Roundabout Theatre Company's eighth annual Roundabout Underground Reading Series, nightly readings of new works written and directed by emerging artists, will feature playwrights Aaron Carter, Emily Feldman, Dave Harris, Jonathan Spector, and Sanaz Toossi.
The series, held January 28-February 1, 2019, at the Black Box Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street), is presented free of charge.
Roundabout Underground exists to provide a new generation of playwrights with their debut New York productions. Among the playwrights who made their New York debuts at Roundabout Underground are Stephen Karam (Speech & Debate, 2007), Steven Levenson (The Language of Trees, 2008), Adam Gwon (Ordinary Days, 2009), Joshua Harmon (Bad Jews, 2012), Meghan Kennedy (Too Much, Too Much, Too Many, 2013), Lindsey Ferrentino (Ugly Lies the Bone, 2015), Jiréh Breon Holder (Too Heavy for Your Pocket, 2017), Alex Lubischer (Bobbie Clearly, 2018), and Ming Peiffer (Usual Girls, 2018). Levenson and Karam went on to win Tony Awards, respectively, for Dear Evan Hansen and The Humans, Karam’s second Roundabout commission.
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The complete lineup for the upcoming series follows:
Eureka Day
By Jonathan Spector, directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt
January 28 at 5 PM
When a child at the Eureka Day School in Berkeley, California, is diagnosed with the Mumps, the school’s Executive Committee – normally a bubble of civility in which all can voice their concerns – ruptures down the middle. Battle lines are drawn between those parents in support of vaccination and those against it.
Exception to the Rule
By Dave Harris, directed by Miranda Haymon
January 29 at 5 PM
Five teenagers have landed themselves in detention. Again. While they wait for Mr. Bernie to arrive, sign their forms and send them home for the long weekend, an unlikely sixth joins their ranks.
The Gospel of Franklin
By Aaron Carter, directed by Ellie Heyman
January 30 at 5 PM
William is looking for answers. Answers about his father, answers about the past, answers about the future. Armed with photographs, a bible, and his own foggy memories, William is trying to piece together the enigma that is his father, Franklin. What exactly was Franklin preaching, and why was he preaching it to a string of lost white souls?
English
By Sanaz Toossi, directed by Saheem Ali
January 31 at 5 PM
“English, always.” That’s the motto for one classroom in Iran, as a group of students struggles to learn a new language. If only they can conquer this mysterious tongue, doors will open to new jobs, deeper family connections, and boundless opportunities. But as they practice, practice, practice, desperate not to fail (or, worst of all, sound like Borat), understanding a new world might also mean leaving their old one behind.
Go. Please. Go.
By Emily Feldman, directed by Will Davis
February 1 at 5 PM
After five years of dating, Emily and Jeremy break it off. They agree that he will move out of the home they share. But, he doesn’t go. Emily moves on, and still, he doesn’t go. Through 70 years of new loves, marriages, babies, and funerals, he is uncomfortable staying, but unable to leave.
A limited number of free tickets to the reading series will be available to the general public. Tickets can be reserved by emailing [email protected].
