About the Series

Dreamcatcher’s “Meet the Artist” series is a forum that showcases new theatrical works. The series provides audiences an opportunity to experience new shows and participate in discussions with playwrights, directors and actors. The series’s goal is to expose the adult public to the evolution of a theatrical presentation.

The “Meet the Artist” series has been received with enthusiasm and animated discussion, indicating that there is a large potential audience for new plays and interactive programs, and we are excited that we can continue offering new works each season.

Readings for 2013

We have two terrific new plays for this year’s Meet the Artist series. Both readings start at 7pm at Oakes Center in Summit. Admission is free.

Note: The Wednesday, May 15 reading of The Promised Land will take place in the upstairs event room at Oakes Center. The second floor is accessible by stairs only. The May 22 reading will be downstairs in the main theatre.

Tickets

Our readings are free. No tickets or reservations are required. Simply show up at Oakes Center and enjoy the show! Directions

History

	May 2008 reading of You Miss Them When They’re Not Around at Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit. Later the play had its world premiere at Dreamcatcher in October 2008. View more photos

The first “Meet the Artist” show offered by Dreamcatcher was a new jazz musical, "Experiments", written by playwright Vernon Takeshita and composer Dean Kravitz, and was performed as part of our 1996 summer season. Dreamcatcher also produced two original one-woman shows in the Fall of 1996 at the Baird Cultural Center in South Orange: "Still Standing" and "Baby Love", both works by female writer/performers based on deeply personal experiences in their own lives. In March of 1997 we produced a special offering of "Still Standing" at Ramapo College for Women's History Month.

In 1997 we offered two readings of original works: "Mother's Day", written by emerging playwright Joe Lauinger, and "Whatever Will Be", written by Dreamcatcher co-founder Laura Ekstrand. During the summer of '98 we presented Steve Harper's "Confessions of a Non-Famous Actor" and Rose Caruso's "Tales of an Urban Burb". In 1999, we read Michael T. Folie's "Naked by the River" and Gordon Dahlquist's "The Secret Machine. In 2001-2002, we held readings of "Full Bloom", by Suzanne Bradbeer, "Girl's Room", by Joni Fritz, and "Brink of Life", a new musical by Laura Ekstrand, Oliver Lake and Steve Harper.

“Meet the Artist” 2003-2004 included readings of "Group S.O.S." by Bonnie C. Bedford and "So, Tell Me!" by Melissa Jane Martin. In the 2004-2005 season, WALTER AND PEG by John Watts and FOOL CIRCLE by Sheldon Senek received readings and discussions in the “Meet the Artist” series. In May 2006 the “Meet the Artist” series included THE ROOF by Suzanne Bradbeer and THE LAUNDRY CHANNEL by Steve Harper. The 2007 series showcased GOATWOMAN OF MEMPHIS by Christine Whitley, and MOURNING DOVE by Emil Sher.

In 2008 Dreamcatcher read Suzanne Bradbeer's DAVE MATTHEWS IS A GOOD MAN, which was later produced on our mainstage under the new title, YOU MISS THEM WHEN THEY'RE NOT AROUND. We also read Dreamcatcher ensemble actor Clark Carmichael's VARIATIONS ON A DREAM.

The 2009 series featured RAMONA’S KIDNAPPER’S DAUGHTER by New York playwright Stanton Wood, and a second evening of one-act plays:  VOICES by Chatham playwright Jon Citron, MOTHERLESS CHILD by Louisiana playwright Peggy Aultman, and THE END by Summit playwright Meg Glasser.

In the fall of 2009, Dreamcatcher participated in a simultaneous world premiere reading of THE LARAMIE PROJECT EPILOGUE: TEN YEARS LATER, a collaboration with the Summit Playhouse.

Spring 2010 readings included a new play, JOSE ANTIGO, by South Orange playwright Robert Cartwright. We also presented the first public reading of THE NEIGHBORHOOD, by Dreamcatcher’s artistic director, Laura Ekstrand. The Neighborhood, an ensemble piece about the experience of being part of a neighborhood, was created through conversations with Dreamcatcher’s resident acting company.

In 2011 we presented RANDOM HORRIBLE THOUGHTS ABOUT LOVE by Passage Theater’s David Lee White. This humorous and moving set of five short comedic plays look at love from every angle. For our second reading we were thrilled to bring back Suzanne Bradbeer for her full-length SHAKESPEARE IN VEGAS, in which a frustrated NYC actress seeks satisfaction by doing the classics in Sin City.

In anticipation of Dreamcatcher’s September 2012 move to Summit, we tested out our new space in May with the Meet the Artist Series. First up we read ENGAGEMENT RULES by Rich Orloff, a story of two couples that examines the compromises and conflicts that ultimately build an enduring relationship. Next we presented THE JESUS FACTOR by our friend, playwright Suzanne Bradbeer: a drama about a potential candidate for the vice presidency who is asked to obscure his true spiritual beliefs in order to win the election.

Meet the playwrights
View photos of readings