Plays scheduled for the July 2 readings follow:
•The Boiling House, written by Peter Snoad, "chronicles Mama Aida, an owner of a guesthouse on a small Caribbean island. The arrival of a famous rapper and an impending hurricane force her to confront the spirits of her slave ancestors who dwell in the Boiling House."
•Live Girls, by Michael Stockman, "focuses on Zeke, a sociology graduate student studying peep shows [who] falls in love with Candy, a veteran peep show worker diagnosed with metastasis breast cancer. In a last ditch effort to add meaning to her life, Candy takes an unusually nurturing approach to her last customer, helping Zeke acknowledge his traumatic sexual past."
The second set of readings will take place July 19, featuring:
•Sand Creek Casino, by Stuart Boyce, concerns "Darrel Iron Horse [whose] plans to build a casino on his reservation are thwarted when he discovers an old unmarked grave of a soldier. He uses his grandfather's shamanic powers to enter a dream world and must convince this soldier, who participated in the Sand Creek massacre that killed his ancestors, to allow his grave to be moved." •The Red Train, written by Ben V. Marshall, "explores two gay African-American artists, one a young, idealistic musician, the other a jaded, famous writer; [who] encounter each other at a Parisian Café. Their ensuing volatile relationship changes their lives while exploring the issues of identity, generational and cultural differences, and sexuality."
The plays will be adapted into 45-minute readings for a panel of judges including producer William Franzblau (Say Goodnight Gracie), acclaimed playwright Jerome Hairston and Disney creative entertainment director Shelby Jiggetts Tivony. The winner will be announced in September and will be awarded a $1,000 prize.
The readings will take place Mondays, July 2 and 9 at 7:30 PM at Off Broadway's 45th Street Theatre (354 West 45th Street, 2nd floor.) Admission is free, and reservations can be made by calling (212) 239-3140.
Artistic Director and Founder, Hinton Battle, is a three-time Tony Award Winner for his work in Sophisticated Ladies, The Tap Dance Kid and Miss Saigon. Battle starred in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls and can be seen in the current film adaptation as Wayne. Battle's directing and choreography credits include: Off-Broadway's Evil Dead: The Musical and the film "Idlewild".
The Hinton Battle Theatre Lab "strives to become the leading organization which finds, develops and presents compelling, original theatrical works that reflect America's rich multi-cultural heritage."
