2023 Summer Staged Reading Series –
Diverse and Compelling Staged Reading Series Showcases Six New Plays
[NAPA, June 2023] – Valley Players is thrilled to kick-off its Summer Staged Reading Series with six captivating plays by talented playwrights. This series promises to engage audiences with thought-provoking narratives, vibrant characters, and powerful storytelling. The first weekend of staged readings will take place at CrossWalk Community Church in Napa on June 9th and 10th.
Featured plays in the Summer Staged Reading Series on Friday, June 9th at 7pm:
Broken by Steve Apostolina: Convicted of murder at 14 and paroled after 33 years, Carlotta yearns for redemption, while Elton, haunted by his family’s murder, seeks justice. Two souls, broken by circumstance, try desperately to become unbound.
Trending by Janet J. Lawler: A seasoned TV anchorwoman faces a threat to her career when it is discovered that her social media numbers are not up to par.
In the Cards by Michael Waterson: Set during the Great War with American suffragists struggling to be heard, Adele, a newly divorced woman, invites three friends over for an afternoon card game and finds her old relationships irrevocably changed.
Love and Pepperoni by Megan Gooden: This play takes us on a delightful exploration of relationships and the versatility of pizza.
Featured plays in the Summer Staged Reading Series on Saturday, June 10th at 2pm:
The Gentle Life-Changing Magic of Burning it All Down to the Ground by Heather Beasley: After the sale of her hoarder mother’s house, a game developer and her mother embark on a journey of decluttering, sparking joy, and uncovering memories.
A Socially Distanced Farce in One Act by Jenna Jane: Set in April 2020, this farce finds a crucial Zoom meeting testing coworkers’ ability to navigate family drama on-camera, bridge generational gaps, and master the art of muting at the right moments.
The Summer Staged Reading Series offers audiences a unique opportunity to experience the early development of these new plays. With minimal staging elements, the focus remains on the creativity of the scripts and the performances of the cast.
The actors hail from Napa and Solano Counties: Antonia Allegra, Ginna Beharry, Rhonda Bowen, Carlene Coury, Janet Duhé, Lizeth Flores, Bridget Folan, Lauren Haugen, Nancy Heine, Linda Howard, Craig Rekdahl, Bryan Pro, Sonya Keller, Judith Meyers, Mellene Miller, Bruce Miroglio, Barbara Nemko, Marty Nemko, Cata Parkhurst, Patte Quinn, Dawn Sorokin, and Paige Whitney.
Reservations are requested, but not required and can be made online at valley-players.com/events. There is a $10 suggested donation that can be made at the door.
Join Valley Players as they celebrate the art of storytelling and showcase the budding talent of these playwrights. Immerse yourself in a world of diverse narratives, unforgettable characters, and engaging performances. Look for more plays in the Summer Staged Reading Series on July 7th, July 8th, August 4th and August 5th thanks to the Arts Council Napa Valley and Napa Valley Presents!
About the Authors
Steve Apostolina (Broken)
Steve Apostolina’s new play Killer was just awarded First Place in The Julie Harris 2022 Playwriting Competition. Additional full-length plays include: Derelict in Fairville, Broken, Forever Bound, The American Way, and Flight of the Penguin. His work has been seen in LA and NY as well as all over the US. Other playwriting awards include: Ovation Award Nomination (Forever Bound), Dramalogue Award (Flight of the Penguin), Labute New Theatre Festival (2-time finalist: 2015, Cold in Hand and 2022, T.N.T), New Jersey Rep Festival finalist (Embroiled). Forever Bound, after enjoying a critical run in LA, starring French Stewart, subsequently had a reading in NYC for Williamstown Theatre with Amanda Seyfried, Tommy Sadoski, Peter Friedman, and Howard Overshown.
Janet J. Lawler (Trending)
Janet J. Lawler is a playwright and screenwriter. She hails from New York but has made California home for several years. Her one-act plays Biscuits & Bones, Netfits, Extreme Green, The Kiss, and Good Grief have received staged productions across the country. Janet is currently at work writing a TV pilot about the inner-workings of the TV news business, as well as writing her first full-length play titled Bette Davis and The Hollywood Canteen. Janet is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.
Michael Waterson (In the Cards)
Although retiring as a journalist, Michael Waterson’s varied career includes stints as a seasonal firefighter, San Francisco taxi driver, and wine educator. Along the way, he managed to get a BA from San Francisco State and an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. His poetry has appeared in numerous online and print journals and his plays have been produced in California and Massachusetts.
Megan Gooden (Love and Pepperoni)
Megan Gooden (she/her) is a life-long creative who strives to see the possibilities in the mundane. A new playwright, Megan has thus far kept busy writing blogs, poems, and songs, and is eager to debut her script writing with an incredible group like Valley Players. Theater has played a large role in Megan’s life; she has been performing in plays, musicals, and doing improv since elementary school, and took to directing as an adult. There’s something downright spiritual about a mixed room of strangers experiencing live theater together – feeling in unison, choosing to live in the same moment together for a couple of hours, letting hurt sting and pride sing. Nothing prepares the heart for life more than art. Megan believes that life can truly be an adventure, as long as we write it that way! A huge “THANK YOU” to Valley Players for this opportunity.
Heather Beasley (The Gentle Life-Changing Magic of Burning It All Down to the Ground)
Heather Beasley is a playwright, director, and dramaturg. She is Director of Education at Miners Alley Playhouse in Golden, Colorado, and she teaches in the Creative Writing and Arts and Culture Management graduate programs at the University of Denver. Her play Bone Records was produced at Relative Theatrics in Laramie, WY. Her TYA musical Amelia’s Big Idea, co-written with Richie Cannaday and Edie Carey, toured on BETC’s Touring Theatre Truck across the Front Range of Colorado. She has worked with Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado (BETC), Naropa University, Imagination Makers Theatre Company, Seattle Public Theatre, and the Nebraska and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals.
Jenna Jane (A Socially Distanced Farce in One Act)
Jenna Jane is a Floridian playwright and performer whose plays have been produced across the country. Her writing explores the topics of authenticity and gender expectations. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild. Jenna is also the playwright of one-act sci-fi drama Organic, one-act farce Cuckoo Clock, 10-minute comedy The Fairy Queen’s Campaign, 10-minute farce Pumpkin Spice MILFs, and 10-minute spoof Why Did You Bother Killing the Sea Witch? For script requests, production rights, commissions, and other inquiries: jennajanewrites.wordpress.com
About Valley Players
Founded in 2016, Valley Players produces professional-quality, affordable theater in the Napa Valley that focuses on plays with meaningful roles for women over 40. Valley Players has been voted Best Theatre Troupe in Napa County for 2018 and 2023.