NOVEL: An Audio Drama at Midtown Direct Rep

Dates: (11/17/2019 - 11/18/2019 )

Theatre:

Midtown Direct Rep

60 Woodland Road
Maplewood,NJ 07040

Buy Tickets

Phone: (973) 843-7157

Tickets: $20 ($25 door)

SUBMIT UPDATES

Photos Videos Discount

Cast Creative Edit

Midtown Direct Rep and Triple Birch Media will present an exclusive preview reading of NOVEL, an original audio drama series created by Aimee Parrott and William Bienes, on Sunday, November 17th at 7pm at The Woodland (60 Woodland Rd, Maplewood, NJ). Tickets, which are $20 in advance ($25 at the door; $10 students and seniors), are available at EventBrite.The reading will also be presented in New York City on Monday, November 18th at 4pm at Sunlight Studios (321 West 44th Street, New York, NY). To request an industry or press invitation, contact Executive Producer Steven Tabakin at steven@triplebirch.media.NOVEL tells the story of a young woman confined to an asylum for the crime of reading novels who uses her wit and her love of books to regain her rightful place in the Suffrage movement. Suzanne Agins directs, with live sound design by Shane Rettig. The cast will feature guest actors Julia Coffey and Lynette Freeman joining Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) ensemble members Sebastian Arcelus, Jenny Bacon, Lucas Calhoun, Dwayne Clark, Brian Corrigan, Danielle Ferland, and Josephine Rose Roberts with middle school student Rowan Wechsler. MDRs Terrence Witter is stage manager.NOVEL tells the story of Hope Fairfax (Julia Coffey), a young suffragist who is confined to an asylum for reading novels. Imprisoned just outside of Chicago in 1881 by her husband Silas (Sebastian Arcelus), Hope must use everything in her power to regain her freedom. She uses the novels she loves to empower the women in the asylum by teaching them to read, and to reach her allies outside the asylum.This reading will present the series pilot episode, Sense and Sensibility, followed by scenes from the second episode, Frankenstein.In Episode One, Sense and Sensibility, Hope Fairfax endures a humiliating intake process as shes committed to an asylum for the crime of reading novels. She is not mentally ill, but she married the wrong man. After her arrival, the action drops back in time to reveal Hopes romance with Silas, her fathers second-in-command, and how it contributed to her current predicament. Once in the asylum, Hope resists treatment, but finds she cant close herself off from the other patients. She befriends two of them, Iola and Rose, and ultimately, tells them the story of Sense and Sensibility. As Episode One concludes, Hope sees a way forward as she receives a copy of Frankenstein, sewn into the lining of her favorite dress by her brother, Timothy. Shes not alone and she can use the pages to teach the women in the asylum to read and empower them to demand the equality they deserve. Episode Two, Frankenstein, asks, what does it take to create a monster and why do we do it? Dr. Nilssons treatment of Rose transforms her in unpredictable ways. Hes focused on his own desires and doesnt see the tragic impact of his treatments until its too late. The story will unfold alongside flashbacks to Roses relationship with Silas and Hopes marriage to him as it unravels.

More Local Shows

Add a New Jersey Show Listing

Videos

View all Videos

NEW JERSEY SHOWS


		Tick, Tick...Boom! George Street Playhouse (4/23 - 5/19)
		Patti LuPone Mayo Performing Arts Center (3/8 - 5/17)
		Proof Roxbury Arts Alliance (5/10 - 5/19) PHOTOS
		Choice McCarter Theatre Center (5/8 - 6/2)
		Hair CDC Theatre (5/3 - 5/19)
		New Scores: The Cone Composition Institue Concert Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University (7/20 - 7/20)
		One Hit Wonderers Surflight Theatre (7/15 - 7/15)
		Mike Marino Surflight Theatre (8/25 - 8/25)
		Chris Ruggiero’s Summer Serenade/ New Brunswick Performing Arts Center NBPAC (6/21 - 6/21)
VIEW SHOWS ADD A SHOW


News on your favorite shows, specials & more!