In 2022, LUNGS launched it’s first free Summer Theater Festival honoring Joe Papp’s tradition in 1956 of “Shakespeare in the Park” which began in East River Park.  This year the Festival will take place Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 from 1-5pm in the 6^th St. & Avenue B Community Garden, with five original one act plays, free and open to all. 

 1pm. CZECH, SLOVAK, AND BENGALI STORIES WITH STRINGS DETACHED

Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre

Vít Hořejš performs Czech and Slovak folk tales, replete with (East) Village Characters, babies, children, teenagers, oldagers and street dangers who speak and sing in dozens of voices, dance, play violin, swim and fly  In 1984, he found a trove of large antique marionettes in the attic of Jan Hus Church on East 74th Street, in the heart of yet another once-upon-a-time Czech and Slovak neighborhood and soon he founded Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre.  Vít and his century-old wooden advisors will tell century-old Old Country folk tales, and “tattle tale” on his victorious presidential campaign, stolen temporarily by you-know-who. 

With antique marionettes, an undocumented far-east muppet and lost and found objects performed by Master Puppeteer, Vit Horejs and Bengali Muppetress, Sayma Karim.

“THE TIGER” and “BENGALI FRUIT”.  Story and puppets created and performed by Sayma Karim

Recommended for ages 104 To 4

 2pm. The People’s Drop-in Center written and directed by Patrick Nash

An urban  “drop-in center” that serves the homeless is threatened by the loss of an important grant.  The couple that runs it seeks the help of a “turn-around consultant” specialized in non-profits.  In order to save the center and secure the necessary grant money, some changes, and sacrifices  must be made. With Laurie Sheppard as Martha, Brian Farrell as David, Lisa Whitten as Candy, David Mackler as JD, Andrew Gilchrist as Jackson, Perryn Pomatto as Dwight, Malia Mooney as Jane. Catalina Balladares as Actor 1, Sana Bokhari as Actor 2, Clark Herring as Actor 3, Elise Catera as Actor 4, Corinne Seaver as Actor 5, Maria de Elia as Actor 6. Music Director David Fletcher Choreographer James Martinelli.

3pm. EAST VILLAGE TIME by James Love Cornwell IV, directed by Roman Primitivo –

Summary: Artists, dreamers and misfits carving out a life on the Lower East Side of the 1980s. Jack, an idealistic young artist, opens a storefront gallery on Rivington Street and finds himself caught between love, betrayal and survival. A raw and funny musical about the people who refused to give up on art — and the neighborhood that both inspired and swallowed them whole. With: Leia Martin, Just Daniel Lugo, Asher Cohen, Lei Chao, Cristina San Juana.

4pm. What Am I Missing? by Joan Reinmuth and Charles Krezell

A time-warp encounter of comedian Lenny Bruce and Planned Parenthood’s Margaret Sanger’s chance meeting in the slammer. Each has be arrested on the Lower East Side for obscenity and distributing lewd material. With Susan Burns, Kim Chinh, Rocco George, Susan McKeown, Kathleen Morgo, Jared Reinmuth. Cordero Wilson. Costumes and scenic design by Rina Root. Directed by Charles Krezell.