Edmonton’s monthly play reading series announces line-up for 2016/2017 season!

The first Sunday of every month features a reading of a new play by an Alberta based playwright. From dramatic monologues to full length plays featuring a dozen actors, from rollicking farces to heart breaking tragedies, from works by world renowned local playwrights to established artists in other disciplines who always wanted to have a go at writing a play, SCRIPT SALON is dedicated to spotlighting the wide variety of voices resident in this province.

An initiative by local Edmonton members of the Playwrights Guild of Canada, SCRIPT SALON has grown to become one of Canada’s most successful and celebrated showcases for theatrical writing. Sponsored by the Playwrights Guild of Canada, the Alberta Playwrights Network and Holy Trinity Anglican Church, in the two and half year of its existence the series has presented 52 plays by 34 different playwrights as read by 79 different actors. 19 of these plays have since gone on to productions.

Presented the first Sunday night of every month in the Upper Arts Space at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, SCRIPT SALON has attracted a large and loyal audience, gathering to hear sparkling new plays ready for production as performed by some of Edmonton’s finest actors. After the reading many audience members stick around to enthusiastically participate in the playwright talkback sessions that follow.

Playwrights featured in the past readings have included such well known writers as Karen Hines, Stewart Lemoine, Beth Graham, Nicole Moeller, Ken Cameron, Katherine Koller, James DeFelice, Chris Craddock, Darrin Hagen, Cat Walsh, Myrna Kostash, Lyle Victor Albert, Gerald Osborn and Blaine Newton, as well as new faces on the local playwriting scene such as Ryan Reese, Richard Gishler, Leslie Greentree, James Wade and David Haas.

The plays featured in the 2016/2017 season are:

• October 2, 2016: David Haas’ Crazy Train
• November 6, 2016: Leslea Kroll’s Wellspring and Rod MacPherson’s Naked Tourists, Sacred Mountain
• December 4, 2016: Conni Massing’s Oh! Christmas Tree
• January 1, 2017: Vern Thiessen’s Pugwash
• February 5, 2017: Collin Doyle’s Slumberland Motel
• March 5, 2017: Althea Cunningham’s Sweet An Nice (a presentation in partnership with Equity in the Theatre)
• April 2, 2017: Bevin Dooley’s Deadstock (winner of the Alberta Playwriting Competition Novitiate Award 2016)
• May 7, 2017: Reed McColm’s The Wrong People Have Money
• June 4, 2017: David Belke and Margaret Macpherson’s Who Goes There?
• July 2, 2017: Matthew “Gus” Gusul’s Virgin on the Prairies
• August 6, 2017: Gordon Pengilly’s Flesh & Ghost

ALSO: On November 20, 2016, SCRIPT SALON will be presenting a special event in conjunction with Holy Trinity Anglican Church’s Artspirit Festival featuring the reading of eight short plays by local playwrights. It will be a veritable theatrical buffet offering a savoury selection of comedy, drama and fun.

Under the guidance of a volunteer organizing committee (David Belke, Beth Graham, Katherine Koller & Reed McColm) SCRIPT SALON has grown by leaps and bounds since its first reading in April 2014. It has earned the admiration of playwriting organizations across the nation and the affection of a multitude of audience members. It remains dedicated to providing an important development resource to its featured writers while serving audiences a generous sampling of exhilarating entertainment with no admission charge.

In a city that is home to a multitude of playwrights, SCRIPT SALON has happily become a voice and standard bearer for theatrical creation in Edmonton.

WHEN: The first Sunday of every month at 7:30pm.

WHERE: The Upper Arts Space of Holy Trinity Anglican Church 10037 84 Avenue.

ADMISSION: No cost (donations accepted).

SPONSORED BY: The Playwrights Guild of Canada, Alberta Playwrights Network and Holy Trinity Anglican Church.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Katherine Koller (katherine@katherinekoller.ca).

Photo (Top): The reading of Karen Hines’ All the Little Animals I Have Eaten as performed by (L to R) Clarice Eckford, Candace Berlinguette, Nadien Chu and Tracey Power by Baos Photography, April 3, 2016.

Photo (Bottom): Actor Tracey Power prepares for another reading for the monthly Script Salon audience by Baos Photography.