TAP Introduces Winter Play Reading Fest, Held February 2017

Third Avenue Playhouse (TAP) recently announced their 2017 winter/spring season.

From Feb. 16-26, TAP will host the Winter Play Reading Festival. They will share an eclectic selection of new and classic plays in this brand new reading series TAP hopes becomes an annual event. Admission is a pay-what-you-can donation. Each play will be followed by a talk back with the cast and director. Selected plays are “Constellations” by Nick Payne, “Dearest Elizabeth” by Sarah Ruhl, “The Effect” by Lucy Prebble, “Dolores” by Edward Allen Baker, and “Birthday Boys,” a new play written by TAP’s co-artistic director Robert Boles.

The full schedule of plays and a cast list will be announced in in the future. Readings will be directed by Richard Carlson, Alan Kopischke, James Valcq, Mark Moede, Paulette Laufer, Robert Boles and Amy Ensign. Readings will be held at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2 pm on Sunday.

Door County favorite Doug Mancheski returns to TAP in their production of True West, March 16 – April 9. True West is a modern classic American play by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Sam Shepard. Joining Mancheski in the cast will be Jonathan Wainwright, Mark Moede and Laurel Brooks. Robert Boles will direct.

True West is a character study that examines the relationship between Austin, a screenwriter (Wainwright), and his older brother Lee (Mancheski). It is set in the kitchen of their mother’s home 40 miles east of Los Angeles. Austin is house-sitting while their mother (Brooks) is in Alaska, and there he is confronted by his brother, who proceeds to bully his way into staying at the house. In addition, the screenplay Austin is pitching to a Hollywood producer (Moede) somehow gets taken over by the pushy con-man tactics of Lee, and the brothers find themselves forced to cooperate in the creation of a story that will make or break their lives.

The world premiere of Velvet Gentleman, created and performed by James Valcq, is set for May 18; with the production run going to June 4. Velvet Gentleman is a colorful journey into the mind and music of the witty and eccentric composer Satie whose music ranges from comically bizarre to hauntingly beautiful. This multimedia theatre piece, featuring Satie’s music, words and drawings, will transport audiences to fin-de-siècle Paris.

Also, the StageKids spring production is scheduled for April 28 – 30. Title and audition dates to be announced soon.

TAP’s 2017 summer/fall season will be announced in January. For more information visit thirdavenueplayhouse.com.