By Mark Webb
You are invited to join the Workhouse Theatre Company (WTC) for our Public Readings Series on the second Monday of each month through June 2016 at The Capri Theater.
We’re excited to begin our third season of readings! Last year we received 86 submissions from playwrights – 33 from Minnesota, six regional and 32 national; 20 women and 50 men, with 12 writers submitting more than one excerpt. Seventeen of those submitting were returning writers with new material who had applied to us in our first year operating the Greenhouse Project. Thirty-three full scripts were requested from playwrights for further consideration – 13 from women, and 20 from men, with three writers submitting more than one promising script for review. Five of those scripts were given readings in 2014-15, and seven have been scheduled for the coming year.
We’re also excited to relocate our readings to the Capri Theatre. There’s even a parking lot eliminating the need to find street parking. Directions to The Capri are available at workhousetheatre.org, along with a partial schedule of readings for the coming season.
Next up is a reading of Mike Peroz’ Appearances on Monday, October 12 at 8 p.m. Synopsis: Ardis Olson is hurrying across campus to biochemistry class, when she sees a woman in blue and white robes standing on a bush: the Virgin Mary. “Love one another as God has loved you,” Mary says. “But I’m a Lutheran!” replies Ardis, who is not normally the sort to have visions. Her boyfriend and parents are horrified. Young Pastor Ray thinks Martin Luther probably wouldn’t approve, but, still…. Ray’s Catholic priest friend is skeptical. And what about Grace Antonelli, who wants to touch the face of God?
About the playwright: Michael Peroz had several plays read for the General Members Roundtable of the Playwrights’ Center, in Minneapolis. In 1992, his play Fern was one of eight plays chosen nationally for the Playwrights’ Center’s Stagetime reading program. His short play Misfire was produced in September 2002 by the Great American History Theatre in St. Paul, as part of an anthology of playlets called Under the Stars and Stripes: Stories of World War II, the opening production of their 2002-2003 season. His short play Infinite Justice was chosen to be produced as part of the “Fast Fringe” at the 2005 Minnesota Fringe Festival. His play Thorns was the winning play in the Full-Length category of the 2010 New Play Contest of the Chameleon Theatre Circle (Burnsville) and was voted as the audience favorite at their New Play Festival reading. In May 2014 Thorns was given a staged reading as part of the WTC’s Greenhouse Project.
Play selections for our readings are culled from submissions to our play development program: the Greenhouse Project. The Greenhouse Project provides an opportunity for playwrights with ties to Minnesota to have their scripts evaluated for possible inclusion in our Public Reading Series. Scripts with particular promise might be chosen for a Development Workshop and potentially a full scale production by WTC. For info regarding eligibility and submission guidelines visit workhousetheatre.org/gp.htm.
Workhouse Theatre Company is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation. Donations are greatly appreciated to help offset the costs of everything we do, from workshops and readings to our award winning productions! For info on how to donate to WTC, check out our donation page at workhousetheatre.org/donate.htm
You are cordially invited to come play with us! Workhouse Theatre Company uses Vendini for ticketing, marketing and box office management, 800-901-7173. Workhouse Theatre Company, 4219 Upton Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN, 55412; 612-216-1583.