American Players Theatre
Winter Words is a public play-reading series where APT artists explore new-to-APT plays, some of which may someday make their way to our stages. This popular series is, of course, typically held in the Touchstone Theatre. But this year, Zoom is where it’s at. So while the format may be different, these readings still teem with the raw energy of an early table read, produced for you with just one day of rehearsal.
Readings will begin at 7:00 pm CST on the dates below. Each reading will be followed by a talk back with the actors and artists.
Tickets are $15, and only available for purchase online. If you need assistance with your order, email the APT Box Office at boxoffice@americanplayers.org.
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Please note: Unlike APT’s earlier Zoom series, these readings are one-time events and will be unavailable for on-demand viewing. The readings begin at 7:00 pm CST.
February 22
Agamemnon
By Aeschylus | Adapted by Simon Scardifield
Directed by David Daniel
“…a cracking version, featuring a brilliantly conceived three-person Chorus who merge almost seamlessly into the narrative.” – Radio Review
With the Trojan War raging, King Agamemnon offers a brutal sacrifice in hopes of getting his brother’s wife, Helen, out of Troy. But that bloody betrayal paves the way for more violent acts, until the palace runs with the blood of innocent and guilty alike. The first play in the Oresteia trilogy, Aeschylus’ classic tale of betrayal and revenge comes to new life on Zoom. This one was originally scheduled to be the final Winter Words reading of 2020 – too good to be left behind.
March 8
Dear Brutus
By J.M. Barrie
Directed by Kelsey Brennan
“It’s Peter Pan for grownups.” – The Guardian
J.M. Barrie’s take on what happens when people are, in fact, forced to grow up. And then, just as they’re coming to terms with adulthood, are provided with a reprieve. A mysterious man invites an eclectic group of friends and lovers to his home on Midsummer (yes, Midsummer). Then, after being specifically warned against it, the group heads into the woods for a series of strange and fantastic events, and maybe a few realizations.
March 22
Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue
By Quiara Alegría Hudes
Directed by Melisa Pereyra
“…a well-crafted, lyrical piece of writing with a good deal of formative interest and a skilled juxtaposition of epic matters with the little stuff that informs our everyday.” – The Chicago Tribune.
Elliot, a young soldier, follows in the military footsteps of his father and grandfather before him by going to war in Iraq. When he returns home, injured and questioning everything, Elliot must pierce the bubble of silence around his family’s legacy of service to get to the soul of his family and his heritage. A lyrical exploration of three generations of a Puerto Rican family by Pulitzer Prize winner and Tony Award nominee Quiara Alegría Hudes (In the Heights, Water by the Spoonful)
April 5
Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea
By Nathan Alan Davis
Directed by Ameenah Kaplan
“Nathan Alan Davis’s script is sunny and lovable, despite its inexorable pull from present-day Baltimore toward the slave trade’s notorious Middle Passage.” – The Washington Post
Dontrell is living the American high school dream – straight A, top of the class, headed to college, and the light of his family’s life. And then one night, the dream comes. A dream of an ancestor lost at sea, sending Dontrell on a hero quest through history. But before he dives in, he needs to learn how to swim. A funny and dreamlike work of magical realism, Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea makes a poetic statement about what it means to be young and Black in America, written by Nathan Alan Davis (Nat Turner in Jerusalem).
*With all the unknowns of 2021, this information is subject to change.
How to Stream Winter Words
Here are a few tips and tricks to prepare for your Winter Words play readings.
•Purchase your tickets at https://americanplayers.org/tickets.
•You will receive a confirmation email with a link to the play reading. This is how you’ll view the show.
•When the time comes to watch, click the link and follow the instructions to view the play reading. You will be allowed in when it’s time for the reading to start.
Troubleshooting
•To ensure the best experience, please keep the following in mind:
•Please test your link in advance to avoid missing any of the live stream.
•The Zoom readings play best on the Google Chrome web browser.
•If you have trouble with the link, you can dial into the reading using the link and phone number included in your confirmation email. This option is audio only.
•If you’re unable to access the reading, email boxoffice@americanplayers.org and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.