The scribe assumes directing duties for the work in development. Two readings will take place Dec. 19 at 7 and 9 PM at The Public Theater's Shiva Theater.
According to festival materials, the reading of The Little Flower of East Orange "will include scenes from a new work-in-progress about memory and ghosts." The Guirgis work — as with his previous The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, In Arabia We'd All Be Kings, Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train and Our Lady of 121st Street — is expected to see the New York stage in the near future.
Hoffman — who serves as LAB's Co-Artistic Director with John Ortiz — along with Meara and Bogosian will join previously announced cast members Elizabeth Canavan, Jeff DeMunn, Richard Petrocelli, Lauren Velez and David Zayas. Also scheduled to appear will be Seth Gilliam, Jessica Kahler and Aasif Mandvi with Liza Colón-Zayas reading stage directions.
Kristoffer Diaz serves as assistant director. The stage manager is Michael Lew. Alison Cimmet is the sign language coach.
LAB's Barn Series is the next stage of development following original workshops at the troupe's annual Summer Intensive. The plays are each rehearsed for 15 hours then are usually presented twice using the same cast and director from the summer as playwrights continue to work. Past works featured at the reading series include Nilo Cruz's Beauty of the Father (which will be seen next at Manhattan Theater Club), Megan Mostyn Brown's The Secret Lives of Losers (Tribeca Theater Festival, Michael Puzzo's The Dirty Talk (New York International Fringe Festival) as well as Patrick Shanley's Sailor's Song, José Rivera's Massacre (Sing to Your Children) and Guirgis’ The Last Days of Judas Iscariot — all seen as part of LAB's mainstage. Cusi Cram's All The Bad Things, featured in this Barn Series, will go on to a developmental production, Feb. 15-March 5, 2006.
Seating is limited for the free Barn Series at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, and reservations are required. To make reservations, call (212) 513-1083 or email [email protected]. For more information on LAB, visit www.labtheater.org .
