Staged Reading Series

The first time a new work is seen onstage is an exciting step in its developmental process. Festival Arts offers playwrights and performers the chance to be seen and heard in a safe and productive atmosphere. The chance to hear the dialogue spoken by actors--and the chance to hear constructive critique from an audience--is invaluable to a playwright, and Festival strives to provide just as invaluable an experience for our audiences in our Staged Reading Series.

Dinner Table Reading Series

Aside from bringing new productions to life in staged readings, Festival Arts is committed to aiding the developmental process of new works, as well as celebrating old works, in our Dinner Table Reading Series. Set up like a potluck dinner, these are informal events designed to bring artists together over a combined love of food and drama. Roles are divided up among those present and the piece is heard after a hearty dinner and discussed over dessert.

News:

Returning playwright Monet Hurst-Mendoza (Lilia) brings us her newest play, Veil'd, the coming of age story of an Afghan-American girl in the United States. Dima is a 15-year old outcast with a rare skin allergy. Her best friend is a nurse shark named Speedo. Dima's parents fear that she will never experience the outside world, that is, until a poet named Elliot begins to open her eyes to the world around her.
February 22nd at 7:30pm
341 West 11th Street (between Greenwich and Washington) Apt. BB
For reservations, please e-mail Festival.Arts@gmail.com with the subject line "RSVP Veil'd"

A new play by Joel Sinensky, Mild, Non-Injurious Physical Contact deals with horror, pain and mostly brotherhood. Rodney is a cop. His brother, Joey, is a convicted serial killer. When Joey escapes from an insane asylum, Rodney must do everything in his power to get him back behind bars. Doing so will test him as a son, a brother, and a morally conscious human being.
Date TBA
160 Bleecker Street (between Sullivan and Thompson) Apt. L1
For reservations, please e-mail Festival.Arts@gmail.com with the subject line "RSVP Mild"

FA Artistic Director David Rigano brings us an intimate play, Getting Over, about a young man trying to make a future out of his past. Charlie walks through life, love and friendship haunted by Amanda and trying to find a way to let her go. His new girlfriend, his best friends, even his mother has trouble getting through to him. How can Charlie keep the memories but let go of his life with Amanda? And, more importantly, can he make a life with someone new?
Date and place TBA
For reservations, please e-mail Festival.Arts@gmail.com with the subject line "RSVP Getting Over"

Past events:

Dinner Table Reading: Lilia by Monet Hurst-Mendoza
Staged Reading: Caution by Matthew Klein
Dinner Table Reading: Caution: Cliff Ahead by Matthew Klein
Dinner Table Reading: Life Lessons with Susan Gail by David Rigano
Dinner Table Reading: Can I Date a Guy Who Wears a Yarmulke? by Amy Holson-Schwartz
Staged Reading: Waiting for the Boys by Alyssa Weiss-Allen
Staged Reading: Count Glookliech Has Arrived! by Stuart Fingeret
Dinner Table Reading: Greek to Me by Amy Holson-Schwartz

The cast of Festival Arts' staged reading of Count Glookliech Has Arrived! by Stuart Fingeret. (photo by Heather Lucas)	Festival Arts Artistic Director David Rigano with Glookliech scribe/director Stuart Fingeret. (photo by Heather Lucas)	Executive Director Amy Holson-Schwartz and Artistic Director David Rigano with Waiting for the Boys playwright Alyssa Weiss.	Readings and events can be tiring for the Artistic Director.	Musical Director Paul Rigano at the Festival Arts Networking Party.	Special Guest Nancy Holson chats with Caution playwright Matthew Klein	Music Director Paul Rigano chatting with guests Greg Salmon from All My Children and performer Sharone Halevy.
Loyal Festival Arts supporter, actress Elizabeth Enkiri.	Claire McGinley and Nick Hepsoe of Five Flights Theatre Company representing at the Networking Party.	Dinner Table Reading of Lilia by Monet Hurst-Mendoza. (Photo by Betsy Kershner)	Playwright Monet Hurst-Mendoza deep in thought at the reading of her play Lilia. (Photo by Betsy Kernsher)	Festival Arts regular Bonnie Swencionis as Lilia Carrena. (Photo by Betsy Kershner)	Playwright Monet Hurst-Mendoza with Festival Arts Artistic Director David Rigano and Executive Director Amy Holson-Schwartz. (Photo by Betsy Kershner)	The cast of the Festival Arts/Mekka Collective reading of Caution by Matthew Klein.
Executive Director Amy Holson-Schwartz, Artistic Director David Rigano and Playwright/Mekka Artistic Director Matthew Klein with the cast of Caution.	The Festival Arts/Mekka Collective crew: Matthew Klein, Amy Holson-Schwartz and David Rigano.