Youngstown Playhouse will showcase the work of local playwrights this weekend with its 2012 Voices of the Valley New One Act Play Festival.
Three plays were selected by the panel of judges (Bernie Appugliese, Carla Gipson and Matthew Mazuroski), and each judge will direct one of the works for staged readings this weekend.
Mazuroski will direct ''Rain Delay'' by Cheryl Games, who divides her time between Youngstown and Los Angeles. She has a master's degree from the Actors Studio Dramatic Arts Program in New York City, and several of her plays have been produced. ''Rain Delay'' is described as poignant story about loss, acceptance, and common humanity among strangers.
Gipson will direct ''Through a Broken Window'' by Youngstown native Brandon Martin. His other plays include ''DeTemor'' and ''In a White Tee,'' and he is the founder of the performance art group U.N. ACT. ''Through a Broken Window'' looks at the issue of civil injustice in American society.
Appugliese will direct ''The Kissing Bandit'' by Stephen L. Sniderman, who taught American literature and creative writing at Youngstown State University for more than 40 years. He is the co-author of the musicals ''Gulliver!'' and ''The Grand Design: Esther and the Story of Purim,'' and he also has written two books on games and puzzles.
The company of actors that will be performing the plays includes Kim Akins, Jala Beasley Williams, Holly Ceci, Chris DeFrank, Ezekiel Ellis, Dawnelle Jewell, Sam Perry, and Larissa Woloszyn.
The readings will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Playhouse, 600 Playhouse Lane, Youngstown. All tickets are $5. For reservations or more information, call 330-788-8739.