Staged Reading Invites Audience Participation
Enjoy an evening at the theater and be part of the creative process as audience members provide feedback to the playwright at the end of the Staged Reading. Join the Lakewood Theatre Company, the Arts Council of Lake Oswego, the City of Lake Oswego and playwright Dennis J. Sparks at this dynamic presentation of By Any Other Name, the winning play of the 2009 Playwright Competition.
Date: Saturday, February 28
Time: 7:30pm
Place: Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 State Street, Lake Oswego
Tickets: $10 per person
Participate in the evolution of an original play as it moves from an idea in the playwright’s head, to words on the paper, and now as the winning play on stage with professional actors reading the script. After the reading the playwright is on stage as the audience asks questions, offers suggestions and ideas, and provides advice to take the play to the ultimate next level – a fully staged production. A Premier Party will follow the event and the audience will have the opportunity to meet Sparks and others involved in the production.
The story line of By Any Other Name involves six misfit teenagers as they are required by their parents and school officials to participate in a program designed to “straighten out their lives” --- or they won’t be able to graduate. The program engages the youth in writing and performing a play based on the life of Joan of Arc. In the play the teenagers discover, through their “Joan,” that they need to believe in themselves, and in the end are forever changed by the experience.
Dennis J. Sparks has been involved in theater for 30 years as an actor, playwright, producer, critic and teacher. His experience includes directing, producing and acting in over 225 plays, as well as serving as artistic director and manager for many non-profit theatres. Sparks has developed acting programs for all ages and taught a wide variety of acting classes and programs. He also has written many original plays throughout his career, as well as adapted novels for the stage and film.
The Staged Reading will be directed by Steve Knox, a former Lake Oswego resident who began his professional theater career at age 14 at Lakewood Theatre when it was called the Lake Oswego Community Theatre. Knox has taught theatre, as well as directed and produced various productions. He has worked on Broadway and Summer Stock productions in New York. Prior to moving back to Oregon in 2007 he served as Executive Director of Ballet Hawaii and presented major dance companies.
Professional actors from throughout the region will fill in the cast of characters.
The Playwright Competition is in its seventh year. The winning playwright receives the opportunity to showcase their work in a public staged reading, and benefits from audience feedback that can guide refinement and revisions. The Staged Reading also opens the possibly of getting the work into a fully staged production in the future.
The Staged Reading of By Any Other Name will be held on Saturday, February 28, 7:30 pm at the Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S State, Lake Oswego. Tickets are $10.00 per person and can be reserved by calling 503-635-3901. Tickets are also available at the Lakewood Center for the Arts, and will be available at the door the evening of the performance.