New Works Completes Its First Year in Action
18 Readings and 5 Workshops under our belt and counting
Created by Kristy Simmons to give Washington area authors the opportunity to show and test their new plays, Spooky Action Theater’s New Works in Action Program is marking a full year of success. Last weekend, the celebration included two workshop performances of Curiouser, Brett Steven Abelman’s fantastic parade of sights and sounds on a mysterious journey underground, performed to packed houses.
“These readings and workshops are important for writers at any career level to get a broad range of critical feedback from actors, invited guests, theater professionals and Spooky’s staff to discuss a variety key areas – including character arc and storyline – that require further development,” explains Kristy Simmons. “In addition, our workshops are an important opportunity for playwrights to see their play up on its feet with a real audience.”
In its first year, the New Works in Action program has staged 18 sit down readings and five workshop productions. Given the program’s success, Spooky Action has decided to put New Works in the spotlight during its autumn production slot. To kick off the 2014-2015 season, the theater will present the third round of its New Works in Action development process with a host of table readings and workshop performances this fall.
Rounding out year one is workshop number five, scheduled for Saturday, August 16th, and Sunday, August 17th: by internationally produced playwright Christine Evans, now in residence at Georgetown University. Developed from a one-minute play, which became the first scene of the full length script, Can’t Complain is about Rita, whose life takes an unexpected turn following a minor stroke. Her hearing aid seems haunted, and she is visited not only by her daughter, but characters mysterious and outrageous as well.
“I wanted to write a play with a ripping role for a mature actress. We have so many stellar women of the stage, and often the roles they’re offered are trivial, or secondary to a man’s journey,” remembers Christine. “So that factored in, Can’t Complain has three generations of women in it. It’s written for a cast of four women and one man. Women can be funny and heartbreaking and devious and complex and struggle for power and love, and I wanted to put that on stage.” here is more detailed information about Christine Evans.
In September, Spooky Action will host six more table reads: Duck by Tom Block; The Last Allegiance by Annalisa Dias; White Baby Jesus by Dane Edidi; Weightless by Christine Evans; Virginian Luxuries by Pamela H Leahigh, and Theory of Nothing by Lolly Ward. From these plays, two will be selected to became workshop productions in October-November, launching the second year of New Works in Action.
New Works In Action is sponsored in part by DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
and The Share Fund.
Fully Staged Workshop Performances of
Christine Evans’ Can’t Complain
Directed by Richard Henrich
Saturday, August 16, at 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 17, at 3:00 pm
Admission is Free (Donations are Welcome)
Spooky Action Theater
The Universalist National Memorial Church-1810 16th St. NW
Washington, DC
For more information go to www.spookyaction.org
