CollaborAction's 3rd Annual Summer Sketchbook:
Perhaps the most elaborate and ambitious of the three festivals, CollaborAction's 3rd Annual Summer Sketchbook series (continuing through June 16 at the Chopin Theatre) was originally a generic one-act fest, but now emphasizes new work from both novice writers and established playwrights. In its current form, Sketchbook combines the world premieres of short (two to eight minute) plays with art (supplied by Wesley Kimler, who has temporarily moved his studio onto the stage at the Chopin) and music (provided by local DJs who are encouraged to create "soundscapes" between each play). It is an event that aims to be, in the words of Artistic Director Anthony Moseley, "cool and not pretentious and not just for rich people," though, "we like rich people, too."

Moseley says he's tried to create an environment for anyone, regardless of experience, to "just doodle, without fear of being judged. Hell, while you're eating Jell-O or something. Just write and send it in."

There only real connection between the sketches is that they're all original. Julia Edward's "I Try to Help When I Can" involves a pitched battle between a pig and a bunch of talking skulls lodged in his stomach that say things like, "Can it, fat boy, and get us some tamales. We're hungry." Ray Pride (Newcity film editor ) has penned "a dream of drown," a stream-of-consciousness monologue of a 24-year-old woman whose random thoughts tumble around in a fog between sleep and reality. Gerald Mortensen's "Cool Shoes" offers a wordless meditation on a pair of very special shoes that inspire their wearer to dance in a "fresh, funkified funkfest." And David Parr's "Please No Spitting," is the story of a first date taking place over cell phones. The two actors begin the sketch about three blocks away from the theater, their conversation broadcast to everyone in the audience as they get closer to the stage and meeting face to face.

CollaborAction also actively recruits nationally known playwrights to participate in the series; this year's series includes Tony-winner Warren Leight ("Side Man"), Beth Henley ("Crimes of the Heart") and Wendy MacLeod ("The House of Yes" and "Schoolgirl Figure"). For information: www.collaboraction.org

Bailiwick Repertory's 14th Annual Director's Festival:
Bailiwick's 14th Annual Director's Festival, continuing through June 19 at the Bailiwick Arts Center, is something of a learning environment for its participants. Think of it as a lickety-split director's camp where you see the final project.

It's a directors fest because "Actors have monologues to audition with, and designers have portfolios, [but] it is often hard for directors to get hired because of the lack of opportunities to get work up," says Artistic Director David Zak. This year, the festival spotlights a total of twenty-two would-be directors, many of whom are still in school or are actors working as directors for the first time.

And it's a tough, one-shot gig. Each play runs only once during the festival, grouped into a series of three, and there is no budget. In fact, each performance will be staged on the set that's currently in place for the run of Bailiwick's current mainstage production, "The Last of Mrs. Cheney," a 1930s comedy.

You'll recognize some of the playwrights on the roster, among them David Mamet ("All Men are Whores" directed by Chad S. Hansing) and Thornton Wilder ("The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden" directed by Nicole Wiley). In addition, actor/director/playwright Jason Kae, who is currently performing in "Misalliance" at the Writer's Theater, will direct his own work, entitled "Miss The Bus"—"one man's attempt at recapturing the spontaneity of his youth."

And each performance ends with a discussion session between the director and audience. "The main goal here is for directors to stretch and grow," Zak says. "If a piece does not work, it will be short, and something new is just around the corner." For information: www.bailiwick.org

Prop Thtr's New Plays Festival:
Prop Thtr's New Plays Festival (beginning July 11 and running through August) is more of a workshop festival—a chance to see original plays that are still works-in-progress. The blocking will be minimal, which means the actors will sit in chairs with scripts in their hot little hands, working through the material. Usually one or more of these plays is picked up and produced by Prop Thtr during its regular season.

Executive Director Jonathan Lavan says he chose this year's eight selections specifically because they are, "edgy, and make a statement about something." And it's something of a "break": "A lot of really good writers just don't break through," Lavan says. "It could take ten years for some of these people to get an opportunity." There are also four "Youth Plays" included in this year's batch, cultivating playwrights as young as 14.

One of the notable Chicago directors participating in this year's fest is the Goodman's Chuck Smith, who will direct Ewing Eugene Baldwin's "Water Brought Us and Water Going to Bear Us Away," a story based on the history of the Underground Railroad in Illinois. For information: www.propthtr.org

Also by Nina Metz

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