Kyle Patrick Darling SLAMBoston is coming to Vermont as SLAMVermont in a production entitled “Diverse Voices in Theater” which will be presented on July 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Chandler Music Hall in Randolph.

The production will feature a Northfielder, Kyle Patrick Darling in a production of “Shortbread” which also features a Norwich professor, Carl Emmons.

“SLAMVermont” is a unique ten-minute play festival combining the wild excitement of poetry slams with live theater. Eight original and provocative plays will compete for a modest cash prize. A grass-roots event, the Slam fest will bring together Vermont playwrights, directors and performers for 3 nights of theater in the newly renovated upper gallery at Chandler. A closing night reception announcing the SLAM winner will be held immediately following the Sunday afternoon performance.

The aim of the SLAM is to create a venue for adult theater in Central Vermont that showcases local talent. What makes the SLAM event so unique is the commitment to bringing new and underrepresented voices to the theater scene. Multi-cultural themes focusing on women, race, age and gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender issues will be presented. The plays performed will hopefully spark positive conversations concerning equality and human rights for everyone. One of the most moving plays in the festival is “Shortbread” by Barre playwright Charles Henry Coburn. “Shortbread” stars Northfield native Kyle Patrick Darling.

Kyle is back in Vermont for the summer before returning to Hollywood to pursue his acting career.

“Shortbread” deals with some surprising and sensitive issues when a 16 year old confronts the father who abandoned him years ago. Norwich University Professor Carl Emmons also appears in Shortbread.

Roxbury Playwright Jeanne Beckwith has her short play “Mission to Mars” in the festival, which she is also directing. Her husband Brett Cox plays Major Marty, an astronaut whose space mission is going horribly wrong. Jeanne’s full length play “Love Letters Made Easy” is just finishing up a successful run at Lost Nation Theater.

Other SLAM Playwrights include: Award winning Abenaki writer Joseph Bruchac of Greenfield Center New York, Maureen Hennigan of Bethel, Leah Burdick of Hartland, Marjorie Conn of New York City, Larry Parr of Florida and 13 year old Sophia Gilberto of New Hampshire.

“SLAMBoston comes to Vermont” is being produced by Karin Trachtenberg of Bethel with sponsorship from Chandler Center for the Arts, Washburn Wilson Agency and a grant from the Samara Foundation of Vermont.

SLAMBoston has been playing to sold out audiences in the Boston area since 2003 and is a trademark of Another Country Productions. For more information please visit our website: www.slamvermont.com