The Araca Group Announces The Return Of AracaWorks

The Araca Group has announced the return of AracaWorks, a week-long series of play readings celebrating new work for the theatre.

AracaWorks premiered in December 2010, showcasing both established playwrights and emerging voices; past slates have featured the New York premieres of Suicide, Incorporated by Andrew Hinderaker (Roundabout Underground, Fall 2011), How the World Began by Catherine Trieschmann (South Coast Repertory, Winter 2012), and Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar (American Theater Company, Fall 2011). In addition, each AracaWorks series presents a play by the winner of our graduate playwriting award.

Beginning December 5th, audiences will be treated each night to a reading of a new play at an early stage of development. Araca’s goal with this project is to present plays that have not yet received a fully realized production in New York City and to create a platform for the development of new plays and new voices. AracaWorks will pair each playwright with a director and a group of New York actors. The series will provide an outlet for playwrights to explore their material in a forum open to the public, yet safe from critical reviews.

WHEN: December 5-9, 2011 @ 7:30PM

WHERE: The Ars Nova Building
511 West 54th Street
New York, NY 10036 (between 10th and 11th avenues)

Admission is free and open to the public.
Seating is limited. Reservations are suggested and may be made online at www.aracaworks.com

Schedule of Readings

Monday: Edgar and Annabel – written by Sam Holcroft/directed by Raz Shaw
About Edgar and Annabel: A young married couple prepares dinner in a smartly furnished kitchen. Annabel is composed, intelligent, in love. Edgar is professional, successful, assured. She’s chopping vegetables, he’s brought the wine. But something isn’t right. In a city not so different from our own capital, a group of freedom fighters attempt to stand up to an Orwellian establishment in increasingly perilous circumstances. Sam Holcroft’s ingenious new play paints a picture of a police state in crisis. The story that unfolds brings into question relationships, identities and the very nature of reality itself…
Featuring Matthew Dellapina, Betty Gilpin, Ryan King, Seán Martin Hingston, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Brad Koed.

Tuesday: Acapulco - written by Jacquelyn Reingold/directed by John Rando
About Acapulco: It’s 1966, it’s Brooklyn, it’s Acapulco. Meet almost divorced Doris, her lying husband, her scheming laundress mother-in-law, her chest-hair-dying boyfriend, a mysterious woman who’s really a man, and the Whore of Brooklyn. A swinging 60's kind of comedy with a 2012 point of view.
Featuring Tony Shalhoub, Linda Lavin, Colman Domingo, Leslie Kritzer, Richard Kind, and Mia Barron.

Wednesday: Warrior Class – written by Kenneth Lin /directed by John Doyle
About Warrior Class: Julius Lee is a fast-rising Asian politician in the New York state assembly. But will an incident from his past be his undoing as he seeks the US Congress?
Featuring Reed Birney and Joel de la Fuente.

Thursday: Recall – written by Eli Clark/directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt
About Recall: Lucy makes people uncomfortable. There’s something about her eyes. There’s something about the way her mother’s boyfriends keep disappearing. And there’s something about the government agents on her trail. Boundaries of love and trust are pushed in this fierce and funny play.
Featuring Sami Gayle, Timothée Chalamet, and Colleen Werthmann.