Yale Repertory Theater Presents a Reading of 'Grenadine'

Yale Repertory Theater (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) will present a reading of the 2008 winner of the Yale Drama Series, 'Grenadine' by Neil Wechsler, directed by Yale Rep Resident Director Evan Yionoulis, on Monday, September 15 at 7:30PM at the New Theater, located at 1156 Chapel Street, New Haven, Connecticut.  The cast features Brennan Brown, MacIntyre Dixon, Adam LeFevre, David Matranga, Anne O'Sullivan, Michael Rudko, William Youmans, and Marnye Young.

'Grenadine' follows a man's quest for love in the company of his three devoted friends. The bonds of friendship are challenged-and ultimately reaffirmed-by the quartet's journey through an unfamiliar landscape.  Playwright Neil Wechsler graduated from Yale University in 1996 with distinction in Philosophy and Psychology. He has been writing novels, novellas, and plays ever since. He lives in Buffalo, New York, with his wife, Anne, and their two-year-old son, Max.

The reading is free and open to the public. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Please call (203) 432-7087.

The Yale Drama Series, jointly sponsored by Yale University Press and Yale Repertory Theatre, is generously funded by the David Charles Horn Foundation. Edward Albee served as the first judge of the series and selected the 2007 and 2008 recipients. Last year's winner, 'The Boys from Siam' by John Austin Connolly, will be published this October.  

The award will be formally presented at a ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park on Sunday, September 14, 2008. In addition to the reading at Yale Rep, playwright Neil Wechsler will receive the David C. Horn Prize of $10,000 and 'Grenadine' will be published by Yale University Press.

The judge for 2009 and 2010 will be David Hare. The winner of many awards on both sides of the Atlantic, David Hare is one of Britain's best-known playwrights. Ten of his plays have been presented on Broadway, including 'Plenty,' 'Skylight,' 'Amy's View,' 'The Blue Room,' 'The Judas Kiss,' 'Via Dolorosa,' and 'The Vertical Hour.'

The David Charles Horn Foundation was established in 2003 by Francine Horn to honor the memory of her late husband. David Horn was the publisher and CEO of 'Here & There,' the leading international forecasting and reporting publication for the fashion industry. Ms. Horn created the Foundation to support new initiatives in the literary and dramatic arts to commemorate her husband's lifetime commitment to the written word.

A champion of new work, Yale Repertory Theatre has produced well over 100 world, American, and regional premieres-including two Pulitzer Prize winners and four other nominated finalists-by emerging and established playwrights. Eleven Yale Rep productions have advanced to Broadway, garnering more than 40 Tony Award® nominations and eight Tony Awards, and Yale Rep itself is the recipient of the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. In its 42-year history, Yale Repertory Theatre has produced the world premieres of plays by David Adjmi, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Lee Blessing, Christopher Durang, Jules Feiffer, Athol Fugard, Marcus Gardley, Kama Ginkas, John Guare, Albert Innuarato, Walton Jones, Adrienne Kennedy, Arthur Kopit, Sunil Thomas Kuruvilla, Wendy MacLeod, Julie McKee, Terrence McNally, Richard Nelson, Suzan-Lori Parks, David Rabe, Keith Reddin, José Rivera, Sarah Ruhl, Sam Shepard, William Styron, Derek Walcott, August Wilson, and Doug Wright, among many others. www.yalerep.org.