4TH ANNUAL UNPLUGGED NEW PLAY FESTIVAL Lineup Announced at Asolo Rep

Asolo Repertory Theatre's annual play festival will showcase four world premiere plays, including a Greenfield Prize-winning piece by noted playwright John Guare (House of Blue Leaves, Six Degrees of Separation), Eddie in the Andes. Showcasing the freshest talents writing for the theatre today, the fourth edition of Unplugged will also present readings of new theatrical works by Deborah Zoe Laufer, Informed Consent; Rogelio Martinez, When Tang Met Laika; and Steven Drukman, Marquis Aurelius. The staged readings will be the first time these new works-in-progress are read aloud publicly, and each reading will be followed by a conversation between the playwright and the audience. "A unique aspect of Unplugged is the opportunity for the audience to help shape the work of art from the ground up," said Greg Leaming, Director of The FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, Associate Artistic Director for Asolo Rep, and curator for the Unplugged New Play Festival. "Some playwrights choose to use the feedback they receive during these post-reading conversations to hone the work before they consider it finished."

Informed Consent
by Deborah Zoe Laufer
directed by Sean Daniels

When genetic anthropologist Gillian Elliott embarks on the project that will make or break her career, she ends up learning more about herself than she ever thought possible. This touching play explores how we define ourselves, our past, and our future.
Presented Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m. in the Asolo Repertory Theatre Rehearsal Hall

Cast:
Ken/Lawyer --- David S. Howard
Gillian --- Elizabeth King-Hall
Dean Hagan/Mother/Grandmother --- Peggy Roeder
Graham/Edward --- Francisco Rodriguez
Natalie/Arella --- Gail Rastorfer
Stage Directions --- Joseph McGranaghan

When Tang Met Laika
by Rogelio Martinez
directed by Brendon Fox

An unlikely relationship blooms aboard the International Space Station between astronaut Patrick and cosmonaut Elena. When they return to earth, they still long for the stars, and nothing will ever be the same. A haunting play about love, loss, and the search for something more.
Presented Friday, April 12 at 8 p.m. in the Asolo Repertory Theatre Rehearsal Hall

Cast:
Patrick --- Joseph McGranaghan
Elena --- Brittany Proia
Samantha --- Erin Whitney
Foma/NASA Officials/J.C. --- Bryan Torfeh
Boris/Bob/NASA Official --- Eric Hissom
Mark Pavelich/Willie McCool/James/Unknown Voice --- Brendan Ragan
Yuri Gagarin/Jack/Leroy Cain/Russian Voice --- Zak Wilson
Stage Directions --- Lindsay Tornquist