2018

Join us for Playwrights For A Cause, Planet Connections Festivity's annual staged reading event that raises awareness on topics of social justice while providing an opportunity for theater artists to share their creations. 

Benefit tickets for reserved seating will be $20 - $150. $150 VIP tickets will include an exclusive invite to a post-show, backstage celebration with the cast and crew, with complimentary food and an open bar!

This year, the event will be held at the 14th Street Y, and will delve into defining – and not defining – one's sexuality. Now in its sixth year, the 2018 PFAC event will benefit the Ali Forney Center.

This year's playwright line-up includes Lucy Boyle, Migdalia Cruz, Catherine Filloux, Gabrielle Fox, Regina Taylor, and Lucy Thurber. 

Directors include Glory Kadigan, Antonio Miniño, Shaun Peknic, Shira-Lee Shalit, and Susan Tenney.

The show will be followed immediately on stage by the Planet Connections 2018 Awards Nominations Announcement with a cash bar. 

Post announcement, there will be an afterparty with complimentary light fare and cash bar at The Winslow, 243 East 14th Street.

ABOUT THE ALI FORNEY CENTER

The Ali Forney Center's mission is to protect LGBTQ youths from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently. 

The organization's namesake, Ali Forney, was a gender-nonconforming teen who fled his home at 13. He entered the foster care system where he was bounced around to several homes, and was beaten and abused. Ali ended up living on the streets at the age of 15. Ali was dedicated to helping other young people and publicly advocated for the safety of homeless LGBT youth. Tragically, in December of 1997, Ali was murdered in Harlem—shot in the head and left for dead. 

Committed to saving the lives of LGBTQ young people, in 2002 Carl Siciliano founded the Ali Forney Center (AFC) in memory of Ali. Since AFC's launch with just six beds in a church basement, the organization has grown to become the largest agency dedicated to LGBTQ homeless youths in the country—assisting nearly 1,400 youths per year through a 24-hour Drop-In Center which provides over 70,000 meals annually, medical and mental health services through an on-site clinic, and a scattered site housing program.

AFC's mission is to provide LGBTQ young people housing and a continuum of supportive services to help them thrive and prepare them for independent living.

AFC has been heralded for it's full continuum of care approach to services for LGBTQ homeless youth. AFC's founder, Carl Siciliano, was named a White House Champion of Change by President Obama citing the wide recognition AFC's programs have received for their quality and innovation.

Beer lovingly provided by The Brooklyn Brewery.

2017

Join us for the closing party of Planet Connections! Nominations will be announced for the 2017 Planet Connections Awards. This is also a benefit for the NYCLU.

World premiere playlets will be presented by Jose Rivera, Lyle Kessler, Planet Connections Award Winning Writer David Stallings, Catherine Filloux and Golden Globe winner Regina Taylor.
Performances by Carol Kane, Margaret Ladd, Linda Gravatt, Endea Owens, Mehret Marsh, Alfredo Narcisco, Geany Masai, Grayson Taylor and Planet Connections Award Winning Actors Ivette Dumeng, Antonio Minino, Dan Shaked and Kelly Zekas. Directors include Brock Hill, Glory Kadigan, Tony Winner Tonya Pinkins, Planet Connections Award Winning Director Susan Tenney, and Kat Yen.

The event will be emceed but Planet Connections Award Winning Actors Peter Collier and Kaela Mei-shing Garvin

Mean Girls by Lyle Kessler
Directed by Glory Kadigan
Assistant Director: Adam Chisnall
Starring Carol Kane, Margaret Ladd, Geany Masai, Kathleen O’Neill

Baby Monitor by David Stallings
Directed by Brock H. Hill
Assistant Director: Anna Hogan
Starring Antonio Minino, Dan Shaked and Kelly Zekas

Resistance by Regina Taylor
Directed by Tonya Pinkins
Assistant Director: Ashley Marinaccio
Starring Linda Gravatt and Endea Owens

Snow Day by Catherine Filloux
Directed by Susan Tenney
Assistant Director Lucia Bellini
Starring Ivette Dumeng and Grayson Taylor

Fall of the Sparrow by Jose Rivera
Directed by Kat Yen
Assistant Director: Vinny Eden Ortega
Starring Mehret Marsh and Alfredo Narcisco

Lighting Designer: Benjamin Ehrenreich - Scenic Designer: Raye Levine - Costume Designer: Ariel Pellman - Sound Design: Jacob Subotnick - Casting Director: Robin Carus - Production Stage Manager: Kathryn Meister - Assistant Stage Manager: Maayan Voss de Bettancourt - Producer: Brock Hill - Associate Producer: Glory Kadigan - Assistant Producer: Jazmyn Arroyo - Assistant to the Producer: Vinny Eden Ortega - Event Director: Joyce Laoagan - Front Of House Manager: Britt Lafield.

Understudies include Planet Connections Award Winning Actors: RICHARDA ABRAMS, SUSAN G. BOB, MOLLY COLLIER, AZARIAH GUNN, ADIN LENAHAN, MATEO MORENO, MISTI TINDIGLIA, KARA YOUNG

2016

Benefitting New Yorkers Against Gun Violence

Sunday July 24th at 7:30pm

Presented by Planet Connections Festivity

This event includes the Planet Connections Nominations Party

This season our playwrights put their voices to the topic of guns violence in five amazing works that view this violence from their own unique perspectives. From a road race, to a card game gone bad, to airport security, this year’s benefit tackles an issue that should be on the forefront of all our minds. The pieces will be followed by a panel discussion with the artist and Leah Gunn Barrett, Executive Director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, to further this important conversation and find ways to make change happen.

World Premier Plays by Israel Horovitz, Dominique Morisseau, John Patrick Shanley, Regina Taylor as well as an award-winning writer from the Planet Connections community, Penny Jackson will be presented as a benefit for The New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.

Directed by Steve Broadnax, Glory Kadigan and Lori Kee

Following the performance will be the after party and announcement of the Planet Connections Festivity Award nominees!