'The Second Stage Theatre New Works Festival' is June 13th

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will present "The Second Stage Theatre New Works Festival" on Friday, June 13 at 11am at Second Stage Theatre, 307 West 43rd Street (just west of Eighth Avenue).  Featuring readings of selected scenes from eight of the ten new plays from the Time Warner Commissioning Program, the Festival is the next step in the "Time Warner Commissioning Program at Second Stage Theatre," a unique play development program launched with the acclaimed off-Broadway company in fall 2005.  The event is by invitation only.

The eight plays being presented are:

10 Things To Do Before I Die
by Zakiyyah Alexander

Manifesto
by J. Holtham

Animals Out of Paper
by Rajiv Joseph
(which will be produced as part of this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series)

Mothers on Fire
by Sandra Tsing Loh

Happy
by Sung Rno

As Soon as Impossible
by Betty Shamieh

Wash Your Rabbit
by Cheryl L. West

Buzzer
by Tracey Scott Wilson

Two of the Time Warner-commissioned playwrights, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lynn Nottage, will attend the Festival to discuss their commissioned plays but will not be having a scene performed.

The ten Time Warner-commissioned writers represent a broad range of experience, artistic aesthetics, and cultural heritages, including adventurous early-career playwrights, mid-career artists, as well as well-known writers who wish to explore new directions in their work.  The playwrights were chosen by Second Stage Theatre's artistic staff.

 "Producing new American plays and supporting American playwrights is at the core of Second Stage Theatre's mission and I am extremely grateful to Time Warner for launching this innovative commissioning program with us," states Artistic Director Carole Rothman.  "The Second Stage Theatre New Works Festival is the next step in the process we began almost two years ago with the selection of these ten playwrights.  It is not only a chance for the writers to hear their works performed by professional actors but also a public opportunity to witness the development of ten new American plays - it is the essence of what we do at Second Stage Theatre and it is with great pride that we present these plays from this vital group of writers."

"Our partnership with Second Stage exemplifies Time Warner's commitment to supporting diverse voices," said Lisa M. Quiroz, Time Warner's Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility.  "We are excited to get a sneak peak at the development of these new works and thank the gifted playwrights for sharing their talents and their stories."

Second Stage Theatre has a strong history of commissioning plays by some of the theatre's most promising playwrights, many of which have gone on to full productions at Second Stage Theatre, including Crumbs From the Table of Joy by Lynn Nottage, The Good Times Are Killing Me by Lynda Barry, The Notebook by Wendy Kesselman, Little Fish by Michael John LaChiusa, and Paul Weitz's Privilege. 

For more information on Second Stage Theatre, please visit www.2ST.com 

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