'Ernie's Advice' to premiere in July

My short play "Ernie's Advice" will be performed as part of the 14th Annual St. James Tavern Theatre Shorts Festival.

The festival occurs every year on the night of the Columbus, Ohio Independence Day celebration Red, White, and Boom. Every play, 2-5 minutes in length, is set at a bar, and because the venues do not have a dedicated stage, the plays are performed at different spots throughout the bar.

This year's theme is "Drunken Americana (Norman Rockwell is Drunk Again)." My play is about a writer who takes to a heart a quote to attributed to Ernest Hemingway (and other writers): "Write drunk. Edit sober." There's no evidence that Hemingway ever said that, but my character still thinks it's sound practice.

I'm thrilled to be a part of the festival. I like the setup. It's quirky, it's different, and it creates a cool, different theater vibe that can't be created in a traditional dramatic space. 

And the plays are a lot of fun. Even with the built-in parameters and challenges of the location and the theme, the casts and crews find creative ways to perform a wide range of stories. I'm always impressed with what they are able to pull off.

The festival has three nights at three Columbus bars: July 3 at the St. James Tavern, 1057 N. Fourth St.; July 5 at Endeavor Brewing & Spirits, 909 W. Fifth Ave.; and July 6 at Spires Social Brewing Co., 8757 Sancus Boulevard.

Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to support the establishments that host the event. Stay tuned for more details.