Free Out Loud Reading at Ars Nova May 16

Ars Nova (voted "Best of New York" by New York Magazine) and The Underwood Theater present, as part of the FREE Out Loud reading series, YEMAYA'S BELLY by Quiara Hudes and directed by Peter Sampieri. YEMAYA'S BELLY will be read by Stephanie Beatriz, Alexis Camins, Gilbert Cruz, Joaquin Torres, Brigette Viellieu-Davis on Monday, May 16 at 7 PM at Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street).

Born in a rural Caribbean village, Jesus' dreams reach far beyond, to unknown worlds of coca-cola, spam, and other material fantasies. A magical coming-of-age story about one boy's journey across the "middle passage," and the tragedies that catapult him into manhood.

QUIARA HUDES' plays include Yemaya's Belly (Portland Stage, Miracle Theatre), The Adventures of Barrio Grrrl! (Miracle Theatre), and Holy Broth (Perishable Theatre). Her work has been developed at South Coast Repertory, Manhattan Theatre Club, Signature Theatre, New Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Provincetown Repertory, and Repertorio Espanol. Her solo play Coconut Therapy premiered at the 2002 Philadelphia Fringe Festival. This year she is writing the book for a new hip-hop salsa musical called In the Heights with an upcoming workshop at Manhattan Theatre Club. As the 2004-2005 P73 Playwriting Fellow, she is developing her new play Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue in New York. Quiara's honors include The Clauder Prize, the Paula Vogel Award in Playwriting, the KCACTF Latina Playwriting Award, the Weston Prize, and The International Women's Playwriting Festival (first place).

OUT LOUD has attracted a variety of the industry's top artists, including writers Stephen Belber, Jorge Cortinas, Daniel Goldfarb, Stephen Guirgis, Rinne Groff, Rogelio Martinez, Adam Rapp, Sarah Ruhl, Julian Sheppard, Jonathan Marc Sherman; directors Peter Askin, Jo Bonney, David Esbjornson, Moises Kaufman, Brian Kulick, James Lapine, Lisa Peterson, David Warren; and actors Jason Biggs, Kathleen Chalfant, Robert Sean Leonard, Marsha Mason, Denis O'Hare, Rosie Perez, Paul Rudd, Mercedes Reuhl, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Swoosie Kurtz, David Strathairn, Fred Weller.

THE UNDERWOOD THEATER (Mandy Hackett, Producer) is dedicated to developing and producing new work from today's most promising, emerging playwrights. Last season, The Underwood Theater produced Sunil Kuruvilla's new play Fighting Words. Previously, The Underwood Theater produced Buicks, which received 2 Drama Desk nominations including Outstanding Play and Outstanding Lead Actor.

Ticket & Schedule Information

YEMAYA'S BELLY will be read on Monday, May 16 at 7 PM. The Out Loud Series is FREE and open to the public. Reservations are required. Please call 212-977-1700. Ars Nova is located at 511 West 54th Street. For more information, check out www.arsnovanyc.org.