“Page to Stage” New Play Reading Series
Series Curator: Mark Graham
The “Page to Stage” New Play Reading Series is an ongoing Playhouse program that supports Connecticut playwrights by presenting staged readings of their latest creations in front of live audiences. Get in on the act by participating in a talkback with the playwright moderated by “Page to Stage” Series curator Mark Graham following the readings. Admission is free; a $10 donation is suggested.
Connecticut Playwrights: Scroll down for submission guidelines!
“Page to Stage” New Play Reading Series at Playhouse on the Green. Photo by Mark Graham.
Upcoming “Page to Stage” New Play Readings
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Split Ends, a Murder Mystery Musical
book by Frederick Stroppel, Bonnie Lee Sanders, and Mark Barkan
music and lyrics by Bonnie Lee Sanders and Mark Barkan
directed by Jason Hale
Music Direction by Annie LeBeaux
Cast:
Elizabeth Acosta, Jeremy Black, Nick Booth, Jeremy Ellison-Gladstone, Sidney Myer, Debra Pitkin, Stephanie Pam Roberts, and Tia Zorne.
Synopsis of Split Ends
A musical mystery romp set in a South Beach beauty salon. The action and mystery unfolds when Adele, Beatrice, and Lupe, three high society salon patrons, reveal their marital woes to each other. It is not long before all three of their successful husbands are knocked off one by one. The three women, along with Henri (the French salon owner), Cindy (the newly hired manicurist), and Kitty (the sympathetic cosmetician) are all named suspect by the sex-starved detective, Mervin Powers. While solving the mystery everyone trips, shakes, bungles, sweats, and opens up to reveal their hidden passions. The mystery is finally solved with a shocking revelation that is both outrageous and heartfelt.
Writer Bios
Fred Stroppel has written plays that have been produced Off Broadway and at theaters across the U.S. As a member of the Theatre Artists Workshop in Norwalk, CT, he has developed a number of theater and screen projects, including the award-winning short film Glacier Bay and the web series Suburban Legends. He has written several successfully produced screenplays and for television he has written for HBO, PBS, Nickelodeon, and is currently head writer for the children’s series WOW WOW WUBBZY! Mark Barkan has written and composed over 700 published songs and recordings by such diversified artists as Nat King Cole, Leslie Gore, Paul Anka, Petula Clark, The Everly Brothers, Rod Stewart, Mel Torme, and Dusty Springfield. Bonnie Lee Sanders is a Bistro Award winner for outstanding cabaret singer/songwriter. She has written songs for artists such as Eartha Kitt, ABBA, Hank Williams Jr., Dinah Shore and Big Bird. Mark and Bonnie have collaborated on several musicals together and most recently, in addition to Split Ends, the Wild Goose Chase received a grant from the Audubon Society to play for audiences in Portland Oregon.
These readings are free, with a suggested contribution of $10. Seating is on a first come, first served basis; no reservations necessary.
BREAKING NEWS:
- Joan Martin Burke’s play Ann Richards, Backward In High Heels, a one-woman play which received a reading at Playhouse on the Green as part of the “Page to Stage New Play Reading Series” will be read in New York City by the Abingdon Theater Company on September 21 at 7PM at the Dorothy Strelsin Theater as part of their First Reading Series. Noted stage and screen actress E. Katherine Kerr will read the part of Ann Richards and “Page to Stage” curator and Playhouse board member Mark S. Graham will direct. The play covers the life and times of the late ex-governor of Texas. A funny, topical, entertaining look at her eventful life: recovery from alcohol, a dissolving marriage, and as an agent of change in politics where she shattered long-standing boundaries of race, gender, and culture - making it possible for women to be taken seriously in politics.
- Jim Gordon’s play Washington Schlepped Here, which received its first reading at Playhouse on the Green as part of the “Page to Stage” New Play Reading Series, is a finalist for the 2010 NYC EAT Festival! Break a leg, Jim!
“Page to Stage” New Play Reading Series Submission Guidelines
Playhouse on the Green seeks full-length and one-act plays by Connecticut playwrights for its ongoing “Page to Stage” New Play Reading Series (Mark Graham, Curator). Plays must be unpublished and un-produced (readings OK). No musicals.
Please submit the following:
-One copy of the playscript
-A resume indicating previous playwriting experience/productions etc.
-A one-page synopsis including a scene/location breakdown
-A list of characters including gender and age
-A self-addressed, stamped postcard if you wish us to acknowledge receipt of your materials.
Send submissions via postal mail to:
Playhouse on the Green
ATT: “Page to Stage”
177 State Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
No e-mail submissions please. We cannot return any materials submitted. Not all submissions will receive a response.
If your play is chosen for a reading presentation, no transportation/housing expenses will be provided, though our hope is that the playwrights of selected plays can attend rehearsal(s) and public reading at the theater in Bridgeport. A director who will be responsible for casting and the presentation will be assigned to each reading project.
We are open to both dramas and comedies, and to any and all themes. Running time should be 2 hours or less.
Questions? Contact us: pagetostage@playhouseonthegreen.org.
No phone calls.
Past “Page to Stage” Readings
Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 7PM
Investing in Murder
by Jim Gordon
directed by Mark S. Graham
with: Bob Adrian, Kathleen Brower, Damien Langan, and Sachi Parker.
Synopsis of Investment in Murder
Harry Mark’s life is shattered when IRS auditor John Rawlings discovers he’s embezzling his client’s money. Rawlings, faced with financial problems of his own, tells Harry he’ll make the incriminating records disappear in return for $500,000. Unable to raise the money, Harry informs his wife, Susan, they must leave the country. Harry’s body is found, an apparent suicide, but Lieutenant Burke believes it a homicide and Harry’s $5,000,000 life insurance policy the motive. Burke arrests Susan Mark for murder but discovers being right isn’t always enough.
Author Bio: Jim Gordon
In 2001, Jim Gordon turned from acting and directing to a career in playwriting. His plays have won or been finalists in over 70 national and international competitions and many of his full-length and one-act plays have been published. His short plays appear in Smith/Kraus Best Short Plays of 2005 and 2006, and Death Defying Acts, a collection of one-acts was published (2009) by Dramatic Publishing Company. Among his many awards, Jim received the “Alan Minieri Award for Playwriting Excellence” from “The American Globe Theatre” in New York City. His university credits include a BS in Theatre Arts from The State University of New York and an MA from Fairfield University. Jim is a member of the Theatre Artists Workshop in Norwalk, CT. and the Dramatists Guild.
Sunday, April 26 at 7PM
Bebopman
Book by Tony Lavorgna with Lois Gilbert (special scene by Harvey Pekar)
Music by Tony Lavorgna
Lyrics by Tony LaVorgna, Alice Schweitzer, Rich Kuslan, and Deb Silver (The song “Authenticity” by Alice Schweitzer)
Directed by Mark S. Graham
Featuring: Kathryn Marchand, Emily Hannon, and Richard Hartley.
Rich Kaye …….Guitar
Tony LaVorgna……Piano, Sax and Clarinet
The cast of Bebopman. Photo by Mark Graham.
Playhouse on the Green’s “Page to Stage” New Play Reading Series presents Bebopman, an original musical that traces the life of Wilton musician Tony LaVorgna on Sunday April 26 at 7PM.
The musical is based on composer/lyricist/jazz musician Tony LaVorgna ‘s life story as outlined in his cult graphic novel/comic book, Bebopman.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tony LaVorgna was born in New Haven, CT. His interest in music began at the age of five when his mother started to teach him the piano. When Tony was twelve he heard his father play “Dark Town Strutter’s Ball” on an old “C Melody” saxophone. Tony loved it and by age fourteen he was playing jazz saxophone with a local band. He began playing in the pit orchestras and he was especially taken by a production of The Music Man that he saw at the Shubert Theater in New Haven. His love for jazz became a life long passion when he heard bebop jazz king Charlie Parker.
Tony’s professional career as a musician continued in 1968 when he toured with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. In 1970’s Tony moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he established himself as one of the city’s top jazz pianists. In the 1980s, Tony moved to Atlanta and became one of the best known jazz saxophonists in the southeastern United States. He formed The Atlanta Allstar Jazz Quartet which quickly garnered honors and awards and toured throughout the country. In 1988 he moved to Chicago and became part of the Chicago jazz scene. Tony toured with the Fats Waller musical, Ain’t Misbehavin. Combining jazz with theater became an ambition of Tony’s. Consequently he wrote and toured with a swing musical called Sentimental Journey which featured jazz and music of the swing era. When the show closed Tony decided to study big band writing with former Glen Miller arranger Bill Finegan who was living in the Bridgeport area. With Bill’s encouragement, Tony found his own compositions were formidable enough to be recognized nationally.
Tony met director Mark S. Graham while doing a show at Playhouse on the Green and worked with him for over one year creating Bebopman. Bebopman is based on his graphic novel of the same name and is about his life as a struggling jazz musician. The show’s book is written by Tony and comedian/girlfriend Lois Gilbert who is a nationally recognized comicbook writer. His long time songwriting partner Alice Schweitzer helped Tony on the lyrics to the songs. Today Tony lives in Connecticut where he teaches and writes music, and continues to play jazz saxophone throughout the Tri-State area.
Sunday, March 22 at 7PM
“The Blizzard Plays”: Eight Short Plays on a “Blizzard” Theme
“The Blizzard Plays” at Playhouse on the Green. Photo by Mark Graham.
Playhouse on the Green’s “Page to Stage” New Play Reading Series presents eight short plays by local playwrights. Stratford’s “Squarewrights”, a Connecticut-based playwrights group, were asked to write short plays using “blizzard” as a theme. The resulting eight short “blizzard” plays will be presented as staged readings on Sunday, March 22 at 7PM at Playhouse on the Green.
“The Blizzard Plays” are:
Featuring: William Farrell, Bob Gill, Richard Leonard, Luke Lynch, Jessica Mancini, Frank Piazza, David Victor, Robert Watts, Nadine Willig, Alisson Wood, and John Zanowiak, Jr.
Directors: Mark Graham, Rich Mancini, and Eli Newsom
Stage Manager: Mark Lambeck
“The Blizzard Plays” at Playhouse on the Green. Photo by Mark Graham.
Alisson Wood in “The Blizzard Plays” at Playhouse on the Green. Photo by Mark Graham.
Sunday, February 15 at 7PM
Quitting Time
a new play by Jack Rushen
Featuring: Bob Adrian of New York City, Frank Piazza of Bridgeport, Guy A. Fortt of Bridgeport, Richard Weidlich of Greenwich, Cindy Hannah of Wilton, and Bu Ali Naqvi.
The cast of Quitting Time. Photo by Mark Graham.
Quitting Time is the story of Charlie Valesky, a sixty-year-old foreman in a helicopter factory. As his company waits for a stalled government contract, Charlie may lose his job. His workers don’t respect him, retirement age is looming, and he is haunted by the memory of his only son who was killed in the World Trade Center. After his wife dies, Charlie’s one desperate need is to hold on to his job. As intense feelings of anxiety haunt him, the play asks the question “Will Charlie ever find peace?” Quitting Time examines the fragility of the “American Dream”, the desperate need we all have for respect, and the powerless feeling of trying in vain to make sense of tragedies we can do very little about.
Bob Adrian (foreground) and Richard Weidlich in Quitting Time. Photo by Mark Graham
Bob Adrian in Quitting Time. Photo by Mark Graham.
Rehearsal for Quitting Time. Photo by Mark Graham.
Sunday, November 23 at 7PM
The Edge of Chaos
by E. Katherine Kerr
A comedy about a woman who decides to write and create a soap opera based on her life.
The Edge of Chaos. Photo by Mark Graham.
Featuring: E. Katherine Kerr of Wilton, Sam Mink of Norwalk, Carolyn Marble of Ridgefield, Nadine Willig of Stratford, John O’Hern of Westport, and Caroline Winterson of Fairfield. Mark S. Graham directs.
The Edge of Chaos centers on the comic misadventures of wildly self-delusional, self-centered Rowena Depew. In the beginning of the play, Rowena’s husband suddenly leaves her for a younger woman. Hysterical and heartbroken, Rowena is inspired by her grief to take revenge on her husband by writing and producing a soap opera about him and his “slimy” business dealings. Falsely confident and clueless about producing, writing, or acting, Rowena involves other crazy characters in her plot, including a homeless man and a waitress with theatrical aspirations.
Sunday, October 26 at 7PM
Ann Richards: Backwards and In High Heels
An original one-woman show about Texas Governor Ann Richards
by Joan Burke
featuring E. Katherine Kerr
staged reading directed by Mark S. Graham
E. Katherine Kerr as Ann Richards in Ann Richards: Backwards and in High Heels. Photo by Mark Graham.
Playhouse on the Green presented a staged reading of Ann Richards: Backwards and in High Heels, a new one-woman play by Joan Burke, on Sunday, October 26 at 7PM. Backwards and in High Heels tells the story of former Texas Governor Ann Richards. Accomplished actress E. Katherine Kerr portrayed Governor Richards. Graham directed the reading.
E. Katherine Kerr as Ann Richards in Ann Richards: Backwards and in High Heels. Photo by Mark Graham.
