Boston Teen Acting Troupe to Present Staged Reading of MJ Halberstadt's ANNIE DOESN'T LIVE HERE, 5/24

On Saturday, May 24th 2014, The Boston Teen Acting Troupe will present a World Premiere staged reading of ANNIE DOESN'T LIVE HERE by local playwright MJ Halberstadt. This reading will be produced, directed and acted entirely by teenagers. The reading will be directed by Jack Serio and performed in The Boston Center for The Arts Plaza Theatre. Admission will be free.

MJ Halberstadt's ANNIE DOESN'T LIVE HERE is a brash new play about family, starting over, and growing up. When 19-year-old Devon Fleeter and his younger brothers flee from their parents, who have been punishing the boys' allegiance to middle child Joshua's gender transition, they find sanctuary in an off-the-grid apartment far from home. They find that safety is not without its own challenges, and confront the growing pains that come with learning what it means to be a man. This staged reading will be accompanied by a talk back with the audience, director, playwright and actors.

The cast will include Evan Grande (BTAT's All My Sons) as Devon, Elliot Norton Award Nominee, Emily White (BTAT's All My Sons) as Joshua, two time METG Award Winner, Max Gustafson (BTAT's Orphans and The Dream of The Burning Boy) as Ty, and Raisa Hoffman, who makes here BTAT debut, as Annie.

MJ Halberstadt is a Boston-based playwright and alumnus of Emerson College (BA Theatre Education) and Boston University (MFA Playwriting). Selected credits include not Jenny (Bridge Rep of Boston) and The Da Vinci Commission (Can't Wait Productions). His short plays have been presented throughout Boston and New York. His work has earned the Boston University Creative Writing Global Fellowship, StageSource Jack Welch Scholarship and readings at Last Frontier Theatre Conference and Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. He is a Founding Artistic Associate of Bridge Rep of Boston and member of Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.

Veteran Boston teen director and four time METG Award Winner Jack Serio will helm the premiere, marking this his tenth production with The Boston Teen Acting Troupe. Past credits include the recent New England Premiere, The Dream of The Burning Boy, All My Sons, Red, God of Carnage, and Dog Sees God.

The Boston Teen Acting Troupe was founded in January of 2011 with the goal of bringing enriching, engaging and edgy theatre to teens, as well as providing an outlet for Boston teenagers who are serious about their craft, whether that is acting, directing or design. The Boston Teen Acting Troupe's goal is to eliminate the cliché of "bad high school theatre" by producing challenging plays not normally seen performed by young actors. Since 2011, The Boston Teen Acting Troupe has produced ten completely teen run shows in a variety of Boston and Cambridge theaters. Coverage in The New York Times and on National Public Radio have created a fan following for the fledgling theatre group.

The staged reading of ANNIE DOESN'T LIVE HERE is a one night only event on Saturday, May 24, 2014. Admission is free. Tickets may be reserved online through the Boston Teen Acting Troupe's website. There may also be tickets available at the theatre the day of the reading, though advance reservations are recommended.

The Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) is a not-for-profit performing and visual arts campus that supports working artists to create, perform and exhibit new works; develops new audiences; and connects the arts to community. The BCA's historic South End campus is home to hundreds of working artists, as well as several non-profit arts and educational groups that provide a wide spectrum of services.

The Boston Center for The Arts Plaza Theatre is located at 539 Tremont St Boston, MA 02116. For more information visit www.BostonTeenActingTroupe.com

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