Location: UCSB Studio Theater (event is free, RSVP is requested)
Readings begin at 7:00pm on campus, though everyone is welcome to attend a reception at 6:30pm to meet the playwright and enjoy refreshments. Each reading is followed by a Q&A with the artistic team.
Director: Risa Brainin
Playwright: James Still
Description:
"Everybody's Favorite Mothers" tells the story of PFLAG co-founder Jeanne Manford, and the courageous mothers who came together in 1973, in support of their children during a time when homosexuality was illegal in 49 states. During this time, the American Psychiatry Association still diagnosed homosexuality as a mental illness, and police raids on any kind of same-sex gatherings were common and life-threatening. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, PFLAG was the first organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families. LAUNCH PAD will present a preview production of Still’s play in February 2024. Catch the reading this summer and the preview production next year to experience the play’s exploration and development.
Playwright's Bio:
James Still's plays have been produced throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, South Africa, China and Japan. He is the Playwright in Residence at Indiana Repertory Theatre and an Artistic Affiliate at American Blues in Chicago. He received the Otis Guernsey New Voices Award from the William Inge Festival, the Indiana Authors Award for "The Jack Plays," and the Todd McNerney New Play Prize from Spoleto. He is a four-time Pulitzer nominee for his work in the theater, and a five-time nominee for his work in television, and lives in Los Angeles.
About LAUNCH PAD:
Now in its eighteenth season, LAUNCH PAD provides experimental ground for professionals and students to thrive together. Each summer, three professional playwrights join the UC Santa Barbara community as artists-in-residence to collaborate with UCSB students enrolled in THTR 146: LAUNCH PAD: New Plays in Process. In this three-week class, playwrights, students, and professional artists come together to workshop new plays. Participating as actors, stage managers, dramaturgs, and designers, everyone contributes to the development of the play. From the first moment to the last, the play is in constant evolution: actors receive new pages, new scenes, and sometimes even new characters. Each week’s work culminates in a staged reading for the public. In the words of Director Risa Brainin, "The audiences attending the readings are in integral part of this vital process!"
For additional information:
2023 LAUNCH PAD Summer Reading Series Flyer