The Cold Cuts Reading Series for new works will resume on Monday, February 11, at 7:00 p.m. at the Algonquin Theater, 123 E 24th Street. We’ll hold subsequent sessions on February 26, March 10, March 24, April 7 and April 21. The reading series is free and open to all actors, playwrights, directors, industry invitees as well as members of the general public.  Plays may be submitted to ccscripts (at) tengrand (dot) org.

or to our address which is listed at the end of this page.

Next month will see the premiere of one of the most exciting new projects that we’ve run across in a long time.  Algonquin Theater Productions will present Same Train, written by Audelco Award-winner Levy Lee Simon with music and lyrics by Mark Bruckner, at The Algonquin Theater from February 13 through March 8, 2008.  Same Train is comprised of seven tales—poignant and soul-stirring--of the American Black experience of the twentieth century.  The show, which interweaves spoken word with gospel, jazz and blues, is performed by four actors, two singers and a trio of musicians.  Our members working with Algonquin on the production in key capacities, and we hope that all of our following will come out to support this brand new piece of work. 

   

We’re also planning two of our own productions in the coming months.  A Year in the Life of Twenty-five Strangers living in a City by the Lake by Chicago playwright Matt Fotis will have a production in the Parker Theater that will open in April.  Also, late this spring, will see the long awaited return of our classics series Bardolatry, which will be performed outdoors in various location throughout the city.

This coming spring we’ll be mounting our largest fundraising campaign to date to provide the support necessary to develop two new productions that we believe will find a home on Broadway.  A Shadow Life by Bernard M. Kahn and The Boys of Winter by Eric Small, Dean B. Kaner and Barry Brodsky were both part of the developmental process of our reading series.  We’re pleased to announce that the latter play has just taken second prize at “The Last Play Standing”, a national playwriting contest held in Chicago.  We’re planning to hold staged readings of both plays in the coming months.  Check back for updates on the progress of these fine new works.

In addition, we’re also working with Algonquin productions to re-mount Sessions Off-Broadway in a larger house for an open-ended run.  The production concluded its limited engagement at Playwrights Horizons this past summer, becoming a favorite discovery among new musicals.  The cast album has been recorded and is available for sale.  We hope to build on the achievements of the past summer and continue the life of this brand new musical of which Joe Franklin of WOR said, “ I loved this show! I didn’t want it to end.”

    

The live theatre us the ultimate collaborative art, and any organization is only as good as the talent and the commitment of its members.  In the past five years, Ten Grand has produced at venues such as the Studio at Cherry Lane Theater, Playwrights Horizons, The Peter Norton Space, The Waldorf=Astoria and Lincoln Center, featuring Academy™, Tony™, and Emmy™ Award winners and nominees.  We’re seeking determined and reliable individuals with experience in the areas of development, event planning and public relations to join our production team. If you’d like to join us, please contact Jason Hewitt, at our mailing address, 123 E 24th St., New York, NY  10010, or via e-mail at jhewitt (at) tengrand (dot) org