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Public play readings seem to be gaining favor. They’re an inexpensive way to draw a crowd interested in sharing the literary experience of the drama, while prepared actors infuse the text with enough life to draw close to some semblance of an actual staging. Tennessee Repertory Theatre’s “REPaloud” is a new play-reading series focusing on contemporary works, and first up is this 2007 Tony Award-nominated piece by Douglas Carter Beane, which follows the adventures of Mitchell Green, a movie actor who could hit the big time—so long as his agent can keep him in the closet and out of the tabloid headlines. Beane’s timely work plays off our country’s unending obsessions with celebrity, sex and gossip; luckily, it’s also designed to make us laugh cathartically. Lauren Shouse directs the reading, whose strong cast features Martha Wilkinson, David Compton, Marin Miller and Patrick Waller. Admission is free to the Rep’s season subscribers. A minimum $5 donation is otherwise required. Reservations can be made by calling 244-4878.
Fri., Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m., 2010
Fri., Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m., 2010
