FIRST LOOK READING SERIES
Produced by Dana Schwartz

September 26 – October 1

Be part of a vibrant play development journey by joining us for this year’s First Look Reading Series, the culmination of MADlab’s play development program that focuses on nurturing new plays from the idea up.

This marks the 10th year of the MADlab and we have a cohort of 5 talented playwrights: Jennifer Bobiwash, Matthew Doherty, Leviticus Jelks, Janson Lalich, and Chelsea Sutton. Over the past 9 months, our writers have received guidance from other professionals in the field, been given two cold readings of their scripts with focused feedback sessions, and had their plays workshopped with professional actors and directors. And now we are thrilled to introduce these fresh new plays to the public.

Tickets are pay-what-you-will.

Suggested ticket price: $20

Never Say Die
Written by Jennifer Bobiwash
Directed by Jason Grasl

Tuesday, September 26, 8 PM

The world’s standstill prompts one woman, who, after a decade and a half of self-imposed detachment, to revisit her past. Returning to the hometown she once walked away from, reuniting with old friends and family members stirring a mix of emotions, memories and tensions. Is blood thicker than water?

Parasomnia
Written by Janson Lalich
Directed by Kiff Scholl

Saturday, September 30, 3 PM

A man invites a stranger to crash on his couch, and together they uncover the mysterious origins of his bizarre sleep condition.

Reign of Terror
Written by Matthew Doherty
Directed by Justin Huen

Saturday, September 30, 6 PM

The mostly white members of a small theater take increasingly desperate measures to save themselves when they find out they have been put on blast, and are in danger of being shuttered for good.

My White Husband
Written by Leviticus Jelks
Directed by Shanna Beauchamp

Sunday, October 1, 2 PM

Excitement quickly turns to doubt — and modern reality blurs into retro fantasy — when young screenwriter gets his pilot picked up by a Hollywood studio, only to find out that they want to cast a White actor in the role of his very real Black husband.

The Abundance
Written by Chelsea Sutton
Directed by Daphnie Sicre

Sunday, October 1, 5 PM

After moving to a new corner of suburbia, a broke young mom is lured into a multi-level marketing scheme by her new neighbors and a slick-talking bottle of tonic, and must either claw her way to the top of the pyramid, or lose everything by leaving.