CHAPEL HILL – On Friday, The ArtsCenter in Carrboro kicks off  its twelfth annual 10 by 10 play festival. Ten actors, led by ten guest directors, will take the stage  for ten ten-minute plays. Ron Stutts sat down with The ArtsCenter’s Artistic Director of Arts Center Stage, Jeri Lynn Schulke, to find out what viewers can expect from this year’s 10 by 10 festival.

Schulke says playwrights from all over the world sent their plays to The ArtsCenter for the chance to have their play performed. This year, The ArtsCenter received over 750 scripts this year.

“We get scripts from all over the country and in fact all over the world,” says Schulke. “We whittle that down to a fantastic ten plays.”

These plays range from an art installation by a bear in Sweden to a series of detective stories. Ten guest directors incorporate their own styles into each play, adding diversity than can appeal to any audience member, says Schulke.

“What I like about 10 by 10 is that you see these great actors play a variety of different roles, and then they get to work with lots of different directors,” says Schulke. “And if you don’t like one, wait ten minutes, and they’ll be another play, and you’ll love that one.”

The ArtCenter’s 10 by 10 festival holds historical significance, since it is one of the oldest ten-minute play festivals in the country.

“We are the third oldest ten-minute play festival,” says Schulke.

The festival begins this weekend and ends on July 21st. Vimala’s Curryblossom Café is catering the event.

“Audiences get to see ten great short plays and an evening of really great theater,” says Schulke. “Ten actors, ten directors, ten plays, ten by ten.”

For more information on the 10 by 10 play festival, you can go to The ArtsCenter’s website, artscenterlive.org, or call the box office for tickets at (919)-929-2787.