Reading Theater Project Announces Fear-Themed 2016-17 Season

Building on its reputation for creating new and exciting theater that is also relevant to the Berks County community, the Reading Theater Project has announced its 2016-2017 season, themed "Fear".

In November, the company will produce the LGBTQIA Fringe Fest, a mini-fringe festival of short, new works by local and regional performing artists inspired by topics within the LGBTQIA community. In January/February 2017, Joel Richard Gori will direct RTP's new work, DEAD OF WINTER: Berks Haunting by Sue Lange and ElizabetH Clark. Finally, the season ends with a yet to be announced Reading/Berks - centric theatre piece during the summer of 2017.

Running November 4 - 6th 2016, the LGBTQIA Fringe Fest is a mini-festival of short, new work, created by performing artists from Berks County and beyond, including Lancaster and Philadelphia. The festival will feature multi-generational projects of dance, movement theatre, monologues, and short plays in partnership with Metamorphosis Performing Company at the Yocum Institute for Arts Education. Each evening of the limited run will include open talk-backs between the audiences and artists.

Following the November Fringe Festival, Joel Richard Gori will direct RTP's new work by Sue Lange and ElizabetH Clark in the January/February run of DEAD OF WINTER: Berks Haunting. This new play will draw on haunting folk-lore of the forgotten people of Berks County's history including the Lenni-Lenape, slaves, abolitionists, and beatniks between the 1700's and 1950's. "Doing research for Dead of Winter has been another great experience," says resident playwright Sue Lange. "As is true of most of Reading Theater Project's pieces, we delve into Reading's past and discover amazing facts and wonderful secrets about our area. I can't wait to present this to the public." This ensemble piece continues RTP's success of Berks-inspired historical pieces that include 2013's May Be Honest and 2014's Speakeasy.

In addition to their productions, Reading Theater Project will continue the One Book, One Community library tour in collaboration with libraries throughout Berks, Lancaster, and Lebanon. This year's piece, Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, will be adapted by company member, Vicki Haller Graff. Beginning Sunday November 27th at the West Reading Tavern from 7-9pm, RTP will also present the ongoing series, Ghost Stories: Open Mic Night, throughout Berks' nightlife where performers and audiences tell their personal haunting stories.

"We are dedicated to our mission: To work as a collective and create new theatre inspired by our region. Reading and Berks County have such a wonderfully vibrant community that deserves to have their stories told," says Managing Director, Christopher David Roché. "Thanks to the risk taking of Berks' audience we have been able to grow and push the boundaries of theatre; forging an artistic home and identity. Without their support and investment we couldn't take the creative risks we have and will continue doing."

The Reading Theater Project is multigenerational collective of performing artists who create new theater in Reading, PA. Since 2003, RTP has given local professional performing artists an artistic home, with opportunities for collaboration and development. For more information and ticket purchases, visit readingtheaterproject.com or call 484-706-9719.

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