The 7 PM readings will be held at the Ensemble Studio Theatre on West 52nd Street.

Cassandry Medley's Daughter will feature Elain Graham ("Across the Universe"), Michelle Hurst and Chandra Thomas. Carlos Armesto directs. The play, which is set in summer 2005, is described as such: "An African American mother in Detroit, Michigan, is forced to cope with her guilt, helplessness, and outrage when her daughter returns as a physically maimed and psychologically broken veteran of the Iraq War."

Daughter will be followed by a reading of Kristine M. Reyes' Quarter Century Baby featuring Ali Ewoldt and Christopher Kromer. Directed by Victor Lirio, the play is set "on the eve of Carissa's 25th birthday [when] news of her parents' surprise visit causes turmoil with her boyfriend Jeremy as truths are revealed and she is forced to examine her life."

Lydia Stryk's The Last Standing Protester will also be part of the evening. Directed by Jessi D. Hill, the final offering will feature Adding Machine Drama Desk nominee Amy Warren as "a woman [who] stands alone outside the White House. She has something to ask of all who pass her by—before it's too late."

The readings will be held at Ensemble Studio Theatre, which is located in Manhattan at 549 West 52nd Street, 2nd Floor. Admission is free. For more information visit www.diversecitytheater.org. *

The series will continue Aug. 17 with James McManus' Bulldog Whiskey.

Diverse City Theater Company Inc. is an independent not-for-profit organization-run by artist playwrights, directors and actors. Its mission is to "commission, develop and produce powerful and though-provoking original plays that explore and examine diversity issues in our national culture, create multiculturally fluent theatre audiences and advocate the non-traditional casting of actors."