City Theatre Announces CITYWRIGHTS Programming

City Theatre will begin the lead-up to the CityWrights Playwriting Conference in June, with a special Winter CityWrights free program on January 8-10, 2013, offering three readings of award-winning playwright Leslie Ayvazian's new full-length comedy Out of the City. The readings will give theatre-lovers a sneak peak prior to the World Premiere this summer at New York's respected Bay Street Theatre.

Out of the City brings together two long-married couples and long time friends, out to the country to celebrate a "big" birthday. Events occur in they discover that no matter how long or well they have known each other, there can still be surprises. The cast will feature Leslie Ayvazian and three of the region's best actors, Gordon McConnell, Barbara Sloan and Tom Wahl. Bay Street Artistic Director Murphy Davis directs.

These readings further City Theatre's mission to serve playwrights, encourage the development of new plays, and partner with a national community of artists and organizations. City Theatre has produced numerous plays by Avyazian, and excerpts of her hilarious new comedy Out of the City were first heard at CityWrights last June read by the playwright-actress with playwright-actor Christopher Durang. It was so well received that City Theatre has partnered with Bay Street Theatre to continue the new play development process as a unique winter programming opportunity.

City Theatre Literary Director Susan Westfall said, "Readings are critical to new play development. Playwrights need an audience experience to help finalize a script prior to a full production. We are pleased that Leslie considers City Theatre to be an artistic home, and we're very happy to be working with Bay Street Theatre, a company well known for its productions of new work."

Three free public readings will be presented at on the following dates and locations. No RSVP is necessary for New Theatre or Barry University. RSVP is necessary for the Key Biscayne Community Center event.