In its expanded commitment to the development of new plays, MTC’s New Play Reading Series presents plays-in-progress by new and emerging playwrights. MTC brings in playwrights to work with local artists in full-length, script-in-hand staged readings. These readings give the playwright the opportunity to develop the play and give MTC the exposure to potential new collaborators for our main stage programming. A question and answer session with the playwright, director, and actors often follows each performance. Performances are free, but reservations are encouraged.
By MTC's Playwright in Residence Lauren Gunderson
On Friday, April 20 & Saturday, April 21, 2018 MTC's resident playwright Lauren Gunderson appeared IN PERSON to read her new play, NATURAL SHOCKS! A fundraiser for Everytown for Gun Safety.
About the play: Based on Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech, NATURAL SHOCKS is a 65-minute, one-woman tour-de-force play that bursts to life when we meet a woman waiting out an imminent tornado in her basement. Her story—and the secret she reveals—puts the reality of guns in America front and center. NATURAL SHOCKS is part confessional, part stand-up, and part reckoning.
About the reading: This reading is FREE to attend; donations to Everytown for Gun Safety are highly encouraged. In order to raise awareness of gun violence and raise money for Everytown for Gun Safety, Lauren is waiving royalties for these readings—as well as for all other readings of this play happening at theatre companies across the nation. MTC is proud to support Lauren and is donating space and staff time toward this important project.
By Arvind Ethan David
On Saturday, December 13, 2014, Marin Theatre Company's New Play Reading Series produced a public staged reading of The Emperor of America by Arvind Ethan David. This stylized period drama explored the life of one San Francisco's most notorious and beloved figures: Joshua Norton, the self-declared Emperor of America.
By Samuel D. Hunter, winner of MTC's 2011 Sky Cooper New American Play Prize
On Monday, October 13, Marin Theatre Company's New Play Reading Series produced a public staged reading of the companion pieces Lewiston and Clarkston, about two small towns are built on the legacies of explorers Lewis and Clark. Hunter won the Sky Cooper New American Play Prize in 2011 for The Whale, which was produced on as part of MTC's 2014/15 mainstage season.
By Eric Dufault, winner of MTC's 2013 David Calicchio Emerging American Playwright Prize
On Monday, June 30, Marin Theatre Company's New Play Reading Series produced a public staged reading of Year of the Rooster by David Calicchio Emerging American Playwright Prize winner Eric Dufault. In this hyperkinetic black comedy, Gil may be a McDonald’s-employed schlub who lives with his mother, but he has happened upon his ticket to fame and fortune: Odysseus Rex, a champion-caliber rooster he is training to fight against a legendary undefeated foe.
By Martyna Majok, National New Play Network Smith Prize recipient
Directed by Daniella Topol
On Monday, March 17, Marin Theatre Company's New Play Reading Series produced a public staged reading of The Ironbound (working title) by Martyna Majok, the National New Play Network Smith Prize recipient. In this politically charged work, an immigrant woman waits for the bus after a long day. A man appears. A man always appears. And he has something to offer. Spanning over 20 years and three different relationships, every scene is a little war between a man and a woman, both fighting for their best version of security.
This developmental workshop was supported by a grant from the National New Play Network's Smith Prize, which commissioned The Ironbound.
By Bill Cain
Directed by Jasson Minadakis
On Monday, October 14, 2013, Marin Theatre Company's New Play Reading Series produced a public staged reading of 33 by Bill Cain (9 Circles, Equivocation). In this intense, spiritual play-in-development, Colin, a famous Irish actor, has the chance to land the role of a lifetime, a role that has ruined the careers of many actors, but one that could be his best shot at an Oscar. The part is a 33-year-old carpenter, an ordinary man who achieved something extraordinary over 2000 years ago - he rose from the dead. As Colin seeks the secret of this incredible event, he finds himself in conversation with the man himself, and the woman who made the resurrection a reality.
By Martín Zimmerman
Directed by Jasson Minadakis
On Monday, June 3, 2013, Marin Theatre Company's New Works Series produced a public staged reading of MTC's 2012 Sky Cooper New American Play Prize winner Seven Spots on the Sun by Martín Zimmerman. In this powerful ensemble driven work, the village of San Isidro has been without its doctor, Moisés, for eighteen months. He has remained a recluse, refusing to even look at a patient, since the day the army took his wife away during the country’s civil war. But when a mysterious plague begins to ravage the countryside around San Isidro, Moisés discovers he has the power to heal with the touch of his hand and is forced to confront his past and the violence that tore the village apart.
By Meghan Kennedy
Directed by Marissa Wolf
On Monday, April 22, 2013, Marin Theatre Company's New Works Series produced a public staged reading of Light by MTC’s 2012 David Calicchio Emerging American Playwright Prize winner Meghan Kennedy. In this moving drama about personal freedom in the face of social expectations, Lyleis the only man in his family who has yet to be struck by lightning. His father, Gene, has never let him forget it. As another storm approaches, Lyle will be forced to choose between his legacy and his last chance with the only woman he’s ever loved.
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Meredith McDonough
On Monday, December 5, Marin Theatre Company's New Works Series produced a public staged reading of Silent Sky by award-winning San Francisco playwright Lauren Gunderson. In this historically based drama, Henrietta Leavitt struggled to chart our place in the universe as she she charted a new path for women at the turn of the 20th century. Leaving behind her family in rural Massachusetts, she moved to Boston in 1893 to join Pickering’s Harem – the all-female data collection staff of the Harvard Observatory. There, she mapped stars from photographic plates, expected to process and record, but never analyze the data. Henrietta refused to be content just tidying up the cosmos for her male colleagues and set off on a crusade that changed our perception of our world forever. Gunderson filled the life of this eclipsed astronomer with brilliant light in this funny, inspirational and heartwarming play. Previously, Gunderson's Rock Hill: Southern Gothic was featured in our New Works Series in September 2009.
By Andrew Dolan
Directed by Jasson Minadakis
On Monday, September 12, and Friday, September 16, 2011, Marin Theatre Company's New Works Series produced public staged readings of That Good Night by MTC’s 2011 David Calicchio Emerging American Playwright Prize winner Andrew Dolan. In this magical and moving dark comedy, Millicent prays for a miracle as her grown children return home for the removal of their father, her husband, from life support. As sibling rivalries reignite and unhappy childhood memories flare up, a family secret emerges to change all of their lives.