Guirgis, Corthron, Etc. Part of LAByrinth Barn Series Fest

LAByrinth Theater Company has announced their lineup for The Seventh Annual Barn Series Festival, which will be presented in the 102-seat Shiva Theater at The Public from December 2 to December 20, 2006.

It will include Knives & Other Sharp Objects by Raúl Castillo, Penalties & Interest by Theater at The Public from December 2 to December 20, 2006.  It will include Rebecca Cohen, Sam's Coming by Kia Corthron, The Wild Inside by Cusi Cram, A View from 151st Street by Bob Glaudini, Untitled by Stephen Adly Guirgis, Sweet Storm by Scott Hudson, The History of Invulnerability by David Bar Katz, The Rest of Your Life by Megan Mostyn-Brown and Becoming Jack by Justin Reinsilber.

"The Barn Series Festival features projects originally work-shopped at the annual Summer Intensive, and is the next stage of play development at LAByrinth Theater Company.  The plays, each rehearsed for 15 hours, are usually presented twice and typically feature the same cast and director as at the Intensive, while the playwrights are active participants in the process.  While it is a reading series (so actors hold scripts), many Barn Series projects have added production values such as sound, lighting, and blocking.  The aim of the Series is to nurture new works at differing stages of development, so each piece is presented in the manner that best serves its needs," according to press notes.

The Barn Series allows artists to assess how general New York audiences connect with the work, and gives them a valuable opportunity to further shape and refine the play as a step towards full production.  Some presentations are followed by talkbacks so artists can hear direct responses and reactions.  LAByrinth's aim is also to share with our New York community original works of great promise that truly reflect the city's rainbow of cultures.  The Barn Series Festival is open to the public and presented free of charge.

BARN SERIES SCHEDULE

Knives and Other Sharp Objects
By Raúl Castillo

Directed by Felix Solis

December 11^th and 13^th at 8pm

"Two sisters. One bloody hand. Three orphans on the lam. Can Texas handle this much love?"

Penalties & Interest
By Rebecca Cohen

Directed by Paula Pizzi

December 6^th and 9^th at 8pm

"In this dark comedy, the insular existence of office life is a Petri dish for contemporary society where Lollie, Lyle and Amy try to keep their heads above water, and their boss Dick bobs up when they least expect it."

Sam's Coming
By Kia Corthron

Directed by Sarah Sidman

December 7^th and 8^th at 8pm

"A new play."

The Wild Inside
By Cusi Cram

Directed by Mimi O'Donnell

December 3^rd and 5^th at 8pm

"Can people really change? A peculiar 'family,' an ancient tortoise, and a tour guide in stilettos try their luck at transformation on an outer island of the Galapagos. And it gets wild. Inside and out."

A View from 151st Street
By Bob Glaudini

Directed by Peter Dubois

December 17^th and 20^th at 8pm

"Life and death on 151st Street. Bob Glaudini's LAB productions include Dutch Heart of Man and the upcoming Jack Goes Boating also directed by Peter Dubois."

Untitled

Written & Directed by Stephen Adly Guirgis whose past LAB productions include The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, In Arabia We'd All Be Kings, Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train, Our Lady of 121st Street.

December 18^th at 7pm and 9pm

Sweet Storm
By Scott Hudson
Directed by Padraic Lillis
December 10th and 12th at 8 PM

"A love story: young lovers (of course), a great oak tree, some clouds, heavy rain and wind."

The History of Invulnerability
By David Bar Katz

Directed by John Gould Rubin

December 15^th and 19^th at 8pm

"In the early 1940's there was one Jew powerful enough to single-handedly challenge the Nazis: Kal El, aka Superman. This is the story of Superman creator Jerry Siegel and his tumultuous relationship with his legendary comic-book character and the tale of a little boy in Birkenau who believes he will survive because Superman is on his way to liberate the camp."

The Rest of Your Life

By Megan Mostyn-Brown

Directed by Meredith McDonough

December 14^th and 16^th at 8pm

"Dizzy ditches NYC for her small hometown to figure out the mess that is her life. A freak snowstorm, her best friend's crumbling marriage, the genius kid she baby-sits and the stockboy at the local market make things more complicated. It seems everyone is on the edge of something but no one knows what to do next."

Becoming Jack
By Justin Reinsilber

Directed by Elizabeth Canavan

December 2^nd and 4^th at 8pm

"Jack smokes too much. Jack does too many drugs. Jack steals a little and owes much more. Jack's Mom is gonna die. These are the facts. Jack can't change the facts. His challenge, should he accept it, is to change himself."

All readings are free and open to the public at the Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street).  Reservations are required and can be obtained by calling 212-513-1012 or emailing barnseriesRSVP@labtheater.org.  All requests will be filled in the order they are received and are on a first-come, first-served basis.  RSVPs will receive an email or phone call confirming reservations.  The reservation line opens today, Monday, November 20th at 3pm.  Visit www.labtheater.org for more on the LAByrinth Theater Company.