New Work Series: Rhinestone Cowboy

by Thomas Andrews   

Directed by Stephanie Phelan

Featuring: Dylan Angell, Caitlin Angell, Tony Malikowski, Kathleen Thunberg

A sweet country singer and her jaded manager find refuge in a bizarre karaoke bar. She’s a young rising star. He’s so L.A. The bar owner is lethally charming. Between shots of whiskey, country classics, and confession, each will discover that … good is good, and bad is bad.

What is the New Works Series?

The New Works Series: Staged Readings of Plays in Progressin its 3rd season this year at Bennington Theater. Local actors perform original new plays, scripts in hand, after only 6 hours of rehearsal. The plays may be staged or simply read aloud. Tonight’s play is an enhanced staged reading

Why do play readings?  First, it’s a vital part of developing new plays and nurturing playwrights. Second, it allows us to share the process of how plays are created.  It all begins with a script.  But a script is not a play. 

Until a script is seen and heard, until the characters speak, feel, move & become human- -only then does a script begin to be a play.  A play is a living thing that we discover, step by step. The first step is a reading. Readings give playwrights, actors, and directors the space to take chances.  To discover what works and what doesn’t work and to trust the audience.   

Finally, these readings of new works connect us with you -- because Bennington Theater is yours, it comes out of this community.  We invite you to get involved with us!