The CollaborAction showcase of 20 short plays (each under seven minutes long) includes world premieres by Warren Leight, Beth Henley, Wendy MacLeod, and others. The festival also features environmental design by Wesley Kimler and DJs between plays. "Summer Sketchbook" takes place nightly through June 16 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. Show times are Thursday, 8 PM; Friday-Saturday, 7 and 9 PM; and Sunday, 5 PM. Each program features a different set of ten sketches, except for the "festival finale" on Sunday, which offers all 20 plays as well as a post-performance awards ceremony and closing party. Tickets are $20 per program, $35 for persons attending both programs on Friday and Saturday; Sunday's closing performance and party cost $35. For more information, call 312-226-9633 or visit www.collaboraction.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 8 PM

Concert

Jonathan Mastro's piece about "three humans and one clawfoot tub in the subterranean depths" is directed by Bob Fisher.

Last Night

Jack Goodstein's "experiment in role reversal" is directed by Ken Lee.

Fix

Diane Lefer penned this portrait of two men on "the late, late shift"; it's directed by Michael Osinski.

September 11th--Parson O'Reilly--33 and Bowling

A man "navigates life, death, love, and religion" in this sketch by Jesse Weaver. Lee Papa directs.

Please No Spitting

David Parr's play about two people anticipating a blind date is performed over cell phones; Jeremy Wechsler directs.

Spoon Reader Anthology

Penny Penniston and Jeremy Wechsler's effort is described as "a modern epistolary play." Nick Bowling directs.

The Fur Trigger

Karin Diann Williams's playlet, directed by John Cabrera, concerns "strange awakenings after a one-night stand."

The Optimist

Jessica Thebus directs Robert Coleman's take on "one man's best effort to find love."

They Said We Were Soldiers

A Valley Forge veteran recalls the campaign in Steve Amick's play, directed by Jen Shook.

Tornado

Eric Ziegenhagen directs Wendy McLeod's play about "missed opportunity."

FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 7 PM

Concert

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Cool Shoes

Robin Chaplic directs a sketch by Gerald Mortensen.

It's 11 AM

A man charms a woman in a small-town bar in this sketch by Mara Casey; Anthony Moseley directs.

Nine Ten

Warren Leight's study of people gathering for jury duty is directed by Lynn Ann Bernatowicz.

September 11th--Parson O'Reilly--33 and Bowling

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Tight Pants

A married couple take stock of their lives in Beth Henley's play; it's directed by Joseph Ravens.

The Fur Trigger

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

The Optimist

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

They Said We Were Soldiers

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Tornado

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 9 PM

Affair Play

Jim Dennen directs a play by Jessica Goldberg.

A Dream of Drown

Sean Gunn directs Ray Pride's piece about a young woman "somewhere between sleep and sleeplessness."

Last Night

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Fix

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Please No Spitting

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Spoon Reader Anthology

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Tell Her That

Joanie Schultz, whose staging of Michael John Garces's Acts of Mercy was well received earlier this year, directs Garces's study of a couple trying to communicate with their young daughter after an incident.

Ties

Kiki Zapata's play about a man who needs a tie is directed by John Gawlik.

The Wedding Album of Sandy Benito's Wedding

The Hypocrites' Sean Graney wrote this study of "a wedding gone tragic." Directed by Jimmy McDermott.

The Further Adventures of Chickengirl: I Try to Help When I Can

Nic Dimond directs a piece by Julia Edwards.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 7 PM

Affair Play

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

Cool Shoes

See listing for Friday, June 14, 7 PM.

The Further Adventures of Chickengirl: I Try to Help When I Can

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

Last Night

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Please No Spitting

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Spoon Reader Anthology

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Tell Her That

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

The Wedding Album of Sandy Benito's Wedding

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

They Said We Were Soldiers

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Tornado

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 9 PM

Concert

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

A Dream of Drown

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

It's 11 AM

See listing for Friday, June 14, 7 PM.

Fix

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Nine Ten

See listing for Friday, June 14, 7 PM.

September 11th--Parson O'Reilly--33 and Bowling

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Ties

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

Tight Pants

See listing for Friday, June 14, 7 PM.

The Fur Trigger

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

The Optimist

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 5 PM

Affair Play

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

Cool Shoes

See listing for Friday, June 14, 7 PM.

The Further Adventures of Chickengirl: I Try to Help When I Can

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

Last Night

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Please No Spitting

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Spoon Reader Anthology

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Tell Her That

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

The Wedding Album of Sandy Benito's Wedding

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

They Said We Were Soldiers

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Tornado

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Concert

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

A Dream of Drown

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

It's 11 AM

See listing for Friday, June 14, 7 PM.

Fix

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Nine Ten

See listing for Friday, June 14, 7 PM.

September 11th--Parson O'Reilly--33 and Bowling

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Ties

See listing for Friday, June 14, 9 PM.

Tight Pants

See listing for Friday, June 14, 7 PM.

The Fur Trigger

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

The Optimist

See listing for Thursday, June 13.

Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/Saverio Truglia.