North Hollywood’s The Road Theatre Company is back with in-person readings on its Magnolia stage. It’s been over 18 months since the theatre doors have been closed but The Road Theatre – led by Founding Artistic Director Taylor Gilbert, together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director – is leading the charge with 2 weeks of new work developed within its “Under Construction” group. “Under Construction” was created in 2019 by Carlyle King and Jessica Broutt to bring together new and emerging playwrights to develop new plays in a supportive collaborative environment. Due to the pandemic, the playwrights were not able to present their work in-person, but now with COVID safety protocols in place, The Road Theatre and these amazing playwrights are ready to invite you back. By donation only, theatre patrons will finally get to experience the return to live theatre, in a safe and thoughtful manner. Visit Road Theatre for more info.
WEEK ONE
Thursday, September 23 at 7:30 PM PST
LADYVILLE by Aja Houston
Directed by Inger Tudor
Three sisters are the only people left in their town that has yet to be taken by a sinister, formless entity, “The Calling.” Constantly living in terror and fighting for their lives, the unexpected arrival of a long-lost friend gives them hope. Will they figure out if it’s false before “The Calling” returns to take its next victim.
LADYVILLE by Aja Houston
Directed by Inger Tudor
Three sisters are the only people left in their town that has yet to be taken by a sinister, formless entity, “The Calling.” Constantly living in terror and fighting for their lives, the unexpected arrival of a long-lost friend gives them hope. Will they figure out if it’s false before “The Calling” returns to take its next victim.
Friday, September 24 at 7:30 PM PST
HERE COMES THE NIGHT by Lisa Kenner Grissom
Directed by Diana Wyenn
When Olivia, a musician’s wife and climate science advocate, invites Maggie, an
HERE COMES THE NIGHT by Lisa Kenner Grissom
Directed by Diana Wyenn
When Olivia, a musician’s wife and climate science advocate, invites Maggie, an
old friend turned social media influencer, to spend the weekend while she has an at-home abortion, she doesn’t realize that Maggie, although well-intended, is about to throw Olivia off course. And actually, these women of different generations, are about to change each other’s lives – all because of a woman’s right to choose As both struggle with their decisions, they ultimately help each other in ways they hadn’t expected, or imagined. What happens when a woman’s right to choose becomes a litmus test for all of her life choices?
Saturday, September 25 at 7:30 PM PST
THE PLAY YOU WANT by Bernardo CubrÃa
Directed by Michael John Garcés
Fed-up by the theatre world’s desires to box him in, Mexican playwright Bernardo CubrÃa sarcastically pitches “Nar-Cocos,” a play about drug dealers on DÃa de los Muertos. Much to his surprise, the Public Theatre picks it up. With financial pressures mounting and a newborn at home, this is his chance at a commercial success. But when Scott Rudin offers him a Broadway run on the condition he further exploit his identity and the headlines, he must decide just how much he’s willing to compromise in order to finally be accepted.
THE PLAY YOU WANT by Bernardo CubrÃa
Directed by Michael John Garcés
Fed-up by the theatre world’s desires to box him in, Mexican playwright Bernardo CubrÃa sarcastically pitches “Nar-Cocos,” a play about drug dealers on DÃa de los Muertos. Much to his surprise, the Public Theatre picks it up. With financial pressures mounting and a newborn at home, this is his chance at a commercial success. But when Scott Rudin offers him a Broadway run on the condition he further exploit his identity and the headlines, he must decide just how much he’s willing to compromise in order to finally be accepted.
Sunday, September 26 at 1:00 PM PST
THIRD PERSON by Jennifer Maisel
Directed by Emily Chase
A woman longs to find herself in the middle of her dreaming mind. A man struggles to reconcile his past transgressions with his current life. What every day choices add up to a life together? Will Lisa and Josh ever conquer the distance between them? Can Siri’s voice lead them down a path to redemption?
THIRD PERSON by Jennifer Maisel
Directed by Emily Chase
A woman longs to find herself in the middle of her dreaming mind. A man struggles to reconcile his past transgressions with his current life. What every day choices add up to a life together? Will Lisa and Josh ever conquer the distance between them? Can Siri’s voice lead them down a path to redemption?
Sunday, September 26 at 7:30 PM PST
THE SKELETON FLOWER by Elizabeth Sampson
Directed by Christian Lebano
In The Skeleton Flower – middle aged and divorced sisters Denise and Darla find out what a Black Beetle, a piece of jewelry, and a special flower have to do with their mom, Jean, and how that knowledge will unlock the secrets of the family, rocking them all into finally growing up.
WEEK TWO
Thursday, September 30 at 7:30 PM PST
THE CAREGIVER’S GUIDE by Jami Brandli
Directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky
A family dramady about evolving heroes, truth tellers, memory keepers, and early onset Alzheimer’s.
THE CAREGIVER’S GUIDE by Jami Brandli
Directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky
A family dramady about evolving heroes, truth tellers, memory keepers, and early onset Alzheimer’s.
Friday, October 1 at 7:30 PM PST
ADAPTATION.RESILIENCE by Jennie Webb
Directed by Susan Vanita Diol
Jess and Bev have been together longer than either of them thought they would be. And in their respective fields – Climate Change and Emergency Management – things are definitely heating up, affecting them in ways they didn’t see coming. ADAPTATION.RESILIENCE is a play about sustaining love and navigating grief in times of extreme disruption.
ADAPTATION.RESILIENCE by Jennie Webb
Directed by Susan Vanita Diol
Jess and Bev have been together longer than either of them thought they would be. And in their respective fields – Climate Change and Emergency Management – things are definitely heating up, affecting them in ways they didn’t see coming. ADAPTATION.RESILIENCE is a play about sustaining love and navigating grief in times of extreme disruption.
Saturday, October 2 at 1:00 PM PST
WHISKEY AND HOOCH by Carlos Lacámara
Directed by Carlos Lacámara
“Life is what happens to you while you’re waiting for something to happen.”
WHISKEY AND HOOCH by Carlos Lacámara
Directed by Carlos Lacámara
“Life is what happens to you while you’re waiting for something to happen.”
Saturday, October 2 at 7:30 PM PST
DERELICT IN FAIRVILLE by Steve Apostolina
Directed by Jennifer Chambers
When a horrific event thrusts Fairville, Ohio into the National media, the entire town is devastated. A chain reaction of judgment, hate, sadness and disillusionment tragically follows. In Fairville, you don’t have to be wrong to face consequences.
DERELICT IN FAIRVILLE by Steve Apostolina
Directed by Jennifer Chambers
When a horrific event thrusts Fairville, Ohio into the National media, the entire town is devastated. A chain reaction of judgment, hate, sadness and disillusionment tragically follows. In Fairville, you don’t have to be wrong to face consequences.
Sunday, October 3 at 1:00 PM PST
STORIES/SHADOWS by Cory Hinkle
Directed by Jessica Hanna
Haley’s Grandma is dying, at least that’s what her Mom says, which sends Haley home to attempt a relationship with a woman she never really know. Grandma saved three stories for the end of her life, and after Haley hears the final story, it forces her to confront a past she didn’t know existed. A play about the stories we tell and the lies that cast shadows down through generations.
STORIES/SHADOWS by Cory Hinkle
Directed by Jessica Hanna
Haley’s Grandma is dying, at least that’s what her Mom says, which sends Haley home to attempt a relationship with a woman she never really know. Grandma saved three stories for the end of her life, and after Haley hears the final story, it forces her to confront a past she didn’t know existed. A play about the stories we tell and the lies that cast shadows down through generations.
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THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY:
Located in the heart of the North Hollywood Arts District, L.A. County’s fastest growing arts community, The Road is an ensemble of 150+ theatre artists fiercely committed to the creation and development of new plays. To further that mission, The Road has launched Under Construction, a diverse collaborative group of new and established playwrights dedicated to socially and politically relevant storytelling for the American stage. Celebrating 29 years of groundbreaking work and led by Founding Artistic Director Taylor Gilbert along with Artistic Director Sam Anderson, The Road is a multi award-winning theatre named as one of the top ten intimate theatre companies in Los Angeles (LA Weekly).
Follow The Road: For more information about ticketing, showtimes and streaming, see the links below as more information will be unveiled throughout the season!
