The Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Boulder will present its fourth annual Working Stages series, beginning on July 19. Working Stages was created to combine the many talents of actors, directors and playwrights in the southwestern region of the country.
Says Working Stages coordinator and dramaturg Gretchen Haley, "We hope to be an oasis for emerging southwestern playwrights and a laboratory for new scripts." Following the reading of each new script, the audience takes part in a talk-back session in which they can respond constructively to the work-in-progress, rehearsal-style productions.
On July 19, two of the four works being highlighted this season, The Tragedy of Miggillicutty at 5 PM and Edward III at 7:30 PM, will hold their one-time-only workshops. Miggillicutty is described by the Festival as "a farcical tale of a modern day Don Quixote who leaves his job in a sandwich shop in search of heroism." It is interesting to note that the play's author, Adam Chanzit, is only eighteen years old and a recent high school graduate. Miggillicutty is directed by Kevin Stevens.
Edward III is the only play being read this season that is not being heard for the first time. Edward, in fact, is a historical drama that some scholars attribute to the young William Shakespeare. According to CSF Spokesperson Jessica Kirscht, the play might even eventually be included in the "complete" compilations of Shakespeare's works. Joel Fink directs this story of the 14th century English monarch.
Next up, on July 26 at 7:30 PM, is playwright Andrew Case's Universal Grammar. Dramaturg Gretchen Haley and director Robin McKee (of the Festival's Merry Wives of Windsor) will work closely with the playwright on this play, described as a "poetic and evocative look at people whose lives have been crystallized by disaster." The fourth and final presentation for this year will be on Aug. 9 at 7:30 PM, with Telluride: The Musical. Battles between long-time residents and wealthy newer ones highlight this bluegrass and folk-style musical by Gerald Martin. Robin McKee will direct this production as well.
Tickets to any one of these four readings are $10 for General Admission and $5 for the Colorado Shakespeare Guild and subscribers. For tickets call (303)-492-0554.
-- Doug Nevin
