The Montgomery Davis Play Development Series
ABOUT THE SERIES
Be the first to hear original stories from your own backyard—and get to know regional artists at work!
Since 2007, with the exception of a pandemic delay, MCT has proudly showcased two Wisconsin playwrights every season through the Montgomery Davis Play Development Series. Writers workshop and rehearse new plays in progress with a cast and director before inviting an audience to hear music stand readings of their works in progress and offer their responses.
All readings are open to the public via suggested donation. Seating is unreserved general admission.
21/22 SEASON READINGS
EENY MEENY MINY NO!
by Lachrisa Grandberry
directed by Marti Gobel
In conjunction with the second annual Milwaukee Black Theater Festival!
An intergenerational relay from silence to revelation
From the Deep South of the 1970s through early 1990s Milwaukee, Willow and her cousin Christine observe the women in their family as they navigate through life on two paths: some believing that praying, keeping silent, and hard work can solve it all and some struggling to escape generational cycles. Through the lives and poetic interludes of the Cooper family circle, they come to question the overall treatment of Black women in society.
Featuring Adekola Adedapo, Ayanna Bakari, Krystal Drake, Marti Gobel, Malaina Moore, Alexis J Roston, and Malkia Stampley, with stage directions by Cereyna Bougouneau
Sunday, August 15, 2021
7:30 PM, Cabot Theatre, Broadway Theatre Center
IRON COUNTY
by Gaetano Marangelli
directed by Lisa Kornetsky
Back on the slate after pandemic protocols delayed an in-person gathering!
A story of how the land became divided
At the end of the American Counterculture, two brothers seek refuge from society on 80 acres of northern Wisconsin property. They want to go back to nature. They want to live off the land. But nature makes them change who they are into who they have to be to survive.
Featuring Chris Klopatek, Josh Krause, Jarrod Langwinski, Shayne Steliga, and Marcus Truschinski
Monday, April 18, 2022
7:30 PM, Studio Theatre, Broadway Theatre Center
SUBMISSIONS
At MCT, we think home is where the art is. The Montgomery Davis Play Development Series seeks to explore the stories of local artists so that we may know, and grow, our community and its diverse voices. To that end, MCT considers previously unproduced work by Wisconsin-connected playwrights for the Series.
Watch here for a call for submissions soon!
Please email Marcella Kearns, Associate Artistic Director, with questions and inquiries.
MDPDS ARCHIVE
The following is a chronology of MDPDS readings at MCT by season.
To inquire about one of the titles, please contact Marcella.
*Indicates a reading which subsequently premiered on the MCT mainstage
2020-2021
THE YEAR WITHOUT A SUMMER by Greer DuBois / May 17, 2021 (online)
2019-2020
LE/LA by Liz Shipe / October 21, 2019
2018-2019
THE PECULIAR DISTRACTION OF MR. LINCOLN'S SOCIAL MEDIA by Andy Bayiates / October 21, 2018
’NEATH THE HILLS OF BASTOGNE by Zach Thomas Woods / April 28, 2019
2017-2018
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA by Anthony Hope, adapted by Dan Klarer and Ryan Schabach / October 15, 2017
NO WAKE* by Erica Berman / April 29, 2018
2016-2017
BLUE BULLETS by Alvaro Saar Rios / October 17, 2016
CHRISTMAS IN BABYLON* by James DeVita / March 20, 2017
2015-2016
AN EVENING WITH CARL SANDBURG by Jonathan Gillard Daly / October 19, 2015
FAITHLESS by Michael Proft / May 2, 2016
2014-2015
THE BOY INSIDE by Richard Kalinoski / October 13, 2014
500 YEARS by Michelle Lopez-Rios / May 4, 2015
2013-2014
WAITING by Kimberly Megna Yarnall / October 14, 2013
SILENT by Gwendolyn Rice / March 10, 2014
2012-2013
MORE LOSERS by James Fletcher / September 17, 2012
PLAZA HOTEL BALLROOM by Alice Austen / March 4, 2013
2011-2012
OCTOBER, BEFORE I WAS BORN* by Lori Matthews / September 19, 2011
THE TAVERN KEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Brett Ryback (A collaboration with Skylight Music Theatre) / February 27, 2012
2010-2011
HOT FLASHES, THE METAPHOR by Lynne Topping Farrell / September 20, 2010
AMONG THE SQUIRRELS by Eric Appleton / March 7, 2011
2009-2010
THE DESERT QUEEN by James DeVita / September 21, 2009
BROKEN AND ENTERED* by Kurt McGinnis Brown / March 15, 2010
2008-2009
NOT THE ARTIST by Kurt McGinnis Brown / September 22, 2008
A THOUSAND WORDS* by Gwendolyn Rice / March 16, 2009
2007-2008
THE DALY NEWS* Story, book and lyrics by Jonathan Gillard Daly; Music by Larry Delinger, Gregg Coffin and Jonathan Gillard Daly / September 10, 2007
BACKWARDS by Alice Austen / March 17, 2008