Urban Stages Celebrates With FREE Reading Series

Urban Stages will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary with a celebration of their continued commitment to new work with a FREE New Play Reading Series on Monday nights in September.  Wine and refreshments will be provided.
 
September 8th, 2008 - FORGIVE ME?, by Esther Armah. Directed by Trezana Beverly.
While dividing and packing their belongings to move on after a five year relationship, Zach and Lexie begin to uncover personal truths, family conflicts, and explore the prejudices they both hold regarding their Black British and African-American cultural backgrounds. Each character represents a collective wound and is an expression of how that wound manifests itself, festers - but may also be healed.
 
September 15th, 2008 - TRAITORS, by Don Nigro. Directed by Larry Harbison.
In the late 1940's, when Richard Nixon and the House Un-American Activities Committee were looking for communists, a senior editor at TIME magazine named Whitaker Chambers testified that Algers Hiss, a prominent member of the State Department, had been for years a paid agent of the Soviet Union. What followed was the most notorious and baffling espionage and treason controversy in American history. Nigro traces this darkly ironic horror story with humor and more than a trace of madness. It's a hall of mirrors in which we can see reflected the grotesque political masks we still wear. Mr. Nigro is one of America's most prolific award winning playwrights.
 
September 22nd, 2008 - GENEVIEVE, by Edward Musto. Directed by Judd Silverman.
GENEVIEVE is inspired by a true story, the Gabrielle Russier ordeal, which shook France in the late 1960's. At the time of the student riots in Paris, a 30 year-old schoolteacher, here named Genevieve Duvall, stands trial for "corrupting a minor". As Genevieve gives testimony, the action in the court room freezes and she relives the moments in which law and justice are at odds with one another. The play was a finalist in two national playwriting competitions.
 
September 29th, 2008 - SENSE OF AN ENDING, by Ken Urban. Directed by Jose Zayas.
"This is what people do to each other. Do not forget that." In April 1999, Charles, an African-American journalist, travels to Rwanda to uncover dark truths about the genocide. The trip becomes something more troubling, however, when he finds he may be part of the story. After he meets a survivor, the journalist struggles to understand the nature of man's inhumanity, and to find the path that returns us to the best versions of ourselves.

Urban Stages is located 259 W 30th Street (btwn Broadway and 8th Avenues)