New Plays for Young Audiences will stage rehearsed readings of three new plays for young audiences, June 6– 21 at the historic Provincetown Playhouse, presented by the Educational Theater program at the NYU Steinhardt School. The readings are free and open to the public.
New Plays for Young Audiences will stage rehearsed readings of three new plays for young audiences, June 6– 21 at the historic Provincetown Playhouse, presented by the Educational Theater program at the NYU Steinhardt School. The readings are free and open to the public.
The plays are the outgrowth of New Plays for Young Audiences’ annual summer play development series established in 1998 by Lowell and Nancy Swortzell. The prize-winning series has developed dozens of new plays written by leading playwrights for young audiences and families, many of which have gone on to receive both national and international recognition, publication, and production.
In Mario and the Comet that Stopped the World (book and lyrics by Gabriel Jason Dean, music by David Dabbon), the Venedicci Comet is headed straight toward Earth. Apocalyptics predict that it will strike, causing total annihilation, while most scientists speculate it will be a near miss and Earthlings will behold history’s most awe-inspiring celestial event. Either way, Mario is prepared. With a chorus of rubber ducks and soaring songs about the theory of relativity, Mario and the Comet that Stopped the World is a musical adventure-comedy about how loss can be like an earth-shattering comet; but when faced together as a family, it can become a thing of beauty— a celebration of life and love. Courtney Sale directs. This play is appropriate for ages 8 and up. Rehearsed readings are on Saturday, June 6, at 7pm and Sunday, June 7, at 3pm.
In Nadine’s Coloring Book by Ashley Laverty, after eleven-year old Nadine witnesses her father’s fatal car accident, she refuses to speak to anyone. Her mom is worried, her older sister is frustrated, and her friends think she is weird. Unbeknownst to them all, Nadine finds her voice in the imaginary world of her coloring book, where her father is alive and she is happy once again. Ultimately, not everything is as it seems and Nadine must decide if she will accept the truth or stay in her coloring book world forever. Travis Kendrick directs. This play is appropriate for ages 8 and up. Rehearsed readings are on Saturday, June 13, at 3pm and Sunday, June 14, at 3pm.
Forever Poppy by José Cruz González is a lyrical and magical story about a young girl of mixed heritage who encounters a village of elders in a forest along the Lost Coast that mysteriously perform Shakespeare plays at night to no one. Forever risks her life to solve this great mystery and the timeless connection these elders have to William Shakespeare, while being pursued by villains trying to stop her. In the end, Forever discovers the importance of family, friends, and place. Laurie Woolery directs. This play is appropriate for ages 9 and up. Rehearsed readings are on Saturday, June 20, at 7:30pm and Sunday, June 21, at 3pm.
All rehearsed readings are in the Provincetown Playhouse. An audience discussion with the playwright and director will follow each Sunday reading. Tickets are FREE. There are no advance reservations. Tickets will be available at the theatre’s box office beginning an hour before each reading.
The Provincetown Playhouse is located at 133 MacDougal Street, between West 4th and W. 3rd streets [Subway: A, C, D, E, F, M (West 4th St.)]. Reporters interested in attending should contact Shonna Keogan at 212.998.6796. For more information on the series, contact Dr. David Montgomery at dm635@nyu.edu or 212.998.5869.
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