Karen Schaeffer's CHOICES Set for DM Playhouse's Play Reading Series, 5/4

The Des Moines Community Playhouse play reading series continues on Monday, May 4, at 7:00 PM with "Choices" by local playwright Karen Schaeffer. The evening is free; beverages will be available for purchase.

It's been five years since Liz's husband passed, but she's okay. Life's ingredients include a successful business (Grandma Effingoode's), lunch with friends, a dash of wine and a dose of Jane Austen. Kat and Sami persuade Liz to come out from behind the baker counter at Grandma Effingoode's for a blind date . . . or two . . . and what could a little manipulation of dating profiles and a small wager hurt? Enjoy "Choices," a new play by Karen Schaeffer where the women are smart, the humor is sharp and delicious things happen in the dark.

"Choices" is directed by Katie Coon and features Lyndsy Darland, Stephanie Lengtat, Charlie Reese, Maxwell Schaeffer, Megan Schettler Schug, Shawn Smith-Jones, and Robin Spahr.

Playwright Karen Schaeffer has acted on the Playhouse stage for many years and more recently turned her theatre interests toward writing. Her first performed piece was a seven-minute short, "Lost Keys," which she wrote for One Week, One Writer, One Actor. "Girls' Weekend," her first full-length play, debuted in the Play Reading Series in May 2013 and was subsequently produced on the Playhouse stage in October 2014.

The play reading series is held one night each month on the stage in the theatre's upper lobby. Actors read from scripts; there are no costumes or scenery pieces. The next event in the Play Reading Series is "Lobster Alice" by Kira Obolensky on June 1.

The Play Reading Series offers directing and acting experience for people who may not have time for a full rehearsal period, while introducing our audiences to one-of-a-kind scripts that they would not otherwise be able to experience. An added benefit is that the theatre occasionally reads scripts that are under consideration for production on the Mainstage. In addition to "Girls' Weekend," "Red" (2013-14 Season) was also introduced in the Play Reading Series.

The Playhouse is Iowa's oldest and largest producing theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage.

For more information about the Playhouse and the script reading series, contact the Playhouse ticket office at 515-277-6261.