CATF launches Fall Reading Series with five new plays

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — For more than 30 years, the Contemporary American Theater Festivalhas produced the newest of American plays — often premiering them during its annual summer event at Shepherd University.

This year, the festival organization is adding a fall event — a series of readings of new plays that are in contention for production for next summer's festival.

Acting Artistic Producing Director Peggy McKowen has been appointed to lead Shepherdstown's Contemporary American Theater Festival. McKowen has been with the festival for 15 years.
Acting Artistic Producing Director Peggy McKowen has been appointed to lead Shepherdstown's Contemporary American Theater Festival. McKowen has been with the festival for 15 years.

They've been chosen by Producing Artistic Director Peggy McKowen.

“I was looking for plays that felt fresh," she said, "exploring themes and styles CATFhas not recently produced.”

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This will be McKowen’s first season of curating the festival’s summer repertory.

Readings will take place between Oct. 21 and Nov. 5 at theMarinoff Theater on the Shepherd campus and at the OldOpera House in Charles Town, W.Va.

The plays in the Fall Reading Series include:

  • Spiritus/ Virgil’s Dance by Dael Orlandersmith

  • Our Shrinking Shrinking World by Richard Dresser;

  • MAD by Sarah Bierstock

  • Your Name Means Dream by José Rivera

  • Lavender Men by Roger Q. Mason

“These plays have some laughs, something we all need right now," McKowen said. "But they also have a strong sense of purpose about life.”

Audience members can determine their own admission price, with a suggested amount of$10. For the full schedule, to make reservations, and for more information about theContemporary American Theater Festival’s Fall Reading Series, visit CATF online at catf.org.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Theater festival's new Fall Reading Series features five new plays