SOPAC executive director Mark E. Packer, left, with American Theatre Group producing artistic director James Vagias.
The American Theater Group has become the theatre-company-in-residence at the South Orange Performing Arts Center. It will begin presenting staged readings there in January, with at least two fully staged productions to follow in 2018.
The plays will be produced in SOPAC’s main theater, but the readings will be presented in SOPAC’s loft, and will include:
Jan. 8: “Single,” a musical about a former punk-rocker working as a divorce lawyer, and looking for love. With music and lyrics by Karen Bishko, book by Karen Bishko and Nat Bennett.
April 2: “A Good Farmer,” a drama about “a farming community (struggling) with issues of immigration, loyalty, family, survival and compassion,” according to a press release. Written by Sharyn Rothstein.
May 21: “A Mind Out of the Gutter,” a drama about a senior citizen and his 9-year-old neighbor. Written by Erin Mallon.
June 18: TBA.
ATG, formerly associated with the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway, emphasizes new works and “undeservedly neglected” older ones, according to the press release. Its producing artistic director, James Vagias, also spent nine years as executive producer of the American Stage Company in Teaneck, and has produced plays such as “Bubble Boy,” “Himself and Nora” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” off-Broadway.
For information, sopacnow.org.
