Standing in Mattoon, by Tim Clue & Spike Manton, "is about the small town of Mattoon, IL and two people trying to change their lives," according to the authors. "A thirtysomething woman who works in a factory and a minister in crisis are the finalists in one of those hands-on-a-van competition. It's a comedy about desperate small town people reconciling their life and their future."

Directed by Clue, the staged reading for industry people and the general public is 7 PM Nov. 26 at Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theatre, 2257 N Lincoln, in Chicago.

The well-reviewed Leaving Iowa, a love letter to family car trips of the past, has been seen in Chicago, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa and elsewhere and is expected to have a licensing life shortly.

Standing in Mattoon's small-town characters include a recently-divorced bagel inspector who is planning to relocate and a minister who is losing his congregation to a mega-church. The authors call the work a play about "two desperate souls" who hope that "they can change their lives." It's billed as "a funny, sad tale about funny, sad people that want to change their funny, sad lives."

Industry questions can be answered by calling (312) 281-2850.