January and February are big months for Patrick Fogarty. This time of year not only kicks off the height of tax season for the local accountant, it brings him into the spotlight for his talent as a playwright.

Fogarty's "Love is a Battlefield" is one of 10 original short plays chosen for inclusion in the Over Our Head Players' 2009 Snowdance 10-Minute Comedy Festival. The festival, which will take place Downtown from Jan. 30 through Feb. 22, is a competitive theater event during which the audience votes for their favorite comedy and the winner gets a $300 prize and is named "Best in Snow."

This year is the second time Fogarty's work has been selected as one of the finalists for the Snowdance Festival, which has had playwrights from across the United States and around the world vying for a spot on the Sixth Street Theatre stage for the last four years. A record 240 scripts - from 36 states and five foreign countries - were entered in the 2009 competition and Fogarty's is the only one among the chosen 10 that is written by a Wisconsinite.

Snowdance fans may recall Fogarty's sense of humor from his "Downsize This," a workplace piece which was featured in the festival's third year. "Love is a Battlefield" has a more personal connection for the playwright who says that this year's entry is a "little bit autobiographical."

"My wife and I are both accountants and science fiction fans and a bit nerdy," Fogarty said. "And the play is about a young couple dating for the first time who are a little nerdy."

So nerdy, in fact, that they bring their relationship coaches along on their date.

"It was a fun play to write," Fogarty said. "I hope people enjoy it."

Spreading wings

The festival's fifth year also marks the first time that it will be performed anywhere other than the Sixth Street Theatre, 318 Sixth St. While most of the run will still be on Sixth Street, the final three performances of the 2009 Snowdance Festival (Feb. 21-22) will be held at Memorial Hall, 72 Seventh St., which will seat between 250 and 300 people.

The decision to take the show outside its 80-seat capacity home was sparked by Adam Smith of the Racine County Convention and Visitors Bureau, who originally mentioned the idea to the Over Our Head Players a couple years ago, according to Rich Smith, artistic director of the OOHP. When he brought it up again a couple months ago, the theatre troupe decided to try the larger venue for part of festival, in order to allow more people to attend an event which has sold out in past years.

While bigger may automatically sound better to some, the decision to branch out to Memorial Hall was not a snap for the OOHP because the intimacy the Sixth Street Theatre provides is an important part of the troupe's identity and energy, explained Diane Carlson, a member of the OOHP.

"It is part and parcel of where we are," Carlson said.

In order to maintain some of that intimacy, the OOHP plan to create a thrust stage at Memorial Hall that is similar to the set up at the Sixth Street Theatre, Rich Smith explained.

"We are going to have the stage and audience pretty much the same way we have it (at Sixth Street)," he said. "We want to be able to seat 250 people and still have an intimate feel."

The move is a great opportunity for the OOHP's designers to create scenery, lighting, props and more that are portable, Carlson said.

All over the board

No matter which venue they experience Snowdance in, audience members will get to see comedies with a variety of themes ranging from homeland security to an argument over song lyrics, as well as other relationship humor. All ten plays will be performed at each show by an ensemble team of actors including: John Adams, Barbara Akey, Brianna Andrews (Hubbard), Sea Daniel, Rick Ditter, Cody A. Ernest, Brad Kostreva, Jenny Kostreva, Joseph Piirto, Matt Rangel, Ron Schulz, Rich Smith, Denise Marie Wargowsky, and Teri Rene Wilson. Directing credit is shared by Diane Carlson, Rick Ditter, Melissa Hughes Ernest, Jenny Kostreva, Tom Spraker, and Rich Smith. Snowdance's 2009 production staff includes Emily Breiwick, Janine Anderson, Claudia F. Bruce, Anna Clementi, Jerry Horton, Christopher Larson, Jamie Rauth, Wendy Schulz, Jim Smith and Keven Winters.

The plays

In addition to Pat Fogarty's "Love is a Battlefield," the Snowdance 10 Minute Comedy Festival will include:

- "Cracks in the Sand" by Corrie Mund of Whitby, Ontario, Canada. A couple gets more (or less) than they bargained for when they check in to an island resort for a weekend alone.

- "Here to Serve You" by Barbara Lindsay of Seattle. Can a lost shoe in an airport terminal really be a threat to homeland security?

- "Three Kings" by James Venhaus of San Antonio. The Christmas spirit is lost when a game of poker gets in the way.

- "Not Funny" by Christopher Lockheardt of Andover, Mass. A Love Story: a man, a woman and a good steak knife.

- "Proverbs" by Donna Latham of St. Charles, Ill. Proverbial wisdom rings out over lost love, but it's in an Irish pub.

- "Dressed up Like a Douche" by Rick Park of Boston. Friends argue over the real lyrics to a song. Is anyone right? Or are they all blinded by the light?

- "Santa Claus-tastrophe" by Heather Meyer of Bloomington, Minn. From holiday icon to villain to League of Justice Super Hero - in one silent night.

- "Idiots Abroad" by Stephen Gallagher of Youngsville, N.C. Lost in Europe with a stressed marriage, a broken GPS and an obnoxious German DJ.

- "Kung-Foolery" by Brett Hursey, Longwood University, Farmville, Va. Karly and Barry are married. Karly's mother is coming for a visit. Barry has issues.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: 2009 Snowdance 10-Minute Comedy Festival

WHEN: Jan. 30 through Feb. 22. Show times are 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 5:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

WHERE: The first 16 performances will take place at the Sixth Street Theatre, 318 Sixth St. and the final three shows will be at Memorial Hall, 72 Seventh St.

COST: Tickets are $15 on Fridays and Saturdays and $12 on Sundays and Wednesdays.

INFO: Reservations are available through the box office at (262) 632-6802. Information is also available at http://www.overourheadplayers.org