Berkshire Playwrights Lab's 2014 Reading Season to Open 6/7

The Berkshire Playwrights Lab continues its innovative approach to incubating new theatrical works during its 7th season of readings at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass).

Founded in 2007 the Berkshire Playwrights Lab is the area's only theater dedicated exclusively to encouraging, developing, and presenting new plays. Through readings, 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.

The 2014 season kicks off on June 7, 8:00 with a Gala New Play Benefit at the Mahaiwe. Premium ticket holders are invited to join the performers at a post-performance reception at the Castle Street Café, next to the theater. The multi-media night will include readings of short plays by Matt Hoverman, Richard Dresser, Joe Cacaci, and others, as well as a screening of the Lab's fundraising video which features Dan Lauria, Wendie Malick, Lauren Ambrose and Treat Williams. All proceeds from this event support the Berkshire Playwrights Lab Free Reading Series. Tickets are $27 and $52. Premium tickets including the exclusive post-show reception with the artists are $202.

The season continues with a series of four free staged readings of new works by emerging and established playwrights on Wednesdays at 7:30pm on July 2, 16, 30 and August 13. These readings offer audiences a window in the creative process as new plays and works in progress are performed and staged, script in hand, by talented casts of professional actors. Among the plays featured this season is Richard Dresser's 100 Years, the story of young, middle and older adults in pursuit of a longer lifespan, and Out of Orbit by Jennifer Maisel, the story of a mother and daughter trying to connect. Out of Orbit was the 2014 winner of the Wagner College Stanley Drama Award. Additional titles, performers and directors will be announced at a later date.