Hudson Theatre Works' PlayWorks Series Of New Play Readings Presents SHELLEY By Joanne Hoersch

Before she wrote "Frankenstein" at the age of 19, Mary (Godwin) Shelley ran off to France with her lover, Romantic poet Percy Shelley, and her stepsister, Claire Clairmont, seeking a new life of lierté, égalité, and fraternité. With the idealism of youth, they thought they could build a new world based on the sublimity of Nature, the power of art, and the freedom of the individual. The year is 1814, and this courageous, brilliant threesome begins their adventure..."

Joanne Hoersch (Playwright) received her BA in drama from Emerson College. She studied fiction at Columbia University, where she was the recipient of a Woolrich Fellowship for creative writing. While at Columbia, her short story "Josie Going Places" was awarded best story of the year, in a university-wide competition. She was also a semi-finalist in the Heekin Foundation's national short story contest. In 1998, she received a grant from the NJ State Council on the Arts, for fiction writing.

Her first full length play, "Jackson Is Gone," was produced by Hudson Theatre Works, and for it she received her second grant, from the NJ State Council on the Arts, in 2012, for playwriting. Her second play "Starring Elizabeth" was read at Playwrights' Theatre of New Jersey, the Lark Theater in New York and at Hudson Theatre Works' PlayWorks series. The play is currently being converted into a musical.

Joanne is a member of the NJ Women Playwrights Program at the Writers Theatre of NJ. She received two staged readings of her play "Bunnies," based on her experiences as a Playboy Bunny in New York. The first was at Drew University in November 2018 and the second at the Jersey City Theatre Center, in March, 2019, as part of a state-wide celebration of Women's History month.

As an actor, Joanne most recently appeared as Mrs. Voynitsky in Hudson Theatre Work's production of "Uncle Vanya, Scenes from a Jersey Life in Four Acts," Michael Puzzo's adaptation of the Chekhov classic.

'BE A PART OF THE PROCESS"

WHERE AND WHEN:

Monday, April 8th, At 7:30PM

80 Hauxhurst Avenue, Weehawken, NJ

For transportation information please go to:

http://www.weehawken-nj.us/transportation.html

Suggested Donation of $10 - Reservations not necessary

www.hudsontheatreworks.org

Cast:

Emaline Williams as Mary (Godwin) Shelley

Brendan Walsh as Percy Shelley

Meredyth Kenney as Claire Clairmont

James Georgiades as William Godwin

Emaline Williams (Mary Godwin Shelley) Credits include NYC: Vampire Cowboys Theater Co (Alice in Slasherland, GEEK!) NJ: Centenary Stage Co (Dracula, Hitler's Tasters) The Bickford TheTre (Accomplice), The Growing Stage (Tales from the Garden) & Alliance Repertory (Bluff, Trying).

Brendan Walsh (Percy Shelley) He is a U.S.M.C veteran. Some of his theatre credits include Vincent/Theo Van Gogh (Eulogy for Vincent); Owen (Translations); Macduff (Macbeth); Claudius (Hamlet) and Eugene (The Au Pair Man). T.V. Credits include The Punisher and The Blacklist.

Meredyth Kenney (Claire Clairmont) Credits include 'MORE MYSELF THAN I AM' (Manhattan Rep), 'Helena' in UNCLE VANYA (Hudson Theatre Works), and 'Buckingham' in RICHARD III (Blunt Ensemble Theatre). TV: Homeland (Showtime), The Sinner (USA), Bull (CBS), Master of None (Netflix), and The Loudest Voice in the Room (coming soon on Showtime).

James Georgiades (William Godwin) Is currently 'Sergeant Brown' in the film, 'The Upside' starring Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart. He recently co starred in 'God Friended Me' on CBS and he plays Ray in a new pilot titled Katy Keene.

Plays are performed by professional actors and each reading is followed by a audience discussion with the author, giving our supporters a rare opportunity to become an important part of the creative process and to engage the playwright with questions, comments and their personal insight into the work.

For more information or questions, go to www.hudsontheatreworks.org or hudsontheatreworks@gmail.com. The events will take place at Hudson Theatre Works, 80 Hauxhurst Avenue, Weehawken, NJ. To receive a full schedule of events for The Stages Festival please visit www.stagesfestival.org.