Playreading Ensemble
The Playreading Ensemble was founded by the late Paul Shepherd to encourage Ashby Village members and volunteers of any skill level to read classic and contemporary theatrical works together for their mutual enjoyment. The Ensemble gathers monthly on Zoom to delve into the world of theater in an experimental frame of mind and heart. Readings are not staged, but in Shepherd’s design, take the form of what’s called a “table read,” usually done early in a play’s development when a work is beginning to take form. Most recent plays we have read together include “The Importance of Being Earnest,” “A Man for All Seasons,” and two one-act plays by Thornton Wilder. Each month the process is the same. A play is selected, parts are cast, players purchase a script and familiarize themselves with the play and the part in which they are cast. On the second Tuesday of the month, we then read the play through together on Zoom, beginning to end. Finally, at the conclusion, we discuss our experience and insights and start the process again. The current number of ensemble players is 8. Registration will open to add playreaders in early 2023. If this sounds appealing, please watch for an announcement about openings for new players in the Newsletter and the event calendar.