New Jersey Theatre Alliance’s The Stages Festival presents
PlayWorks: Festival of New Play Readings
WHEN: Mondays, March 16, 30 and April 6 @8:00PM
WHERE: Hudson Theatre Works, 80 Hauxhurst Avenue in Weehawken
ADMISSION: free; $10 Suggested Donation
For more information go to www.hudsontheatreworks.com or write to us at hudsontheatreworks@gmail.com. To see a full schedule of events for The Stages Festival please visit www.njtheatrealliance.org/stages.
New Jersey Theatre Alliance presents Hudson Theatre Works’ PlayWorks readings of new plays. This event is part of the Alliance’s Stages Festival, the state’s largest annual theatre festival that provides free and discounted theatre events for all ages throughout the months of March, April, and May.
There is nothing more important to the long-term vitality of American theatre as an art form than the nurturing of new voices. PlayWorks is the first step in this process. PlayWorks presents readings of new plays by contemporary, often local playwrights, giving them an opportunity to share their work and include the audience in the creative process.
Each reading is followed by a audience discussion with the author, giving our supporters a rare opportunity to become an important part of the creative process and to engage the playwright with questions, comments and their personal insight into the work.
This year we present 3 readings. On March 16th, the musical, “Elliot and Me” by Steven Willensky, Scott Coutler and Michael Holland, directed by Michael Bias. About two brothers, one an award winning composer. March 30th, “Bird in a Box” by Joanne Hoersch. Two sisters, two very different memories of their shared childhood. And on April 6th, “Fever” by Robert Clem. Dostoyevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment on New York City’s lower east side in 1969. And a special presentation of “Votes for Women” by Speranza Theatre Company from Jersey City.
The Stages Festival offers dozens of performances, workshops, classes, and events at theaters, art centers, libraries, schools, senior centers, and other community venues throughout the state. The program was developed to encourage New Jersey’s residents to attend their local professional theaters by making the experience affordable, accessible, and fun.
“The Alliance is grateful that Hudson Theatre Works is participating in the 2020 Stages Festival,” said John McEwen, Executive Director of the Alliance. “For more than 20 years, Stages has provided theatrical experiences for thousands of residents across New Jersey. These efforts would not be possible without the wonderful help of partners such as Hudson Theatre Works.
The New Jersey Theatre Alliance 2020 Stages Festival is made possible by support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; Bank of America; The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey; OceanFirst Foundation; the George A. Ohl, Jr. Trust; New Jersey Historical Commission; and Fund for the New Jersey Blind. A full calendar of events is available at www.njtheatrealliance.org/stages.
Hudson Theatre Works is committed to low ticket prices, so everyone can enjoy live theatre. It celebrates ensemble collaboration as well as artistic risk through its permanent company, guest artists, partner institutions and the surrounding community. It is dedicated to a rugged aesthetic which seeks to tell stories, both new and old, classic and contemporary, that reflect our lives, relationships and the world today. Hudson Theatre Works' primary focus is on bringing a living theatre community to Hudson County, and the wider metropolitan area through performance, affordable pricing, outreach and theatre arts instruction. Hudson Theatre works is a professional Equity company and a proud member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
Hudson Theatre Works is supported in part through gifts from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, UBS Financial and the City and Mayor of Weehawken, New Jersey.
Founded in 1981, New Jersey Theatre Alliance was the first statewide service organization for professional, not-for-profit theatre companies in the United States, and is a leader in developing model programs that unite, promote, strengthen, and cultivate professional theatre in New Jersey. Funding for the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, a not-for-profit organization, is provided in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, and contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations including the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Bank of America, The Shubert Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Investors Bank, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, Kessler Foundation, The F.M. Kirby Foundation, E.J. Grassmann Trust, The Union Foundation, and The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey.