OMG! It's Walking the Wire this Weekend!

Iowa City - No matter what life holds there are always OMG! moments.

Romantic miscommunication. OMG! The pretty girl asking you out. OMG! Having intimate conversations with God. OMG! Child birth. OMG! Playing dress up. OMG! The Six Million Dollar Man. OMG!

Walking the Wire will bring to life a variety of OMG! moments during its annual festival of original work from playwrights across the country and right here in Iowa.

"Walking The Wire is a total blast. As a seasoned monologist who is also a people person, I always start my monologues half-expecting someone to join me onstage,” said local actor and playwright Megan Gogerty.

This show also features a preview of Gogerty’s new one-woman show, which will open the 2011-2012 season.

"Walking The Wire is a great way for me to test-drive material for my full-length monologue play, also conveniently premiering at Riverside,” Gogerty said. “If it goes well, then I guarantee there'll be more of the same when my show opens in September."

This year’s Walking the Wire is directed by co-founder, resident artist, and production manager Ron Clark. The show is sponsored by Toyota-Scion of Iowa City.

“This show is very exciting - it's like a circus train of stories that whiz by, each one carrying its own emotional wallop. The evening always flies by and has become a favorite with our audiences,” Clark said.

Riverside Theatre received monologues submissions from all over the country and across Iowa for the annual festival.

The eleven playwrights whose work will be presented are: Richard Ballon (Amherst, MA); P. Seth Bauer (Philadelphia, PA); Ron Clark (Iowa City); Megan Gogerty (Iowa City); Ellen Grafton (Chicago, IL); Joe Jennison (Mount Vernon); Laura Nessler (Chicago, IL); Amanda Petefish-Schrag (Maryville, MO); Gwendolyn Rice (Madison, WI); Janet Schlapkohl (Iowa City); and Michael Whistler (Philadelphia, PA).

Performers for the monologue festival are Brandon Bruce, Megan Gogerty, Carrie Houchins-Witt, Jody Hovland, Mike Moran, Chris Okiishi, and Jessica Wilson.

Walking the Wire runs March 4-13. Showtimes are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $26 for adults, $23 for 60 and over/30 and under, $12 for youth (18 and under). Tickets can be purchased online at www.riversidetheatre.org or by phone at (319) 338-7672. Riverside Theatre Box Office is located at 213 N. Gilbert St, Iowa City. Box office hours are: 12 - 4 p.m. Monday – Friday.