Public Theater Offers New Work Reading Series, Sept. 2-Oct. 3
By: BWW News Desk Sep. 01, 2005
Since its inception in 1994, New Work Now! has "offered audiences an opportunity to see the hits of tomorrow first and for free," according to a press article. It hosted the first New York reading of Nilo Cruz' Anna in the Tropics; introduced Heather Raffo's Nine Parts of Desire; and read Chay Yew's The Long Season. Satellites by Diana Son and Measure for Pleasure by David Grimm, both of which will premiere in The Publics 2005-06 downtown season, also came out of New Work Now! Rinne Groff (The Ruby Sunrise) and José Rivera (School of the Americas) are also festival alumni.
New Work Then! will "celebrate the extraordinary legacy of new plays at The Public. Each play will be read by a stellar cast, which will sometimes include original cast members, sometimes thrilling new voices. Plays will be set in context, so that we hear it not in isolation but as part of a specific historical moment."The Public's 50th Anniversary Celebration features events uptown and downtown, including two productions of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte, six cutting edge productions in the downtown season, interactive exhibitions and provocative discussions in celebration of the theaters rich history.
"Founded by Joseph Papp as the Shakespeare Workshop and now one of the nations preeminent cultural institutions, The Public is an American theater in which all the countrys voices, rhythms, and cultures converge. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Mara Manus, The Public's mandate to create a theater for all New Yorkers continues to this day on stage and through its extensive outreach and education programs." Over 250,000 people annually attend Public Theater-related events at its six downtown stages including Joe's Pub, and at Shakespeare in the Park and Joes Pub in the Park.
All readings are free and open to the public. Reservations can be arranged by calling The Public Theater box office at 212-260-2400 between the hours of 1-6pm on Sundays and Mondays and 1-7:30pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. There is a limit of four reservations per reading. Reserved tickets must be picked up 15 minutes prior to starting time, at which time unclaimed tickets will be released to people on the waiting list. *For Joes Pub dinner reservations, please call 212-539-8778.
New Work Now!
Friday, September 9th at 7:00pm
The End of It All
Written by Cusi Cram / Directed by Margaret Whitton
It's 1928 in Los Angeles. Prominent screenwriter Frances Marion wants comic star Lettie Friganza to act in a talkie. Will she sign a movie contract? What will become of Sammy, the silky toned tenor who's lost his voice, Felicidad, a renowned belly dancer who limps, and Penny-the homely ballerina?
Saturday, September 10th at 7:00pm
Love Child
Written by Luther Goins / Directed by Billy Porter
LaWanda, TaWanda, DaWanda and ShaWanda are fifteen and sixteen, all sassy and smart, and all have babies. Some have three. Love Child, a poignant and high-spirited dark comedy, addresses babies having babies--the never-ending cycle of teenage pregnancy.
Sunday, September 11th at 2:00pm
Life, Love and E.B.I.T.D.A.
Written by Anuvab Pal / Directed by John Dias
Ruled from London by millionaire twins with workers toiling in India, the sun never sets on Gofuz Inc.-the worlds largest manhole-cover maker. But two women bankers have devious plans to reshape Gofuz and the future of global waste.
Sunday, September 11th at 6:30pm (*Joes Pub)
Autobiography of a Terrorist
Written by Saïd Sayrafiezadeh / Directed by Anne Kauffman
From the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979 to September 11th, Saïd, his actors and his director try to control an unruly narrative examining what it is to be Middle Eastern in America today.
Monday, September 12th at 7:00pm
Durango
Written by Julia Cho / Directed by Chay Yew
On the spur of the moment, single-father Boo-Seng decides to take his two sons-doctor-to-be Isaac and swim-champion Jimmy-on a road trip through the great American Southwest. As the three wend their way to Durango, CO, they ask themselves what they will each sacrifice to be a good father, son, and man.
Tuesday, September 13th at 7:00pm
Kingdom
Music by Ian Williams / Words by Aaron Jafferis / Directed by Michael John Garcés
Juan and Andres pledge themselves to a Latino empowerment organization, the Almighty Latin King/Queen Nation: Acuérdate. Amor de Rey.
Wednesday, September 14th at 7:00pm
Stockholm Brooklyn
Written and directed by Desmond Hall
Brice, a recently divorced well-to-do accountant, goes to an ATM and is kidnapped by Hector and Antwain. In captivity, Brice is forced to withdraw his daily cash maximum. But he also counsels Antwain's Baby Mama, helps the kids with their homework, and does everybodys taxes.
Thursday, September 15th at 7:00pm
All We Can Handle
Written by Andrew Dainoff / Directed by Alex Lippard
David meets Sally and follows her to New York. Beauty ensues. Then David's journey is accelerated by terrorism, grief-stained sex, chain-drinking, murder, jazz and phone sex culminating at the edge of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Friday, September 16th at 7:00pm
Paris Commune
Written by Steven Cosson and Michael Friedman / Directed by Steve Cosson
Paris, 1871, in the throes of revolution. Documentary theater meets French history, opera, café concert, and cabaret in this new play from the exciting and unpredictable company, The Civilians.
Saturday, September 17th at 7:00pm
The Poor Itch
Written by John Belluso / Directed by Lisa Peterson
Ian came back from the war in Iraq without the use of his legs but with a full supply of oxycontin. Now, he has to deal with the person he was at home, the person he was at war and the person he is. An exciting new work from the author of Henry Flamethrowa.
Sunday, September 18th at 2:00pm
Queenie thinks she is dying. But how can one choose a burial site when shopping malls and Baskin Robbins spread from North America to India and beyond? A comic-drama about the Indian Diaspora examining family and migration.
Sunday, September 18th at 6:30pm (*Joes Pub)
Rants
Written and performed by Eric Bogosian, Lea Delaria, Florencia Lozano, Billy Porter, Jennifer Miller, Pamela Sneed and Mike Daisey.
An explosive evening of solo performances. Combining improvisation and scripted material, Rants speaks to a desire for politically-engaged theater told from a personal point of view.
New Work Then!
Friday, September 23rd at 7:00pm
Top Girls (1982)
By Caryl Churchill
This startlingly original play bends time and genders in a dazzling exploration of modern femininity.
Saturday, September 24th at 3:00pm
for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf (1976)
By Ntozake Shange
Seven African-American women share the stories, the songs, the history and the daily realities of their lives in this choreopoem masterpiece.
Saturday, September 24th at 7:00pm
Curse of the Starving Class (1978)
By Sam Shepard
A starkly funny and exhilarating vision of family, land, and the darker side of the American dream. For more information, visit www.joespub.com.
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