THE LIZ SMITH READING SERIES
Celebrating Women's History Month
Liz Smith, a voracious reader, an advocate for Literacy Volunteers, and an avid theatre-goer was a also a great supporter of the Miranda Theatre Company. "The Grand Dame of Dish" was ever the optimist, and therefore a true believer in the company's mission. Miranda has a long tradition of developing new work by female playwrights, and we are now delighted to have Liz with us in this way, always.
2020
Due to COVDI 19 The 2020 Liz Smith Reading Series presented three of its five new plays…..What we are now calling
“Act One” of the Series
"Act Two," which will be comprised of readings of Emma Gibson’s Water in My Hands and Lisa Ramirez’s All Fall Down will be rescheduled for some time ….Soon.
THE GARBOLOGISTS
by Lindsay Joelle
directed by Taylor Reynolds
Jeanne Farmer, Jason Babinsky
BLOOD
by Nambi E. Kelly
directed by Signe Harriday
Eboni Flowers, Evander Duck Jr, Allie Woods, Jason Bowen
PAPER DREAM
by Lyra Yang
directed by Helen Young
Ashil Lee, Leanne Cabrera
2019
The 2019 Liz Smith Reading brought together five women playwrights sharing their new provocative plays. These women gave us stories of people like us dealing with themes of race, violence against women, outsourcing labor, and the disparity between wealth and happiness.
INSIDE
by Conchi León
translated and adapted by Pennell Somsen
directed by Valentina Fratti
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Sophie Parens, Valentina Fratti, Pennell Somsen, Florencia Lozano,
Julia Botero, Conchi León, Pennell Somsen, Valentina Fratti
MOUCHERON
by Alexandra Neil
directed by Maria Miles
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Dylan Baker, Sarita Choudhury
Alexandra Neil
Maria Miles
VIRTUE
by Emily Bohannon
directed by Valentina Fratti
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Duane Cooper, Paten Hughes, Devin Ilaw
Emily Bohannon, Valentina Fratti
WHAT ARE YOU
WORTH?
by Kara Lee Corthron
directed Elena Araoz
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Cynthia Bastidas, Ayesha Gordon, John Concado, Chad Goodridge,
Kara Lee Corthron, Elena Araoz
2018
MENTION MY BEAUTY
by Leslie Ayvazian
directed by Martha Banta
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Leslie Ayvazian, Martha Banta
VIRTUE
by Emily Bohannon
directed by Valentina Fratti
Duane Cooper, Paten Hughes, Devin Ilaw
Emily Bohannon, Valentina Fratti
The 2018 Liz Smith Reading was held at the Manhattan Theatre Club Creative Center.
PRUDENCE
by Caroline Prugh
directed by Bianca Laverne Jones
top: Caroline Prugh;
bottom L-R: Cherie Danielle, Gillian Glasco
WELCOME TO MATTESTON!
by Inda Craig-Galván
directed by Sherri Eden Barber
top: Inda Craig-Galván;
bottom L-R: Carl Hendrick Louis
WOMEN OF THE WORLD
by Rebecca Gilman
directed by Valentina Fratti
L-R: Rebecca Gilman, Kathleen Chalfant
JAZZ
by Nambi E. Kelley based on Toni Morrison's novel of the same name
directed by Michele Shay
top: Nambi E. Kelley; bottom L-R: Jasai Chase Owens, Ayana Workman, Tina Fabrique, Donovan Mitchell, Kristen Browne