Williamston Theatre Announces Giving Tuesday Event

Over the past several years, Giving Tuesday has evolved into a national effort to raise money for worthy causes in communities across the country. This year, the Williamston Theatre is honoring the support of its donors by presenting a full season's worth of play readings, all day long. On Tuesday, November 28 the Williamston Theatre will hold a marathon of staged readings of six plays. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are welcomed to attend all or individual readings. Gracie's Contemporary Bistro in Williamston is a sponsor of the event.

The schedule of plays is as follows:

10:00 a.m. The Realistic Joneses by Will Eno

In The Realistic Joneses, we meet Bob and Jennifer and their new neighbors, John and Pony, two suburban couples who have even more in common than their identical homes and their shared last names. As their relationships begin to irrevocably intertwine, the Joneses must decide between their idyllic fantasies and their imperfect realities. "Plays as funny and moving, as wonderful and weird as The Realistic Joneses, by Will Eno, do not appear often on Broadway. Or ever, really." - The New York Times

12:00 p.m.: Kayak by Jordan Hall

Alone on a vast stretch of water, Annie Iversen recounts the strange chain of events that left her stranded in her son's old kayak. Climate change, S'mores, SUVs, and Noah's Ark are all onstage as Annie sets out to save her son, and unwittingly throws herself into the path of events larger than she ever could have imagined. Touching and provocative, Kayak invites us all to confront our choices in the landscape of the growing environmental crisis.

2:00 p.m.: The Three Sisters of Weehawken by Deborah Zoe Laufer

???Three sisters have dreamt of returning to their childhood home of Manhattan all their lives. There It lies, gleaming, a mere ferry ride away from their provincial home in Weehawken, New Jersey. But that fifteen-minute ferry ride may as well be a mission to Mars. Olga, Masha and Irina, with Natasha close behind, have fled the pages of Chekov, waited awhile in Beckett, and finally found a home in Deborah Zoe Laufer's wonderfully funny The Three Sisters of Weehawken.

4:00 p.m.: To Quiet the Quiet by Christy Hall

Three lives entangled. Three lives at stake. Having suffered great loss and heartbreak in her life, Kathy, now middle-aged and alone, is a woman on the edge. Haunted by her past, and her own personal demons, Kathy seems to be losing the battle against her thoughts, her words, her fears. And the one man who can help Kathy may prove to be just as powerless against her. This psychological thriller will keep you guessing to the very end.

6:00 p.m.: A Hunting Shack Christmas by Jessica Lind Peterson

On the eve of his tenth wedding anniversary, Charlie heads up north to his hunting shack to reassess his life. To his surprise, he arrives to find his shack occupied by his estranged uncle, Big Paul, Paul's girlfriend June, and June's grown son, Ham. An ill-timed snowstorm leaves the whole group stuck together to try to settle their differences and enjoy Christmas. A rollicking holiday comedy!

8:00 p.m.: New Releases by Joseph Zettelmaier

A small-town video store is on its way out, a victim of the evolution in online streaming. While clerk Jen and owner Bob work to prepare for close-out sales as the holidays approach, mysterious Carol arrives in search of a long forgotten film. Jen and Carol strike up a unique relationship that reveals to them the importance of connecting with strangers. The latest work-in-progress from Michigan's most prolific playwright, Joseph Zettelmaier.

Familiar Williamston Theatre actors who will be reading various roles throughout the day include: Sandra Birch, Tony Caselli, Aral Gribble, Alysia Kolascz, John Lepard, Rebecca MacCreery, Chris Purchis, Vanessa Sawson, Emily Sutton-Smith, Monica Tanner, and David Wolber.

There will be brief breaks between each play. Reservations are not necessary. Seating is on a first come first served basis. This event is free and open to the public.

The Williamston Theatre is mid-Michigan's only resident, professional, live, Equity theatre. It's current upcoming, Beau Jest, runs through November 16 - December 23. Tickets are on sale now. For more information about the Williamston Theatre, please visit our website at www.williamstontheatre.org.

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