Theatrical Outfit is rolling out all the new things in 2021.
Along with an announcement about a new Associate Artistic director as Encore previously reported, the theatre has announced the selections for the Graham Martin Unexpected Play Festival 2021. The event is a a four-part series throughout the month of January of digital readings of brand new plays by Atlanta playwrights in partnership with Working Title Playwrights.
Meet the playwrights
The Unexpected Plays
Well-Intentioned White People
by Imani Vaughn-Jones
Directed by Ibi Owolabi
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 7pm
Nia, a Black aspiring writer, and Topher, a white aspiring actor, work to find a way to navigate daily microviolence and the entertainment industry while trying to keep their marriage intact. Ripped directly from the headlines of 2020, Well-Intentioned White People explores police brutality, allyship, Blackness, and the inherent violence of whiteness.
Memorial Day
by Paul Donnelly
Directed by David Crowe
Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 7pm (VIP Pre-Show at 6:30pm)
In 1992, a group of gay friends gather to celebrate life and escape the growing AIDS crisis; however, this proves hard for George who is a doctor working on the front lines of the pandemic. Memorial Day is a tender and beautiful play that takes a different look at the AIDS crisis and the resilience of its survivors.
Raising The Dead
by Erin K. Considine
Directed by Lauren Morris
Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 7pm (VIP Pre-Show at 6:30pm)
Harlowe and Myra are life long friends and neighbors until one of them makes the choice to leave: Permanently. Raising the Dead is a fresh new work that explores the power of loss, love, and strong female friendship.
Pearl
by Sonhara Eastman
Directed by Jamil Jude
Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 7pm (VIP Pre-Show at 6:30pm)
When a biracial woman is thrown into a battle to save her late mother’s land, she is forced to interact with the father she’s never met. Pearl is a timely new play that explores the power of legacy in an America that is stacked against race and sex.
Behind the name
This year’s festival is named in honor of Graham Martin, a longtime trustee, advocate, and friend of TO who passed away in October of 2020. Martin served as TO’s Board Chair for 5 years and was instrumental in the creation of TO’s home at the Balzer Theater at Herren’s, whose rehearsal hall bears his name. Gifts given in his memory provided funding for this year’s Unexpected Play Festival.
From the creators
“The Unexpected Festival is an incredible opportunity for local artists and WTP members, and working with TO is a dream. We love this partnership. WTP is looking forward to seeing what these playwrights and their amazing teams produce in January. We hope you’ll join us and share your response after the readings!” -Amber Bradshaw, WTP Managing Artistic Director
“We are thrilled to be partnering with WTP on another new play festival. Atlanta is such a hotbed of talent and creativity, and one of the great joys of my first season at Theatrical Outfit has been getting to know the remarkable writers who call Atlanta home. We want to offer a home for these playwrights, where they can develop their work with amazing artists and a supportive audience, and to showcase the extraordinary talent our great city has offer.” – Matt Torney, TO Artistic Director
About those tickets
All four readings are free, but advance reservations are required. VIP packages for the season can be added for an additional cost by clicking here.
Visit TheatricalOutfit.org for more information.
Pictured above: Burke Brown, Antonia Lache, and Brad Raymond (the cast of Well-Intentioned White People)
