Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation have announced the works which will be featured as part of the 2023 First Light Festival. Presented by the collaborating organizations are part of their EST/Sloan Project for developing new plays about science and technology, the festival runs May 7-June 23 with free presentations held at Ensemble Studio Theatre.
The festival features six public readings, two closed readings for internal development, one satellite event, and a Youngblood Brunch featuring five short plays by members of EST’s early career playwrights collective.
The free 3 PM public reading line-up is as follows: Nikki Brake-Sillá's ReWombed May 18; Sam Mueller's PIN. May 25, Nelson Diaz-Marcano's LAs Borinqueñas June 1, Margot Connolly's Hello, World June 8, L M Feldman's SP ACE June 15, and Amanda Keating's With Fellowship June 23.
Developed with support from Bechdel Project's year-long ROO Residency, Jeanne Dorsey's The Kit: Made by Martha will receive a satellite reading at Alchemical Studios May 8 at 7 PM.
Private development readings will also be held for Karina Billini's Apple Bottom and Emily Chadick Weiss' Spray. Presented in collaboration with the First Light Festival, the Youngblood Science Brunch will be held May 21 with tickets going on sale May 12. The even will feature presentations of new short plays about science and technology by Jake Brasch, Phanésia Pharel, Lizzie Stern, Danny Tejera, and Susan Yassky.
The EST/Sloan Project began in 1998 to challenge and broaden how modern audiences view science. Mary Elizabeth Hamilton’s Smart, which was originally commissioned and developed through the program, recently finished its world premiere at Ensemble Theatre.
Reserve tickets at EnsembleStudioTheatre.org.
