Second Stage Announces Initial Casting for New Works Fest.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) has announced initial casting for its "New Works Festival" on Friday, June 13 at 11am at Second Stage Theatre, 307 West 43rd Street (just west of Eighth Avenue).  The invitation-only event will feature readings of selected scenes from eight of the ten new plays commissioned by the Time Warner Commissioning Program at Second Stage, a unique play development program launched with the acclaimed off-Broadway company in fall 2005.

The casting of the eight plays being presented is below.  Some roles remain to be cast and all casting is subject to change.

10 Things To Do Before I Die
by Zakiyyah Alexander
directed by Jade King Carroll

featuring Carlo Alban, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Reg E. Cathey,
ALBERT JONES, ROSLYN RUFF

In 10 Things To Do Before I Die, two estranged sisters reunite when their late father's belongings arrive unannounced on the doorstep. Will revisiting the past allow them to live in the present?

Manifesto
by J. Holtham
directed by Kareem Fahmy

featuring Reed Birney, Angel Desai, Adriane Lenox, Terrence Mann

In Manifesto, Roger and Louise find an anthrax-laced letter in the mailbox of their Upper West Side apartment, and soon after their home is mysteriously gutted.  With their clothes destroyed, keys melted and furniture missing, they wrestle to figure out what has happened, while facing the compromises they've made over the years.

Animals Out of Paper
by Rajiv Joseph
 (which will be produced as part of this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series)
directed by Giovanna Sardelli

featuring Utkarsh Ambudkar, Kellie Overbey, Jeremy Shamos

When a world renowned origami artist opens her studio to a teenage prodigy and his school teacher, she finds that life and love can't be neatly arranged in Animals Out of Paper, a drama about finding the perfect fold.

Mothers on Fire
by Sandra Tsing Loh
directed by David Schweizer

featuring Michi Barall, Colman Domingo, Isabel Keating,
Martin Moran, NICK OFFERMAN, Welker White

In Mothers on Fire, Sandra weaves her signature solo performance style with the story of a couple trying to get their daughter into kindergarten. It's a comedy about the lengths to which parents will go for their children.

Happy
by Sung Rno
directed by Jerry Ruiz

featuring JOEL de la FUENTE, Carla Harting, Christine Toy Johnson, PARICK KERR, SUE JEAN KIM, Lorenzo Pisoni, RYAN SHAMS

Happy is a comedy of depression and the tragedy of happiness, as told through the life of an Asian-American pharmaceutical sales rep.

As Soon as Impossible
by Betty Shamieh
directed by Hal Brooks

featuring TALA ASHE, Jamie Farr, Brian J. Smith

As Soon as Impossible tells the story of Ramsey and Arthur, two old friends from different cultural backgrounds who have spent the past fifteen summers fishing together. When Ramsey's precocious granddaughter Layla joins the annual trip, the summer takes an unexpected and wild turn.

Wash Your Rabbit
by Cheryl L. West
directed by Jo Bonney

featuring BRIENIN BRYANT, CAROLINE STEFANIE CLAY, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, LYNDA GRAVATT, MYRA LUCRETIA TAYLOR, Sharon Washington

In Wash Your Rabbit, Cheryl writes about an African-American woman's volleyball team, exploring themes of religion, friendship and body image.

Buzzer
by Tracey Scott Wilson
directed by Robert O'Hara

featuring CAROLYN BAEUMLER, David Wilson Barnes

In Buzzer, a state amendment banning gay marriage becomes the focus of an upcoming senatorial election. An interracial gay couple's relationship is tested as the election questions the connection between gay rights and the black civil rights movement.

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