FirstACT, A Contemporary Theatre's tenth annual reading of new works by Northwest playwrights, features Kurt Beattie, Mary Lathrop and R. Hamilton Wright in a three-evening series Feb. 22-24.

Beattie and Wright are both actors and have worked with ACT in the past. Formerly associate artistic director with Seattle Repertory Theatre and artistic director of the Empty Space, Beattie saw his co-adaptation of The Odyssey staged by ACT. Wright, who has appeared in Seattle productions of The Odd Couple, Quills and Private Eyes, co authored the Empty Space park shows Ming the Rude, Ming Strikes Back and Beyond Ming, as well as the rock sci-fi musical, They Came From Way Out There. His contribution is Greensward (or a Really Funny Play About Genetic Engineering), the story of a brilliant scientist whose plan to create something perfect rubs against his conscience.

Lathrop's work is Tales from the Salt Mines, an office farce aimed at America's mass culture and its lack of creativity. Her plays include Hell on Wheels, Menstruating Waitress from Hell, The Eighteenth Mitzvah, Dreams of a Baby and The Visible Horse, which was workshopped at the National Playwrights Conference.

Each play is rehearsed for one week with professional actors and director. Each reading is followed by an open discussion with the audience.

Tickets are $5. A Contemporary Theatre is located at Kreielsheimer Place at the corner of 7th Avenue and Union Street. For reservations, call (206) 292-7676. A Contemporary Theatre is on the web at http://www.accttheatre.org. -- By Christine Ehren