The readings, which will be held Jan. 5, 12 and 19 at 7:30 PM and Jan. 26 at 8 PM, will be followed by a discussion with dramaturg Walter Bilderback.
The four readings that comprise the series follow:
Directed by Blanka Zizka
Jan. 5 at 7:30 PM
Featuring Miriam Hyman, Ben Lloyd, Ross Manson, Mary McCool, Sarah Sanford, Luigi Sottile, and Juliana Zinkel
Due to agent negotiations the title cannot yet be revealed, but the new work concerns "romance and sexual health in the 19th century."
By Vaclav Havel
Directed by Jiri Zizka
Jan. 12 at 7:30 PM
Featuring F. Murray Abraham
"Vaclav Havel's first play in 20 years is the story of the recently retired Chancellor of a small nation. Shattered bits and pieces from Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard and Shakespeare's King Lear invade the Chancellor's consciousness in this wry political tragicomedy."
By Peter Sinn Nachtrieb
Directed by Walter Bilderback
Jan. 19 at 7:30 PM
Cast to be announced
"The end of the world is near, and a grad student's personal ad lures a randy journalism coed to his subterranean lab. The fate of mankind rests in their ability to procreate in Nachtrieb's slightly warped, yet hopeful comedy."
By Yussef ElGuindi
Directed by Walter Bilderback
Jan. 26 at 8 PM
"A searing comedy that explores the life of an Arab-American translator in the War on Terror as the compartments into which he's carefully separated his life start to dissolve. The play is an urgent meditation on what this country has become in the past 8 years and features cast members from the Wilma's upcoming production of Scorched." Although the readings are free, reservations are required by calling (215) 546-7824 or by e-mailing [email protected]. The Wilma Theater is located at 265 South Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA. Visit www.wilmatheater.org for more information.
