Magic Theatre to Present 2013 Martha Heasley Cox Virgin Play Series, 3/11-4/1

Magic Theatre, San Francisco's home for new plays and playwrights, presents the 2013 Martha Heasley Cox Virgin Play Series, three staged readings of new plays currently in development over three Mondays, March 11, 18 and April 1, 2013. Funded in part by a generous donation from Martha Heasley Cox, The Virgin Play Series exemplifies Magic's mission to develop the work of emerging and mid-career playwrights and to introduce that work to new audiences and communities. This year's readings will feature the work of Scottish playwright Linda McLean (playwright of last season's hit Any Given Day), Magic's 2011-12 NNPN Playwright in Residence Christina Anderson, and San Francisco playwright Eugenie Chan. All readings are FREE and open to the public.

"The Virgin Play Series always reinvigorates us," said Producing Artistic Director Loretta Greco. "When the playwrights arrive with their scripts in hand we fall in love once again with the process of helping to nurture writing so young and true. It's also thrilling to see audiences fall in love with a piece early in its gestation and help to herald the play through to its birth."

Taking place over the course of three Mondays, The Martha Heasley Cox Virgin Play Series introduces a different new play to the public each evening. Playwrights arrive on the Thursday before the reading and work intensely on their scripts throughout the weekend with a director and actors. During that time, the playwright focuses on reading styles and methods as well as discussion and development of ideas resulting in various rewrites and culminating in the public presentation. After each reading, the playwright and director will engage with audience members about their experience of the play. All of the readings are FREE and open to the public.

This year marks Magic Theatre's third year of partnership with the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco and the sixth year with The Commonwealth Club in presenting new plays to the public.

For the festival schedule, playwright bios, and play descriptions, visit: http://magictheatre.org/about/new-play-development-magic/virgin-play-series.

Monday, 3/11 at 7pm:
EVERY FIVE MINUTES by Linda McLean (playwright of Any Given Day)
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California Street, Gallanter Hall, San Francisco
Mo was held prisoner for 17 years. Recently reunited with his wife, the events of the play take place three weeks after his release at a simple family dinner.
Seating is limited. Please reserve your seats by calling the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco at 415.292.1233.

Monday, 3/18 at 7pm:
PEN/MAN/SHIP by Christina Anderson
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California Street, Gallanter Hall, San Francisco
On a fall day in 1896 two Black American business partners, father and son, board a ship headed for Africa. The father has accepted a lucrative proposition from a mysterious colony. In tow is the son's most recent companion-a young, Black southern woman who is all too eager to cut her American ties. As they travel across the Atlantic, an unexpected detour resurrects family secrets and reveals true intentions. Pen/man/ship is a modern exploration of cultural responsibility set in the Gilded Age.
Seating is limited. Please reserve your seats by calling the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco at 415.292.1233.

Monday, 4/1 at 6pm:
MADAME HO by Eugenie Chan
The Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco
Madame Ho tells the story of a formidable woman in the Barbary Coast, a real-life 19th-century brothel madam, Chinese immigrant, wife and mother. Within the confines of the bordello, Madame tries to raise her daughter Daisy right. But headstrong Daisy is spoiled by her father and infatuated with a new servant girl. Madame Ho explores the epic history of the Chinese American West through a shape-shifting tale of one woman's struggle to forge a life for herself and her daughter.

For more information or to reserve seats, visit:
http://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2013-04-01/magic-theatre-virgin-play-reading-madame-ho.

Now in its 46th year, Magic Theatre is dedicated to the cultivation of innovative plays, playwrights, and audiences through explosive and entertaining productions of original work. Working side-by-side with adventuresome playwrights, Magic Theatre fosters new works from page to stage as world premieres, or seizes the rare opportunity to further develop a new work with a second or third production. The list of playwrights cultivated and premiered at Magic Theatre is a veritable who's who of American theatre: Sam Shepard, Michael McClure, Octavio Solis, Nilo Cruz, Paula Vogel, Rebecca Gilman, Lloyd Suh, Taylor Mac, Theresa Rebeck, Sharr White, and Luis Alfaro, to name few. Experience new play development at Magic Theatre.

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