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Each year, the Tarragon invites six writers into its Playwrights Unit, where, with the support of artistic director Richard Rose and literary manager Andrea Romaldi, they work to develop a new play. After the first draft is read by professional actors in January, quarterly meetings follow where successive drafts are read by fellow unit members. Each playwright has the opportunity to hear his/her script read aloud several times, and receive constructive feedback following the reading from fellow writers as well as the artistic director and literary manager. Our annual Play Reading Week takes place in November or December of each year. Here, each play from the unit receives a public reading by professional actors.
Play Reading Week 2007
Tarragon’s annual program of FREE play readings begins Tuesday, November 27th and continues until Monday, December 3rd. All readings begin at 8pm, with the exception of Sunday, December 2nd which begins at 2:30 pm, and are held in the Near Studio.
Each reading is directed by Richard Rose, artistic director of Tarragon Theatre.
Admission is free.
No reservations will be taken.
Tuesday, November 27, 8pm
A NEW NATION by Erin Shields
With Gordon Bolan, Monica Dottor, Gregory Prest, Martha Ross
A stranger arrives at a farmyard aflame with flu-infected chickens and is welcomed into the home of a desperate family. He draws them from despair to hope, isolation to desire, and reawakens them to the possibility of happiness. But when the flu takes a turn for the worse, faith and doubt become dangerous bedfellows.
Wednesday, November 28, 8pm
THE SWEARING JAR by Kate Hewlett
With Tim Campbell, Deborah Grover, Christopher Stanton, Carly Street
Carey and Simon are the perfect couple. With romance, laughter and a baby on the way, their marriage seems destined to last forever. But when Carey throws a concert to celebrate Simon’s fortieth birthday, she is forced to confront the past, and come to terms with the greatest lie her husband ever told.
Thursday, November 29, 8pm
SHAKESPEARE’S NIGGA by Joseph Jomo Pierre
With Peter N. Bailey, David Collins, John Gilbert, Lisa Norton, Andre Sills
What would happen if two of Shakespeare's black characters had to co-exist within the same play? We find ourselves on a plantation owned by Shakespeare, with Aaron and Othello cast in the roles of slaves. Against this violent backdrop, both men grapple with their sense of self and place. Did Shakespeare have himself a negrow and a nigga??
Friday, November 30, 8pm
MY NEXT GUEST by John Lazarus
With Kate Lynch, Jim Mezon
Like many casual friends, and some occasional lovers, David and Elsie get together every couple of years, catch up on their lives, gossip, quarrel, make up, and sometimes wind up in bed. However, as David is a novelist and Elsie an arts reporter, their turbulent relationship plays out openly in public – even as Elsie’s career soars and David’s hits the skids.
Saturday, December 1, 8pm
THE HOUSE OF MANY TONGUES by Jonathan Garfinkel
With Hrant Alianak, Maev Beaty, David Fox, Janick Hebert, Daniel Karasik, Julian Richings
A house in Jerusalem, 2003, is home to Israeli General Shimon, and his son Alex, who’s busy trying to bring peace to the Middle East through improved sexual techniques. When Palestinian writer Abu Dalo returns to the house he left 40 years ago, pursued by his long-lost daughter, we realize somehow these four people are going to have to live together - if they don't kill each other first.
Sunday, December 2, 2:30pm
SAINT BITCH by Edwige Jean-Pierre
With Edwige Jean-Pierre
Haunted by her past, Lillian Holt is a bitter old woman who resides at Shady Lane Manor – and she’s making the life of her nurse, Sandrine Vincent, a living hell. As her life slowly comes to an end, Lillian realizes that she needs Sandrine’s forgiveness to find peace. Sandrine, a devout Catholic, will have to put into practice what has been preached to her all her life.
Monday, December 3, 8pm
THE CORONATION OF MEDUSA REGINA by Salvatore Antonio
With Paul Dunn, Michelle Giroux, Diana Leblanc
It is closing night of Medusa, a new opera written especially for the legendary soprano, Regina Duran. As the audience of a thousand applaud during the final curtain call, the spotlight remains empty: Regina Duran is nowhere to be found. Beneath the stage, in an abandoned part of the Metropolitan Opera's ancient basement, Regina hides and awaits her moment of reckoning.
Copyright © Tarragon Theatre, 2007