Free Reading of SHOSTAKOVICH Set for ACT, 5/12-13

A Contemporary Theatre's New Play Award recipient: Shostakovich by Jason Grote. Best known for his play 1001 (a deconstruction of Arabian Nights) and Maria/Stuart, Jason Grote's newest work focuses on the life and work of celebrated Russian composer, Dmitri Shostakovich. Commissioned through the New Works for the American Stage initiative in 2010, Shostakovich chronicles the tumultuous career of a brilliant musician striving to make art and survive the regime of Joseph Stalin.

"As part of the New Works for the American Stage process, we didn't dictate what the subject matter would be," says artistic director Kurt Beattie, "but we're thrilled by what he's created with Shostakovich. It's important to look at Russia's oppressive past especially in light of current events."

Now in its ninth year, the ACT New Play Award Program is sponsored by a $20,000 gift from Gian-Carlo and Eulalie Scandiuzzi. The award provides the playwright with a $2,500 prize and the opportunity to workshop the play, funding the staffing, director and actor fees, and production elements for one week. The workshop culminates with two FREE staged readings presented in ACT's Bullitt Cabaret May 12 and 13.

Kurt Beattie added, "The draft came in last fall and we were immediately excited about the potential of this new work. Of all the scripts we were considering we knew that Shostakovich was deserving of the support that the ACT New Play Award can offer."

Grote's writing is well known to television viewers of Mad Men and Smash, and he is currently a writer for the second season of Hannibal. Executive Director Carlo Scandiuzzi adds, "Helping create and nurture new works is what we strive to do here. Jason's play about the life of composer Dmitri Shostakovich is a fantastic piece about how art thrives even when humanity is repressed."

Performance dates

Monday, May 12 - 7:00pm

Tuesday, May 13 - 7:00pm

To RSVP for this free event go to www.acttheatre.org

To post a comment, you must register and login.