America Rising Series Continues W/ Neveu's HARMLESS 3/29

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its America Rising: Voices of Today reading series with Brett Neveu's Harmless. This reading will take place Sunday, March 29 at 5 p.m. at St. James Parish Hall, 225 Walnut Street in Bristol. Individual reading tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets include entertainment, a post-show discussion and a soul food dinner.

Conceived, produced and directed by Artistic Associate Adam Goldstein, the America Rising: Voices of Today staged reading series is a celebration of culture and language. Presented in partnership with Temple University's MFA graduate acting program, the series opens the door to the hottest new voices of the American theatre.

In Harmless, a student in a typical college classroom has written a violently atypical paper. His professor has been summoned to meet with the University President to discuss how such a paper could have been written under his watch. This edgy comedy delves into the dark world of censorship in our society and forces us to re-think ideas of blame, responsibility and fear in our current sociological climate. Harmless is a fast-paced and sharp play that will leave the audience breathless.

The cast for this reading includes: Krista Apple (Temple MFA candidate) as Lieutenant Mindy Ergenbright; Ross Beschler (Temple MFA candidate) as Jim McFehren; with one additional cast member to be announced.

Prior to the reading, Bucks County Community College-based improv group, The Piece, will entertain with improv and comedic skits.

A post-show discussion will be led by producer/director Goldstein, with special guests to be announced.

About the Playwright
Brett Neveu's recent productions include Gas for Less with the Goodman Theatre and Weapon of Mass Impact with A Red Orchid Theatre. His work has also been produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company, Strawdog Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, American Theatre Company, Spring Theatreworks, Aardvark Theatre and 29th Street Rep. Recent films include The Earl with Sikorafilms and Exit, Clowny with Jon Pon Flims. Neveu is the recipient of the Ofner Prize for New Work, the Emerging Artist Award from The League of Chicago Theatres and has developed plays with The New Group, The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens, The 42nd Street Workshop, The Marin Theatre and is a resident-alum with Chicago Dramatists. He is also an ensemble member of A Red Orchid Theatre and has been commissioned by The Royal Court Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club (Sloan Commission), Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Goodman Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, Writers' Theatre, and Strawdog Theatre and has several of his plays published through Broadway Play Publishing. Neveu has taught writing at Northwestern University, DePaul University, Second City Training Center and currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, artist Kristen Neveu and daughter, Lia.

The final America Rising reading will be:
Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue (2006 Pulitzer Prize finalist)
By Quiara Alegría Hudes (2008 Tony Award winner)
Sunday, May 3, 2009

About Bristol Riverside Theatre
Since 1986, BRT has brought consistently acclaimed professional theatre to Bucks County and maintained a long-term commitment to finding and developing new plays. The theatre is the recipient of over 50 Barrymore Award nominations for Excellence in Theatre, given annually by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. In addition to its mainstage productions, the theatre serves as a cultural hub for the community, with such programs as children's theatre, community concerts and exhibitions of local visual arts. Currently under the direction of Artistic Director Keith Baker and Founding Producing Director Susan D. Atkinson, BRT enters its 22nd season.

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