Berkshire Playwrights Lab Presents The Many Mistresses of Martin Luther King

Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Andrew Dolan's "The Many Mistresses of Martin Luther King" directed by Rod Menzies on June 29 at 7:30pm at Bard College at Simon's Rock Daniel Arts Center McConnell Theater (84 Alford Road, Great Barrington, Mass.). The cast includes Peter Jay Fernandez, Brandon Gill, Tracey A. Leigh, Judith Moreland, and another actor TBA. Admission is free. For reservations, call 413.528.0100 or visit the Mahaiwe Box Office (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.).

"The Many Mistresses of Martin Luther King" is a darkly humorous play is about a modern American family of second marriages and mixed races set in a university town. The politics of academia weave through the narrative as egos collide, relationships buckle, and the content of character is put to the test. "Andrew Dolan, a seasoned actor, is a new playwriting voice with whom we are excited to work," said Bob Jaffe. "We think this play is as provocative as its title."

Playwright Andrew Dolan is an actor who, aside from his many television and film roles, has performed On and Off Broadway, at The National Theatre in London, and in many regional theaters. His first play, "That Good Night," was read at New York Stage & Film with a cast that included Reg Rogers, Marin Ireland, and Mary Beth Peil. His baseball play "‘04: A Muse of Fire" premiered last March at Mile Square Theatre's 7th Inning Stretch Festival. He has sold two screenplays and is presently developing several television projects. He is a graduate of Bowdoin College and the American Conservatory Theater.

Director Rod Menzies is celebrating his 40th year in professional theater as a director, actor, playwright, and coach. He is currently Associate Artistic Director of Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA, where he directed a Fuel Workshop of Andrew Dolan's "That Good Night" in 2010, and where he will direct the premiere production of "The Many Mistresses of Martin Luther King" in 2012. He has developed and directed more than a dozen solo shows in Los Angeles, including Alice Johnson's acclaimed hit "St. Alice of Chattahoochee" at The Elephant Theatre and ELisa Donovan's "Sweet Dreams," which is currently in development at the Geffen Playhouse.

About Berkshire Playwrights Lab

Founded in 2007 by theater professionals Joe Cacaci, Jim Frangione, Bob Jaffe, and Matthew Penn, the Berkshire Playwrights Lab is the area's only theater dedicated exclusively to encouraging, developing, and presenting new plays. Through readings-and in the future through workshops and fully-staged productions-the Lab provides emerging and established writers with a professional and creative environment, while offering audiences the engaging and provocative opportunity to share in the dramatic evolution of premiere works. For more information, call 413.528.2544 or see www.berkshireplaywrightslab.org.

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