Next Iteration Theater Sets Lineup for 2nd Annual Intercultural Play Reading Series

Next Iteration Theater Company (NITC) presents its 2nd Annual Intercultural Play Reading Series featuring three plays over three nights at the MATCH.

The event begins on Thursday evening, May 11th with Lauren Yee's comedic drama, In A Word. Chinese American playwright, Yee, has recently received the Francesca Primus Prize for In A Word. The play uses grief and comedy to tell the story of Fiona on the second anniversary after her young son has disappeared. As the character tries to make sense of it all, she delves into the memories of that chaotic day and takes us with her.

Quirky may be the tone of this year's Intercultural Play Reading Series as NITC presents Madeleine George's Precious Little on Friday May 12th. What do a linguist, a graduate student, a lesbian affair, a dying language, a pregnancy, and a gorilla have to do with each other? The tight tale told by George takes us on a comedic and poignant journey into the life of one woman at a time when everything she thinks about herself and her life is called into question.

Aditi Kapil's Agnes Under the Big Top brings the Intercultural Play Reading Series to a close on Saturday May 13th. Featuring a diverse mix of immigrants-Bulgarian, South Asian, Liberian, and nomadic-who have ended up in the same city where they intersect with the life of a bedridden woman. Each immigrant pursues the promise of the American Dream in this comic adventure as they cope with the very real challenges of making an actual life in the United States. A timely tale well told.

Next Iteration Theater Company, has previously brought to the stage such thought-provoking works as Turquoise by Deb Margolin, a world-premiere of The Baby by Lisa Boss Omlie; produced the First Intercultural Play Reading Series that featured work by phenomenal local playwrights as well as Tony-nominated Ayad Akhtar, and introduced the ReadFest to Houston audiences in 2015.

The cast includes Michele Capri, Prateek Karkal, Mai Le, Rhett Martinez, Rachel Ollagnon, Jonathan Palmer, Liz Rachelle, Sammi Sicinski, and Andraes Hunt as narrator of all three shows.

Performances of the 2nd Annual Intercultural Play Reading Series will run May 11th, 12th, and 13th at 8 p.m. at MATCH, Box 3, 3400 Main St, Houston, TX 77002. Tickets to see In a Word, Precious Little and Agnes Under the Big Top are available through our website matchouston.org/events/2nd-annual-intercultural-play-reading-series or by phone to the MATCH box office (713-521-4533). At Next Iteration Theater tickets are always pay-what-you-can, with a suggested price of $15 per staged reading. Groups of 8 or more can order via the box office phone number listed.

Founded in 2014 by Artistic Director, Dianne K. Webb, and then Managing Director, Tayyba Kanwal, NITC focuses on thought-provoking theater, underrepresented voices and derivation of new works. Next Iteration Theater showcases work to enhance and expand the Houston theater experience. Visit NextIterationTheater.com for more information, and go to www.nextiterationtheater.com/iprs-17 for more about the reading series.

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