Pride Films and Plays Announces Winner of 2015 LezPlay Contest

Pride Films and Plays offers congratulations to Nancy Nyman and Heather McNama, whose play "Resolution" was named the winner of PFP's 2015 LezPlay Contest. The contest, for works for the stage and screen written by women with lesbian characters or themes, received entries from around the world, and judged by a reading panel from across the country, coordinated by LezPlay Literary Manager Allison Fradkin.
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In the Gay Nineties, Jack and Hannah Buchannon are a happily married couple. But when their maid discovers their long-held secret and resolves to turn them in to the authorities, the couple must dissuade her or pursue their own resolution to the problem. Will this turn-of-the-century drama take a turn for the better or the worse?
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Based in Los Angeles, Nancy Nyman and Heather McNama create, communicate, and collaborate. Two kick-ass chicks with somethin' to say, they have written "Social Work" (TV), "Family Storey" (Disney Channel), and "The Untitled Meryl Streep Project" (feature film). Visit them at twogirlsunleashed.com.

Other finalists in the weekend included "Black-Hearted Bitch," a teleplay by Lynn Kear, "The Patron Saint of Dead Dogs," a play by Katie Grotzinger, "Missed Connections," a play by Hallie Palladino, and "The Terror Fantastic," a play by Nicole Jost. In addition to being involved in the rehearsal process and getting audience feedback after the readings, each of the finalists received $400.

Since PFP was founded in 2010, Pride Films and Plays has awarded over $28,000 to authors from around the country who have been finalists in our programs, which include the Great Gay Play and Musical Contest, Great Gay Screenplay Contest, and LezPlay for works by women with lesbian characters or themes. (Entries into the 2015 Great Gay Play Contest are being accepted through October 31, and you can find more information at www.pridefilmsanplays.com.)

And, an interesting side note to information on our contests, Louise Wadley's screenplay "The Trouble with E" was a finalist in our 2010 Great Gay Screenplay Contest. And the completed film, now called "All About E" had its Chicago premiere screening on Saturday, September 19 at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema as part of Reeling.
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PFP also congratulates Robert Ollis for being named an Artistic Associate of Pride Films and Plays. He recently finished a successful run as music director for PFP's hit "The Boy From Oz," and a lengthy run as music director of Leo Schwartz's "The Book of Merman." Ollis was nominated for Jeff Awards for his music direction of PFP's "Songs from an Unmade Bed" and its acclaimed premiere of "Under A Rainbow Flag."

Ollis received a Jeff Award for his musical direction of "Kiss of the Spider Woman." His favorite productions with Bailiwick Chicago have included "Violet," "Elton John's AIDA," "A Season of Change: Holidays in the Sixties" and "Show Us Your Love." He has also music-directed several Chicago Casting Auction productions, including "The Drowsy Chaperone," and has accompanied cabaret performers at Feinstein's in New York City, Davenport's in Chicago and for countless local theatre benefits.
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The mission of Pride Films and Plays is to change lives through the generation of diverse new work (or work that is new to Chicago) with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that is essential viewing for all audiences. We accomplish this mission through fully-staged productions, writing contests and staged readings, film screenings, and special events. We foster long term relationships with artists to create programming that is as diverse, unique, and complex as the community we represent. In 2015, Huffington Post called PFP�"A powerful and empowering entity."
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PFP's current season began with the Jeff Recommended productions of "Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown" at the Apollo Studio Theater and "The Boy From Oz" at Stage 773. Noel Coward's "Design for Living" runs October 22 to November 22 at Rivendell Theater and "Ten Dollar House" runs January 7-31 at Piccolo Theatre.

In addition, script and screenplay development programs continue throughout the year at Center on Halsted, including Gay Play Weekend (May 2016), LezPlay (September 2016) featuring plays and screenplays written by women with lesbian characters or themes, and Gay Film Weekend (November 13-15) featuring LGBT screenplays and screenings.
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PFP's Queer Bits Film Fall Festival II is November 9. Other special events include the Simply Sensational Benefit featuring Alexandra Billings on November 2 at Stage 773, and Winter Memories at Twisted Vine on December 7.�
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Pride Films and Plays is supported by The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago's City Arts Fund, the Elliott Fredland Charitable Trust, Proud to Run, and the AmazonSmile Foundation. PFP is a member of the Smart Growth Program of the Chicago Community Trust. Pride Films and Plays is a member of the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, The League of Chicago Theaters, and the Central Lakeview Merchants Association.
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