The Rainbow Theatre Project Opens Second Season with Generation Q Staged Reading Series

The Rainbow Theatre Project launches their second season on Monday, October 20, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. with an evening of staged readings featuring David Csontos' My Night with Rock Hudson, paired with four plays, affectionately referred to as the "Betty & Veronica Plays," by Mary Steelsmith. This quartet includes Happy and Gay, Moon Dancers, Dancing with Ms. Liza and Dancing with Sherpas.

"The Rainbow Theatre Project is dedicated and determined to tell the stories of the LGBTQ community-the big stories and the small ones. Like those of two women who are great friends, confidants, the pillars that each leans on. Or the story of a man, now in his sixties, looking back to a time in his life before Stonewall. They're wonderful pieces in of themselves, but they are so much more, because these memory plays tell the best stories-intimate slices of life-that reflect the same personal experiences we've all been through," reflects Producing Artistic Director H. Lee Gable.

In My Night with Rock Hudson, author David Csontos shines the spotlight on awkward dates as two couples embark on a double date at a triple-feature. It would be a great evening except that one of the guys would rather be on a date with the other guy and the two girls would prefer to be alone. Co-founder of Catalyst Theater Company, Christopher Janson returns to direct Mario Baldessari (WSC Avant Bard, Charter Theater) as the narrator, Mitchell, with Cameron L. Conlan (Zemfira Stage) playing his younger self, Mitch. Karen Shantz (Catholic University), Sophie Schulman (Washington Savoyards, American University) and Yuri Lomakin (Shakespeare NYC) round out the group of young, would-be lovers.

Janson is "proud to bring David Csontos' charming, funny memory play to a D.C. audience. My Night with Rock Hudson brings personal and historical context to the courage it takes to express one's true identity in a world where many would prefer that we hide behind a mask of conformity."

Star Johnson, founder of the DC Women's Theatre Group, makes her Rainbow Theatre Project debut directing Mary Steelsmith's touching and revelatory series of short plays (Happy and Gay, Moon Dancers, Dancing with Ms. Liza and Dancing with Sherpas), which trails friends Betty and Veronica over several decades as their relationship, and names, change right along with the times.

Johnson reflects that "'The Betty & Veronica Plays' are love stories, stories about friendship, but they are also plays about fear. Fear, in so many capacities, represses us, suffocates us and prevents us from living freely. Anyone who has ever been afraid to be who they are will connect to their story."

Tara Chen (Keegan Theatre) and Lindsay Elizabeth Williams (The Rainbow Theatre Project, Theatre J) take the lead in all four plays. They are joined by Rick Westerkamp (The Rainbow Theatre Project, Studio Theatre) in Dancing with Ms. Liza and Paula Rich (Ambassador Theater, Laurel Mill Playhouse) in Dancing with Sherpas.

Seeing the Show

Tickets for the show are $10 and may be purchased in advance through the company's website. Tickets can also be purchased with cash at the door on the evening of the performance. Seating is general admission. Concessions will also be available for purchase.

The performance will be held at Source, located at 1835 14th Street, NW in Washington, D.C. The venue is approximately 2 blocks from the U Street/Cardozo Metro Station. Street Parking is also available.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with events kicking off at 7:30 p.m. There will be one intermission.

Visit www.rainbowtheatreproject.org for more information about the company or to purchase tickets.

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