Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), in keeping with its mission of inspiring, supporting and sharing the art of playwriting, has announced the line-up for the annual Fresh Ink Reading Series, with staged readings of new plays by members of the Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group: Bekah Brunstetter, David Caudle, Cheri Magid, Rogelio Martinez, Janine Nabers, Tommy Smith, and Adam Szymkowicz.
All readings are free and open to the public and are set for May 23 - June 1, 2011 at Primary Stages Rehearsal Studios (307 West 38th Street, Suite 1510, between 8th & 9th Avenues). Reservations are required and can be made via email at Readings@primarystages.org or by calling (212) 840-9705. For additional information, please visit the website at www.primarystages.org.The Writers Group is a small collective of early career playwrights chosen by the Primary Stages artistic staff from among New York City's brightest and most fascinating voices. The playwrights meet weekly in the fall and winter to share a work-in-progress with the goal of drafting a full-length play under the guidance of Primary Stages Associate Artistic Director, Michelle Bossy. Their work is celebrated in the Fresh Ink Reading Series at the end of each season.
Show People by David Caudle May 24 at 3:00 p.m.
In 1882, a 17-year-old NYU student is driven to help the disrespected and downtrodden actors in New York City. Recruiting megastars Edwin Booth, James O'Neill, Sarah Bernhardt and Buffalo Bill, the teen hopes to realize his dream by establishing a fund for actors. But to overcome society's prejudices, he must first overcome his own doubts and fears.
The Virtues of Raw Oysters by Cheri Magid May 25 at 5:00 p.m.
Bushwick 1894. An eighteen-year-old entrepreneur and scamp boosts his father's phonograph business by producing and selling aural smut. When he gets caught, questions of indecency and censorship arise.
Zero by Tommy Smith May 26 at 5:00 p.m.
When an aspiring young architect receives a grant to work on his studies in a swanky condo for a year, the pressure of producing work overwhelms his psyche and forces him to externalize his inner turmoil, causing an increasingly aggressive relationship with his clueless doorman.
Bicycle Girl by Rogelio Martinez May 31 at 5:00 p.m.
In 1939 two girls from very different backgrounds travelled across America on bicycle. Their destination was New York and the World's Fair with its promise of revealing to every single American The World of Tomorrow. A play about one world giving way to a new one, and two girls changing along with it.
Little Man by Bekah Brunstetter June 1 at 5:00 p.m.
Howie, or Little Man, attends his high school reunion with his best friend Andy. He's suppressed his tragic high school experience. After all, now he's a millionaire. Little does Little Man know the truth and whiskey to be had at the convention hall as the evening and his memories unfold in this dark, funny play with nametags and karaoke.
Upcoming projects for Tommy Smith and David Caudle, two outgoing members of the Writers Group include: Radio Play by Tommy Smith in collaboration with Reggie Watts at PS 122 (150 First Avenue), May 6 - 22; Girlfriend by Tommy Smith will be developed at Playwrights Horizons, June 2011; The Short Fall by David Caudle, presented by the Toy Box Theatre Company at the Choicirciati Cultural Center (64 East 4th Street), June 3-18, 2011; One Hot Kitchen, an opera with libretto by David Caudle, composed by Kristin Hevner Wyatt and Daniel Wyatt, sneak preview at The Medicine Show Theatre (549 West 52nd Street), June 12, 2011.
Primary Stages is an Off Broadway theater company dedicated to inspiring, supporting and sharing the art of playwriting. Under the leadership of Founder and Executive Producer Casey Childs, Artistic Director Andrew Leynse and Managing Director Elliot Fox, we operate on the strongly held belief that the future of American theater relies on nurturing individual playwrights and giving them the artistic support needed to create new work.
Videos