Playwrights need to hear their work as well as see it.

Plays are written to be performed by actors, so at some point in the process of writing, a playwright must hear the work spoken out-loud as well as interpreted (or sometimes misinterpreted ) by actors, directors, and audiences.

All of this is useful and necessary information to every playwright working on a new play.

That's why we're producing a reading series of new plays written by playwrights from Southeastern Connecticut.

Actors will be seated, reading from the text of the play. They will have had a private rehearsal reading of the work with the playwright the night before performing the work in front of a public audience. The playwright will not only be listening to the play, she will also be listening to the audience.

Sometimes local playwrights get a bum rap. Prevailing wisdom occasionally dictates that if a playwright were that good, he'd be in New York or LA and not in Southeastern Connecticut. The fact is, a successful playwright can live anywhere.

In fact, any playwright, actor, or artist can make their location outside of the city a strength by banding together with like-minded, committed artists and making the work happen, free of the expense and restrictions of New York production. We can help each other get the work ready to go into the outside world much stronger.

That's what this project is about. A place to develop the work outside the restrictions of the marketplace.

Any of the works presented in this series could end up in production Off-Broadway, or in Chicago, or in LA...anywhere. Come be a part of their beginnings.