Announcing Theatre For All Reading Series At Queens Theatre

After receiving 172 submissions, Queens Theatre has picked nine new works to be presented Nov. 18 and 19 as part of its first Theatre For All Short Play Readings.

Each of the selected plays were either written by a disabled playwright and/or feature a character with a disability.

"We received an overwhelming number of terrific short plays, and narrowing the submissions down to the nine was quite a challenge. The nine new works which will premiere at Queens Theatre include comedies, romances and dramas - a wide range of genres which will make for a fascinating evening," Rob Urbinati, Director of New Play Development, said.

The evening's program includes Bits and Pieces by Lacey Alexander, Death Bites by Makina Metz, Hurry Up and Wait by Annalise Cain, Mint Jelly by Kelli Lynn Woodend, Miss Direction by Kyle Anthony Smith, On the Rocks by Jeffrey Neuman, We'd Make Great Babies by Cary Cox, X-Ray Vision at the Motel 9 by Ian August, and Zulee's School Lesson by Carolyn Nur Wistrand.

Emerie Synder, Gwynn MacDonald and Brant Russell will each direct three of the readings.

Many of the actors cast for the readings were members of Queens Theatre's first ever Theatre For All training programs held in September. The two-week program was created specifically for early-career Deaf and disabled actors.

Queens Theatre's multi-faceted approach to Theatre For All is designed to support industry-wide change in making the performing arts more inclusive of people with disabilities.

Located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park next to the Unisphere, Queens Theatre, www.queenstheatre.org, is currently celebrating its 30th Anniversary Season.