#RobUrbinati

[writemarcus]

Queens Theatre Presents New Season of 'New American Voices'

—Play reading series introduces three new writers—

Erin Clarke,

NeighborPosted Wed, Feb 2, 2022 at 5:52 pm ET

(Queens, NY)— Queens Theatre (QT) announces the 2022 season of its New American Voices (NAV) in-person play readings reading series, featuring three evenings of performances. "EIGHT TALES OF PEDRO" by Mark-Eugene Garcia on Saturday, March 5th at 8pm ET, AS I WAS NOT AS I AM by Alice Hakvaag on Saturday, March 26th at 8pm ET, and TUMBLEWEED by Marcus Scott on Saturday, April 23rd at 8pm. The series marks the first time playwrights Garcia, Hakvaag and Scott will have their work presented at Queens Theatre.

EIGHT TALES OF PEDRO, directed by Rodrigo E. Bolanos, begins in 17 Century Mexico, as Pedro and his companion travel from a small port town into the fabled Veracruz, telling stories while following Pedro's one true love. Meanwhile, in the present day, in a van full of Mexican immigrants, Peter crosses a border into an unfamiliar country, while his companions tell him stories to chase away his fears. The two storytellers risk everything as their lives and plots intertwine.

AS I WAS NOT AS I AM, directed by Hannah Postlewait is a hip, contemporary play about queer roommates, headaches, clubbing, upstairs neighbors, arson, and washing machines that follows the story of twenty-something Laurel who is sick. Her roommates want her to get better, but how do you help someone who can't afford health care? Does it involve setting a car on fire?

TUMBLEWEED, directed by Dev Bondarin is a slice-of-life drama about an interracial family, in which the natural hair of a young girl named Willow stirs up heated controversy in the household. This timely play explores beauty standards both in and out of the Black community, ethnic relations, the mixed-race family, coming of age, interracial marriage, parenting, womanist identity and the visibility of black men in the family dynamic.

"Queens Theatre's new play development program is our longest-running series. Supporting playwrights and creating opportunities for audiences to engage with artists at the readings enables us to reflect and serve our diverse and evolving communities," said Queens Theatre Executive Director, Taryn Sacramone. "We are proud to help facilitate the creation of new works, spark dialogue, and foster community."

"I am extremely excited to introduce three terrific writers to Queens Theatre audiences," said Queens Theatre Director of New Play Development, Rob Urbinati. "Each new play is unique, yet the audience should expect the same high quality of writing that Queens Theatre has come to be known for."

All performances are free, but advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets can be reserved by calling 718.760.0064 or by visiting: www.queenstheatre.org. All guests 5 years of age and up must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon arrival at the Queens Theatre facilities and patrons over the age of 18 must also show a valid form of ID. Masks are required, regardless of vaccination status. Learn more about our COVID Safety Protocols here.

About the Playwrights

Mark-Eugene Garcia is a Mexican/Honduran playwright and a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and A.S.C.A.P. He is a graduate of the City College of New York and studied book and lyric writing with the Academy of New Musical Theatre and the BMI Lehman Engle Musical Theatre Writing Workshop.

Playwriting Awards include: 2021 Jerry Harrington Award For Outstanding Creative Achievement in Musical Theatre Winner, 2018 UnFringed Festival Best of Festival Award Winner, 2016 Vancouver Ovation Award for Outstanding New Work nominee, 2013 Planet Connections Outstanding Book of a New Musical nominee, 2012 Jacob Weiser Playwriting Award for a Fully Realized Drama

Productions include EIGHT TALES OF PEDRO (The Secret Theatre) STANDBY (Towle Theatre, New York International Fringe Festival- Encores Selection, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Next Link Selection), THE HOLY COWS OF CREDENCE SOUTH DAKOTA (Planet Connections Theatre Festival, Puzzle Theatre Festival) FACING EAST: A NEW MUSICAL (Jericho Arts Center) and UNMISSED CONNECTIONS (Planet Connections Theatre Festival)

Other Plays include FLAKE OF SNOW, WITH BATED BREATH, WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR , ONE NIGHT AT THE GOLDEN BOOT, INSCRIPTIONS, and KEYS.

Alice Hakvaag is a queer playwright originally from rural Pennsylvania, currently based in Philadelphia. She holds a BA in Theater from Temple University and is a proud Ring of Keys member. Her work has been seen through Elephant Room Productions, The Women's Theatre Festival, Mal-Adjusted Theatre Company, Mad Cow Theater, Richmond Triangle Players, and Wings of Paper Theater Company. Her play As I Was, Not As I Am was nominated for a Susan Smith Blackburn Award, and was a semi-finalist for the Princess Grace Fellowship Award. Most recently, her play But Not Uncle Vanya premiered in Philadelphia with Aporia Artist's Collective, of which she is a founding member. She has also worked internationally as a director, actor, and sound designer. When she isn't writing, she's probably doing something else in theater, and when she isn't doing that, she's probably playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Marcus Scott is a playwright, musical theatre writer & journalist. His work includes "Tumbleweed" (finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival & Festival of New American Plays at Austin Playhouse; semi-finalist for the New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award), "Sibling Rivalries" (finalist for the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference & the ATHE-KCACTF Judith Royer Excellence In Playwriting Award; semi-finalist for the Blue Ink Playwriting Award & the New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award), "Cherry Bomb" (New York Theatre Barn New Works Series; recipient of the Drama League First Stage Artist-In-Residence). He was commissioned by Heartbeat Opera to adapt Beethoven's "Fidelio" (Libretto; Baruch Performing Arts Center, The Met Museum, Mondavi Center, The Broad Stage, Scottsdale Center for The Performing Arts; called "poignant" by NY Times). Residencies & retreats: Prospect Musical Theater Lab, María Irene Fornés Playwriting Workshop, JACK Governor's Island Artist Residency, Catwalk Artist Residency, The Center at West Park Virtual Performance Residency, Gingold Theatre Group Speaker's Corner Writer, Liberation Theatre Company's Playwriting Residency Fellowship, Athena Theatre Company's Athena Writes Playwriting Fellowship, the inaugural LIT Council at the Tank, Fresh Ground Pepper Artist-In-Residence BRB Retreat, One Co. Writers' Residency at Little Farm & Goodspeed Opera House Retreat. Scott is a 2021 NYSAF Founders' Award finalist and a 2021 Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award semi-finalist. His articles appeared in Architectural Digest, Time Out New York, American Theatre Magazine, Playbill, Elle, Out, Essence, The Brooklyn Rail, among others. MFA: NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

About Queens Theatre

Queens Theatre (QT) is a performing arts center located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY. Its mission is to provide high-quality performances and programs that are accessible to the residents of Queens, the most diverse county in the nation. The Theatre's work reflects and celebrates its community. QT presents dance companies, produces, presents, and develops new works of theatre, family programming, community engagement events and initiatives, and offers a range of education programs onsite, in schools and in senior centers. In 2016, QT launched, and has since expanded, Theatre For All (TFA), a ground-breaking initiative to advance the inclusion of disabled people in the performing arts. Since COVID-19, QT has produced a range of digital programming – readings of new plays, wellness checks with performances for seniors, original dance showcases, a Storytellers series, an online round of its TFA training program for Deaf/Disabled actors, and more.