Sarah Congress
Asbury Park’s Sarah Congress has been named as a finalist in The Theater Project’s 10th Annual Think Fast short play competition March 2 to 4.
Plays are pre-recorded and broadcast live on March 2, 3 at 7:30 p.m. and March 4 at 2 p.m. The Theater Project is a leading incubator for rising talent and a showcase for new works in New Jersey and beyond.
Reaching the finals marks the second time Congress, a SUNY Purchase grad, has accomplished that feat; she made the finals in 2021 and ultimately tied for first place in the Best Play category.
“I love the craft of writing,” said the self-proclaimed ‘proud Jersey-shore girl.’ “Think Fast’ is a tough competition and it provides exposure for my writing.”
And national exposure is what Congress will get in the contest because voters from around the nation will view—and vote on—the eight final plays via Zoom. This marks the third straight year the competition is using the ‘vote from home’ format.
“The Zoom set up provides me with exposure throughout the country,” said Congress, who is a ‘conversation writer’ for the Catalina Health app in addition to her playwriting. “This is a unique format that has brought in some great writers. This has gotten to be real fun theater democracy.”
Her competition this year includes writers from as far away as Seattle, Washington and Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Congress, whose work will be featured in June in New York’s Downton Urban Arts Festival, credits her mother with developing her writing skills.
