Staged Reading

The Department of Theater presents the World Premiere of Michael Blieden's Staged Reading, Friday, April 21, 9pm in the Frear Ensemble Theater, LPAC, Swarthmore College.

Floyd, a writer committed to a mental institution, invites his parents, ex-girlfriend, and therapist to play themselves in a public reading of his new screenplay. As the play-within-the-play spins into a strangely familiar autobiography, interruptions outside the manuscript make for an absurd and troubling session of meta-theatrical psychoanalysis.

Author Michael Blieden will join the cast for a talk-back after the performance.

Staged Reading is the final project for Directing II: Advanced Workshop, taught by Allen Kuharski, and is directed by Brendan Wattenberg, Haverford College, '06. With Caitlin Duffy BMC '07, Alison King HC '09, Matt Klinman HC '08, Matt Lowe HC '06, and Jesse Paulsen HC '09. Lighting design by Kim Comer SC '09 and costume design by Katie Baratz HC '07. The performance is free and open to the public without advance reservation. There will be a reception following the show.

Staged Reading is presented at Haverford and Swarthmore by the E. Clyde Lutton '66 Prize for the Performing Arts and is produced by special arrangement with Spark Productions, New York, producer, Eric Falkenstein.

Michael Blieden (Playwright) is an alumnus of Comedy Company at the University of Michigan. He adapted his first play, Phyrogiants! for Bob Odenkirk's feature film Melvin Goes to Dinner, in which he also stars. A former correspondent for Comedy Central's The Daily Show, Blieden has also worked as a director in projects including the documentary The Comedians of Comedy, a music video for Fiona Apple, and concert films for Joe Rogan and Zach Galifianakis. Blieden lives and works in Los Angeles.

Eric Falkenstein HC '91 (Producer). Broadway: Bridge & Tunnel; The History Boys; Democracy; Whoopi; Long Day's Journey Into Night (2002-2003 Tony Award); Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune; The Crucible; All Shook Up; Squonk. Off Broadway: Toxic Audio. Eric's companies - Spark Productions and Convergence Pictures - are at work on various projects in theater, film, television and environmental & human rights.

Location: Frear Ensemble Theatre
Date: April 21, 2006
Times: Friday, April 21, 9PM