Mad Horse Theatre Presents BY LOCAL Reading Series, Now thru 11/24

Mad Horse Theatre Company has announced its latest offering to Southern Maine theatergoers: The BY LOCAL new play reading series. Join us for the first BY LOCAL play readings, today through Sunday, November 21-24, at our performance space at the Hutchins School, 24 Mosher Street, South Portland.

The inaugural offerings are PUDDING by Michael Tooher, Nov. 21 & 23, and GETTING DADDY'S GAK by Payne Ratner, Nov 22 & 24.

BY LOCAL will provide opportunities for Maine playwrights to present their original full-length plays in front of Mad Horse's audience. Each selected play will be read twice over the course of a single weekend. A discussion will follow each reading. This two reading format will afford a chance for the playwright to make changes based on audience feedback, then test their newly-edited work.

"There's a tremendous amount of playwriting talent in the Greater Portland area," says Brent Askari, Mad Horse Company member and By Local co-organizer.

"With BY LOCAL, Mad Horse is demonstrating a deep and substantial intention to help foster, nurture, and promote that talent."

BY LOCAL will be presented throughout the theatrical season, between Mad Horse's regular mainstage offerings. The weekends are scheduled in November, December, February, and April.

PUDDING, directed by Mad Horse Company member Nate Speckman, concerns a driven young woman who attempts to take control of a reclusive, middle-aged widower's life. The play was suggested by Tooher's own wife, who gently prodded him to "Write a romance. Nothing weird, mind you." As Tooher puts it: "She got half her wish."

Michael Tooher has had his work performed across the country in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Albuquerque, and Madison, Wisconsin. He has won several playwriting prizes including the Hidden River Arts Playwriting Award and, most recently, the Cambridge School at Weston Playwriting Prize.

GETTING DADDY'S GAK, directed by Mad Horse Company member Chris Horton, concerns a mysterious young man who suddenly appears at a couple's home. Could he be the child they once gave up for adoption? The young man begins to take over his place as son...until the rightful son of the family appears.

Payne Ratner has a long history with Mad Horse, having performed as an actor in several productions. Mad Horse produced his original play RePossession as part of its mainstage series. Ratner's work has appeared in theaters across the country, and he won first place in the Cutting Ball New Play Competition in San Francisco. He has had short plays produced in the Boston Theatre Marathon and published by Samuel French.

BY LOCAL Performance times are Thursday through Sunday, November 21 - 24, at the Hutchins School, 24 Mosher Street, South Portland. PUDDING by Michael Tooher, Nov. 21 & 23, at 7:30pm. GETTING DADDY'S GAK by Payne Ratner, Nov.22, 7:30pm, Nov 24, 2pm. Admission for BY LOCAL performances is pay what you can at the door, with a suggested donation of $10.00. Please log onto www.madhorse.com, check out the Mad Horse Facebook page, or call 747-4148 for more information.