Information, reviews, and miscellaneous shorts focusing on professional, nonprofit theater—from a Southeast Minnesota perspective.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Commonweal to Stage Readings of New Plays

September 18, 7:00 pm: The Seventh Seal
September 25, 7:00 pm: Ice Maidens

The Commonweal Theatre Company continues its new play development program with two public staged readings on September 18 and 25. Admission is pay-what-you-can with all proceeds benefitting the victims of recent flooding.

“We are very excited to share with our audiences the brand new work by these two gifted and inspired theatre artists,” said Commonweal Executive Director Hal Cropp. “And we are equally grateful for the opportunity to help our neighbors who sustained significant damage from the floods.”

Featured in the September readings are a theatrical adaptation of the late Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal on September 18th and the original drama, Ice Maidens on September 25th.

The Seventh Seal has been adapted for the stage by Charlie Oates, chair of the University of California San Diego Theatre & Dance department. Mr. Oates has created and performed interdisciplinary theatre events all over the world, and has taught several master classes for the Commonweal company over the last five years.

According to playwright Stan Peal, most native Midwesterners have stories about falling through the ice. His Commonweal-commissioned play, Ice Maidens, deals with one such story. Peal is an actor, playwright and musician who currently makes his home in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Both readings will be held on the stage of the new Commonweal Theatre at 7:00 p.m. with refreshments to follow. The audience is invited to provide feedback after the readings, and one or both of the plays may be chosen for a full production in the future.

Visit the Commonweal for schedules and tickets: Commonweal Theatre

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