Bailiwick Repertory's sixth annual Directors Festival showcases the aspirations of generally unknown, mostly young pro, semipro, and student directors whose projects range from established classical and contemporary selections to brand-new material. The fest runs through October 27, Mondays-Thursdays at 7:30 PM, with a different program of three or four one-acts each night (the shows on October 17 and 18 will be interpreted for the hearing impaired). Tickets are $8 per program. Each week highlights a different theme: "American Writers" concludes October 13; "New Works and Unknown Treasures" runs October 17 through 20, and "Symbols and Absurdities" October 24 through 27. The Reader's festival listings run on a week-by-week basis; here's the schedule for October 13 through 20.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13

Action

Sam Shepard's study of "the failed American dream" is directed by Deanna Shoemaker.

Elegy for a Lady

Arthur Miller's rarely seen drama is staged by Domenick Danza.

The Gnadiges Fraulein

Mary Spaeth directs Tennessee Williams's "absurd and obscure . . . commentary on the human ego."

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17

Bondage

David Henry Hwang's experimental piece explores S&M rituals. It's directed by Warren Sampson Jr.

Waiting on Godot

Jeff Goode directs this comedy he wrote with Michael K. Wells, Sheela Kangal, and Frank Ensenberger.

Mother's Nightmare

Two deaf actors perform Jonalee Folerzynski's comedy about a mother's discovery of her son's sex change. James Lomanto directs.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18

400 Years Out

John Wiseman directs E. Michael Blake's science fiction play.

On the Frontline

Ken Crost's short drama, set at a teen-crisis hotline, is directed by Elayne LeTraunik.

Top of 16

Ronald Jiu directs Ken Dashow's short piece about deaf and hearing actors rehearsing with a tyrannical director.

To Name the Beast

Daniel S. Barnhill's drama about "denial and acceptance and the search for inner peace and accountability for our actions" is directed by Lynn Ann Bernatowicz.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19

When Ester Saw the Light

Jemal Diamond directs Michael Sargent's "dreamlike, image-heavy" study of human behavior in extremis.

Oedipus Goes to Hollywood

Amy Lynn Piggott directs Carson Becker's reworking of Greek mythology.

Nan: Documentary of a Sweeps Winner

R. John Roberts directs the comedy he and Wendye Clarendon wrote about a waitress who wins a big-bucks contest.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20

Undertow

Ron O.J. Parson directs this 1929 melodrama by little-known black writer Eulalie Spence.

The Two Executioners

Absurdist playwright Fernando Arrabal's study of "dedication to authority" is directed by Scott Heckman.

An Evening Spent With Nothing in Mind

Amy Punt directs Jean Reed Bahle's group of short plays exploring "fear of the unknown, denying our needs, and loss of control."

Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/Patrick H. Rita.