The Drama League proudly announces details for the first production to be presented as part of DirectorFest 2009, the 26th annual presentation of one-act plays staged by the Fall Directing Fellows of The Drama League Directors Project (Roger Danforth, Artistic Director). The first DirectorFest production is Harold Pinter’s comedy-drama The Lover, directed by Laura Savia.

One of Pinter’s most sensual and darkly comic plays, The Lover tells the story of Sarah and Richard’s happy marriage beginning to crumble. The only thing keeping it together is a secret arrangement that lets each of them “look elsewhere.” When the rules of the arrangement get broken, they must fight to keep their lives from falling apart.

Laura Savia has directed readings or productions for Second Stage, Atlantic Theater Company, Ars Nova, The Pink Campaign on Broadway, Old Vic/New Voices, NYU/Tisch, Columbia University, the Sam French Off-off-Broadway Short Play Festival (winner), Williamstown Theatre Festival Workshop, and Babel Theatre Project, among others. Assistant directing credits include Twelfth Night at The Public (dir. Daniel Sullivan), Best of Both Worlds at American – more – Repertory Theater (dir. Diane Paulus), and the World Premieres of Ten Million Miles (dir. Michael Mayer) and Romance (dir. Neil Pepe) at Atlantic Theater Company. For five seasons, Laura worked at Atlantic Theatrer Company, first as executive assistant and later as literary associate. Along with Anthony Francavilla, she is developing a modern Living Newspaper through live performance and webisodes. Laura is a founding member of At Play Productions and a graduate of Northwestern University.

The Lover stars Jeffrey C. Hawkins as Richard, Charlotte Parry as Sarah and Robert Wu as John.

DirectorFest 2009 runs from Thursday, December 10 through Sunday, December 13, 2009 at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex in midtown Manhattan (312 West 36th Street).

Performances are Thursday, December 10 at 7 p.m.; Friday, December 11 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, December 13 at 3 p.m.

DirectorFest 2009 offers an exciting glimpse into the future of American theatre by presenting four one-act productions helmed by four of the nation’s most talented young directors.

Tickets for DirectorFest 2009 are $18 each and are available by calling SmartTix.com at 212-868-4444. Each performance consists of all four one-acts presented in succession