LEWISTON — The Thread Theater rolled out its second installment of its theatrical throw-down style performances in March at the Franco Center in Lewiston. The theme for the night was “Under Pressure” and playwrights came out with short scripts ranging  from a young couple dealing with a slimy car salesman, to a floating table, to talking to a difficult customer over the phone, to a labor and delivery room, to trying to write a script under pressure.

The next Thread Theater at the Franco Center will be held on Thursday, April 23. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for happy hour at the The Heritage Café Bar and Grille. The show starts at 7:30. Jay Barrett will be the host for the evening and theme is “Out with the Old”.

The masterminds behind The Thread Theater are Jay Barrett, Dan Kane, Tony Morin and Jason Pelletier. “It isn’t even really our idea” Kane said. “We’re sort of borrowing the concept from The Crowbait Club in Portland, with their permission of course.”

There is a $5 entrance fee for everyone, including playwrights, actors, and spectators. Playwrights submitting a script under the evening’s theme enter their name into a bucket. Actors do the same. Plays or scenes need to be 10 minutes or less in length. Playwrights are responsible for bringing enough copies of the script for all of the required actors and a copy to submit. They are also responsible for any props they may want or need. Only 10 scripts are drawn at random and performed in two acts: five plays in the first act; five plays in the second. When a playwright’s script is drawn he or she then pulls the names of their actors. The playwright has two minutes to cast the show, explain the characters and set the stage. Then, it’s show time.

Anyone is invited to just come and watch from the audience. The audience is encouraged to actively let the cast of each play know just how they are doing. At the end of the evening the audience votes for their favorite script and best actor of the evening. The event tends to carry adult themes and is generally not appropriate for minors.

March’s Thread Theater continued the reign of female champions as Danielle Eaton took home the “Best Script” honor for the evening “Under Pressure” with her show entitled “Birth Day” and Jennifer Fox won “Best Actor” for her performance of Mrs. Miller in that play.

The Thread Theater at the Franco Center, at 46 Cedar St. in Lewiston, is handicap accessible. All proceeds benefit the Franco Center. For more information, contact or visit the Franco Center office, visit www.francocenter.org or call 207-783.1585. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, from noon to 4 p.m.