket purchase and $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/.