Tuesday, January 13 from 6-7pm (Doors open at 5:30)
TLC Talk:
Staged Readings: The Coming Thing?
Tuesday, January 13 from 6-7pm (Doors open at 5:30)
Expert Presentation • Panel Discussion • Q & A
Cost is free, donations are gladly accepted.
Panel discussion of whether the old Readers Theater format is super-hot in 2026.
Panelists: Jennifer Graves, Ariana Karp, Aaron Leventman
Moderator: Suzanne Cross
Unitarian Universalist Church Fellowship Hall, 107 W Barcelona Road, Santa Fe
On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Theatre Lovers Club will present a panel discussion titled STAGED READINGS: THE COMING THING? on a current theatrical hot topic – presenting plays in a Readers Theater format, which has been popular in Santa Fe for a while and is now becoming even more visible both in Santa Fe and nationally. For example, Santa Fe Classic Theater has gone to a Readings format in 2025, presenting numerous classic plays including, most recently, Noel Coward’s BLITHE SPIRIT at the New Mexico Actor’s Lab in December. Almost Adults Productions, headed by Aaron Leventman, has presented readings for years. Incite Shakespeare Company began presenting multiple readings on Shakespeare-related themes in 2025 with its presentation of PIGLET: THE HAMLET IMPACT FESTIVAL (all plays were related in some way to Shakespeare’s Hamlet). In January they are producing multiple plays themed about “RELUME: THE OTHELLO IMPACT FESTIVAL” with staged readings by, among others, Toni Morrison and Keith Hamilton Cobb. Readings are having a wave, apparently! But why are they becoming so common?
To discuss the benefits and pitfalls of staged readings, TLC will present a panel with several directors expert in the format on January 13, including Jennifer Graves of Classic Theater (director of BLITHE SPIRIT), Ariana Karp (artistic director of Incite Shakespeare Company) and Aaron Leventman (Almost Adults Productions). Moderator will be Suzanne Cross, who directed Classic Theater’s staged reading of AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE last winter. It should be an interesting discussion of why economic and artistic factors are combining to make readings even more common.
To attend this event, complete the registration form below.