City Theatre to Present Momentum 15 Next Month

City Theatre announces the lineup for this year's two-day Momentum festival, featuring new works by returning favorites Jessica Dickey and Keith Reddin.

Momentum is an annual celebration of new theatrical works featuring readings, workshops, panels, and conversation. This two-day festival is a chance for audiences to not only see new works in early incarnations, but to participate in the process of creating new plays and get a glimpse inside the minds of the playwrights. It is supported, in part, by The Fine Foundation.

"Thanks to our engaged audience members and loyal subscribers, we are able to nurture and support writers from across the country as they create vivid new stories for the American canon," says Tracy Brigden, City Theatre Artistic Director. "I especially look forward to Momentum each season as a vital element of our mission. Presenting new works in this participatory manner before intimate audiences of friends and artists allows us to truly evolve the art - whether a play is in a more nascent stage or in the final stages of polish readying it for production."

City Theatre audiences will remember both Keith Reddin (Human Error, The Missionary Position) and Jessica Dickey (The Amish Project, Charles Ives Take Me Home) from past hit productions - Reddin's Some Brighter Distance is slated for a World Premiere next January as part of City's 2015-16 main season.

THE PLAYS

The Human Court
by Jessica Dickey

Henry has made the difficult decision to transition his wife Helen into an assisted living facility. As Helen's mind unravels, Henry must contend with his adopted daughter's desire to meet her birth mother in Thailand, his unresolved feelings for a family friend, and a mysterious, new caregiver. Voodoo, dementia, and family secrets are interwoven in this moving exploration of the ties that bind us.

Some Brighter Distance
by Keith Reddin

At the height of the Cold War, German rocket scientist Arthur Rudolph was instrumental in helping America win the Space Race. But when he is forced to confront his dark Nazi history, Rudolph and his wife are cast out of the country he has diligently served for nearly 40 years. Written by award-winning author and City Theatre favorite Keith Reddin (Human Error, The Missionary Position), this time-bending play explores the untold (and true) story of "Operation Paperclip" and questions the cost of burying the past in pursuit of the future.

MOMENTUM 15 SCHEDULE

Friday, June 5
7:00 PM - Reading of The Human Court by Jessica Dickey
Directed by City Theatre Artistic Producer, Reginald L. Douglas
Hamburg Studio Theatre, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Saturday, June 6
1:00 PM - "City Speaks" featuring Jessica Dickey & Keith Reddin
Moderated by City Theatre Director of New Play Development, Clare Drobot
The Gordon Lounge, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Join us for an intimate conversation with award-winning writers Jessica Dickey and Keith Reddin. Both writers will be in residence at City Theatre for the Momentum weekend, and have received celebrated productions with the company. Jessica and Keith will discuss their craft and careers, read excerpts of the scripts from their upcoming productions, and participate in a Q&A session moderated by City Theatre's Director of New Play Development, Clare Drobot. Light refreshments will be served.

3:00 PM - Reading of Some Brighter Distance by Keith Reddin
Directed by City Theatre Artistic Director, Tracy Brigden
City Theatre Rehearsal Room, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

City Theatre recently welcomed two new artistic staff members, who are highly involved in producing this year's Momentum festival - Artistic Producer, Reginald L. Douglas, and Director of New Play Development, Clare Drobot.

"As we culminate our 40th anniversary season and I begin my 15th as Artistic Director, I am excited to welcome Reginald and Clare to our team," says Ms. Brigden. "They both have vast experience with and great enthusiasm for new plays. I am thrilled to usher in City Theatre's next chapter with them by my side."

Prior to joining City Theatre, Mr. Douglas directed extensively throughout the country at venues including the Eugene O'Neill Center's National Playwrights Conference, Playwrights Center, McCarter Theatre, Luna Stage, Lark Play Development Center, New York Theatre Workshop, the Wild Project, Pershing Square Signature Center, Drama League, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Culture Project, Theater Row, BRIC Arts Media, DR2, Soho Playhouse, Billie Holiday Theatre, Horse Trade, Baruch College, and others. He has developed and directed plays by many writers including Jerome Fellow Josh Wilder, Obie Award-winner Nikkole Salter, Laura Brienza, Amy Evans, Angelica Chéri, James MacLindon, Natalia Naman, Bil Wright, Jessica Dickey, and several others. In addition, Mr. Douglas has received fellowships from New York Theater Workshop and the Lark Play Development Center; is a member of the Actors Studio's Playwrights and Directors Unit; serves on the selection committee for the Lark's Jerome New York Fellowship; and has assistant directed for several leading players on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally.

"City Theatre's commitment to developing and producing new plays that challenge and engage diverse audiences is deeply inspiring," says Mr. Douglas. "I am honored to join Tracy, the Board and staff in this important work, and look forward to uniting my passion and experience with City's remarkable track record of artistic excellence."

Ms. Drobot has worked in theater as a dramaturg, literary manager, and casting associate since 2005. Prior to joining City Theatre she was the resident dramaturg/producing associate at Premiere Stages, the professional theatre in residence at Kean University. Clare was also a literary associate for Passage Theatre in Trenton and ran the reading series Untitled at Happy Ending in New York City. Clare has worked in various capacities at Williamstown Theatre Festival, The McCarter Theatre, The BE Company, Two River Theater, Theater for the New City, Laura Stanczyk Casting, and New Dramatists. She has helped to develop works by Dominique Morisseau, James McManus, Chisa Hutchinson, Noah Haidle, Tammy Ryan, Kathryn Grant, James Christy, Tom Matthew Wolfe, Erik Gernand, and Darren Canady and worked with directors Jade King Carroll, Kel Haney, Wes Grantom, and John Wooten among others. Her work as a writer has been seen at venues including Ars Nova's ANT FEST and developed by Luna Stage, Passage Theatre, and the NY Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She is a Carnegie Mellon graduate with degrees in music composition and creative writing and a member of LMDA and the WGA.

"I'm elated to be part of the City Theatre staff and work with Tracy, the board, and the entire City team at this phenomenal home for new work," says Ms. Drobot. "City's year-round dedication to new play development is exhilarating and I look forward to engaging with our audiences and working alongside playwrights to create vibrant, new theatre."

TICKETS
All Momentum events are free and open to the public. Due to space restrictions, advanced reservations are encouraged. Please call the City Theatre box office at: 412.431.CITY (2489).