The Theater for the New City's summer showcase, the Dream Up Festival will be kicking off on August 8th and will run through September 5th. From the theater company's site: "Theater for the New City (TNC) as a venue for new artists and playwrights, it presents performances that would probably otherwise not be seen by the general public. Dream Up will allow us to present more new, unproduced plays for the America stage from not only New York City area talent but talent from across the country and abroad. We feel this is especially needed now in a time of donation reductions, grants not being awarded due to market conditions, and arts funding cuts on almost every level. TNC is unique in its commitment to both high artistic standards and community service. In an effort to make theater accessible to all, TNC sponsors several free, multi-ethnic events a year, including the Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, which celebrates the artistic and cultural diversity of TNC’s Lower East Side community, and the Annual Summer Street Theater, which travels to thirteen neighborhoods in all five boroughs. TNC has consistently been the most inexpensive theater of its caliber, with the Dream Up Festival ticket prices will be $12-$15 for the participating productions. As the cultural hub of its Lower East Side community, TNC develops new artists and inspires future audiences." Some of the shows in the festival will be: "Auto Graphic Novel, " written and directed by Johnny Klein. Sunday, August 29 at 7:00 PM (Cino Theater); Monday, August 30 at 7:00 PM; Tuesday, August 31 at 7:00 PM; Wednesday, Sept 1 at 9:00 PM; Saturday, Sept 4 at 2:00 PM Theater for the New City (Community Theater) 155 First Avenue (at East 10th Street), Manhattan, New York Running time: 90 minutes. $12. (world premiere) 212-254-1109 This is an autobiographical collage of the major events in Johnny Klein's life that led him to become a writer, or it's a William S. Burroughs Pop-Up Book for Kids. It combines the interior world of narrative prose with a visceral theater of images that mimics the dream-like experience of personal memoir. Performed by Johnny Klein. "Summer Rain," written and directed by Robert Coe. Monday, August 9 at 7:00 PM; Wednesday, August 11 at 7:00 PM; Friday, August 13 at 7:00 PM; Saturday, August 14 at 5:00 PM; Sunday, August 15 at 7:00 PM. Theater for the New City - Community Theater 155 First Avenue (at East 10th Street), Manhattan, New York Running time: 75 minutes. $15. (world premiere) Pochee Beach, San Clemente, California: Summer of '65. Two young surfers wait for a third, unsure about what might have happened to him in the course of a mysterious crime. Two young women arrive on a quest for a ride to the greatest rock show of all time. "Summer Rain" is a dark fable about spiritual ambition, violence, homophobia, sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll, unfolding on a single night on a lonely patch of sand. For more information and information on how to purchase tickets please visit the festival's website.