Kansas City Actors Theatre to Stage Free Reading of UNDER MILK WOOD

Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT) continues their Season 12 staged reading series with a free script-in-hand staged reading of Dylan Thomas's comic "play for voices," Under Milk Wood on Sunday, April 23rd at 2:00 pm at the H&R Block City Stage in Union Station.

First performed as a radio drama in 1954, Under Milk Wood has been celebrated for over 60 years, having been adapted for film twice and has seen many re-tellings in a variety of media. Both lyrical and funny, Under Milk Wood explores the dreams and lives of the residents of a small, fictional Welsh fishing village who, when put on trial for insanity in a previous work by Thomas, decided that they would rather be considered insane than commit to the popular version of sanity. After being treated to a nighttime view into the fears and desires that inhabit the dreams of the townsfolk, the audience is taken on a guided tour inside the heads of 63 different characters to see how the conflict of their sometimes absurd thoughts and feelings affect them.

Kansas City Actors Theatre is especially happy to present Under Milk Wood as part of their Season 12 Reading Series, as Dylan Thomas's writing is especially suited to a reading. "The language sings," says KCAT Board Member Victor Raider-Wexler, who will also direct and perform in the production. "When I first encountered Under Milk Wood I was blown away by the language," he continues. "I was taken with how close I was to tears when nothing sad was happening, how easy it was to laugh, and how sensual the piece is using only language."

Under Milk Wood has actually been on Raider-Wexler's radar to perform for quite some time, and he's excited to bring it to Kansas City. "I doubt that people will have heard the show, and KCAT's job is twofold: To give Kansas City actors wonderful words in order to convey fascinating ideas, and to deliver to our audience plays that they ought to be able to see. This show meets those requirements quite nicely."

The performance will be directed by Victor Raider-Wexler, who will also perform, and will also feature the talents of KCAT Board Members Cinnamon Schultz and Jan Rogge along with Kansas City actors Gary Neal Johnson, Vanessa Severo, Evan Lovelace, Emily Sukolics, Robert Gibby Brand, and Walter Coppage.

This free staged reading of Under Milk Wood will take place at Union Station's H&R Block City Stage on April 23rd at 2:00 pm and will offer general admission seating by reservation at no charge. Reservations to attend must be made at john@kcactors.org. Seating is limited.

Kansas City Actors Theatre's Season 12 Staged Reading series is made possible through the generosity of Rick and Barbie Dierks.