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New Play Reading Festival 2023-24 Vol. 2

Join First Look Buffalo Theatre Company, as we present a New Play Reading Festival VOL 2, written by members of our Playwright Wing, featuring local and national playwrights! Our festival features special guest responder Mr. Robert Moss, who is the founder and original Artistic Director of Playwrights Horizons, in New York City. Following each performance, a response will be given by Mr. Moss, local theatre professionals, and the audience.  Our new play readings are the foundation of our mission statement, to exclusively develop and produce new plays right here, in Buffalo.   This year's new play readings are next year's season.  See them here exclusively first!

Smallbury

By Camilla Maxwell

Directed by Mike Doben

Starring Steve Brachmann, Sarah Roat-Waechter, Madison Sedlor, Kathleen Rooney, Mark Tramont, Elliott Bystrak, Steve Maisonet, and Kaylie Horowitz

Friday, January 19th at 8pm

 Smallbury is a comedy about cancer and a semi-dysfunctional family of women who learn how to cope with the diagnosis and disease. About 25,000 people die of cancer every single day. That's 10 million people per year worldwide. This is a show for every single one of those people – and the people who love them.

 Tea Party

By Sean Abley

Directed by Camilla Maxwell

Starring P.K. Fortson, Monish Bhattacharyya, Bella Poynton,

Jason Francey, and Ryan Norton.

Saturday, January 20th at 3pm

 Frank, a married heterosexual crossdresser living in Montana, discovers Miss Olivia's Finishing School for Girls, a club for fellow recreational crossdressers. Finally able to share his secret with another like-minded man, Frank's newfound freedom threatens his marriage and his relationship with his best friend.

 The Ankh

By Avery LaMar Pope

Directed by VerNia Sharisse Garvin

Starring Elijah Evans, Dionte Heath, Tuhran Gethers, Michael EJ Jordan,

Kujante' Lyons-Latimer Glenn and Dan Torres.

Saturday, January 20th at 8pm

 While Ralphie and Pulley are nearing the end of their scouting mission, the two friends learn more about each other's past. They discover that though their upbringings were in no way similar, they have something in common; they are chosen brothers and will always finish what they've started.

Best Laid Plan(t)s

By Donna Hoke

Directed by Drew McCabe

Starring Connor Graham, Matt Gilbert-Wachowiak, Aimee Walker, Melissa Levin, Michael Gilbert-Wachowiak and Kris Bartolomeo

Sunday, January 21st at 1pm

Bennett won't believe what his best friend and sister keep telling him: his girlfriend Nina is maybe a little abusive. Bennett also won't believe what Nina is telling him: that his best friend Jason has feelings for him. After a jealous Nina maybe accidentally sets fire to Bennett's apartment, Bennett reexamines his feelings and is stunned to discover that labels lose, and love wins–if only someone other than his plants will believe him.

Reading & Leeds Boss Submits Plans For New Three-day Festival In Luton

The organiser behind Reading & Leeds has submitted plans for a new three-day festival in Luton this May.

Festival Republic manager director Melvin Benn is applying to stage a new event in Stockwood Park, according to Luton Today.

The festival promoter, whose company is also behind festivals like Wireless, Latitude and Wilderness, has applied to the borough council for the grant of a premises licence for the event, which would take place over the spring bank holiday weekend from May 25-27.

Permission is being sought for the license – which would allow live music, recorded performances – from 12pm to 11:30pm GMT on Friday, May 24 and from 9:30am to 10:30pm on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26.

General view of the main stage as Billie Eilish performs on day 3 of Reading Festival 2023 at Richfield Avenue on August 27, 2023 in Reading, England (CREDIT: Joseph Okpako/WireImage)

Organisers are also seeking permission for the sale of alcohol from 12pm to 11pm on Friday, May 24 and from 9:30am to 10:30pm GMT on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26.

The local authority's licensing panel is due to consider the application at a town hall meeting today (January 22).

According to Benn's application, the form also references a "funfair and sponsor activations" for the event, along with system sound checks ahead of each day and rehearsals on Thursday, May 23.

One resident has raised concerns to the licensing service of noise disruption and anti-social behaviour around the festival site. A noise hotline will reportedly be available to nearby residents during the festival at all all times, while Benn also said he would consult the community ahead of the event.

Benn spoke to NME backstage at last year's Reading festival, noting that "how well a lot of the female acts have gone down" and their "core" place at the festival was one of the notable takeaways from 2023.

In November, the six headliners for Reading & Leeds 2024 were revealed, with Liam Gallagher, Lana Del Rey, Blink-182, Fred Again.., Gerry Cinnamon and Catfish & The Bottlemen set to top the bill. Any remaining tickets can be purchased here.

Benn's team was also behind Boygenius' huge show at Gunnersbury Park last year, which he said was his "highlight" of 2023.

How To Catch All The Action At Reading & Leeds 2023

Reading & Leeds is back from 25-27 August with another amazing line up!

There's something for everyone over the weekend, with two massive Main Stages - Main Stage East finishes with headliners Billie Eilish, Sam Fender and The Killers, and Main Stage West has headliners Foals, Imagine Dragons and The 1975.

You can watch the festival live on iPlayer, and catch up on full sets and must-watch tracks after the event. Radio 1 will also be on the ground at the festival, bringing you unmissable moments.

Here's your complete guide on how to stay up-to-date throughout the weekend...

Watch all the biggest moments on iPlayer

BBC iPlayer will bring Reading Festival right to the comfort of your own home!

From August 21st-27th, you can watch our non-stop Reading & Leeds channel, a dedicated stream of archive performances from over the years, which will be running 24/7, so you can watch it at any time to get you in the festival zone.

During the event, you can watch all three days streamed live on iPlayer, so you don't miss a moment of the festival as it happens!

Afterwards, selected full sets and must-watch tracks will be available on demand, and if you're not sure what to catch up on first, you will be able to watch our Reading Highlights channel from Monday 28th - you can just hit play and watch back-to-back performances from the event.

Why don't we show all artists and songs at events we cover?

Warm up for the festival on BBC Sounds

Available now, you can check out Back To Back Reading & Leeds on BBC Sounds for non-stop festival build up! It features all sorts of programmes to get you in the mood for this year's event, with Artist Icons series featuring Billie Eilish and The Killers, archive shows featuring live performances from previous years, and a special line up mix from Radio 1!

After the festival, selected performances from this year will be added to the collection so you can listen to your heart's content.

Listen now:

Join presenters on the ground at the festival on Radio 1

Even if you're miles away, you can transport yourself to Reading Festival by listening to Radio 1, joining your favourite presenters, DJs and loads more as they bring you all the exclusive action.

Across the weekend, Radio 1 will be on the ground bringing you the latest as it happens - expect live music, guests, and all the fun from the festival.

Get involved on social media

Follow Radio 1 on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter for the ultimate behind-the-scenes Reading & Leeds experience. We'll be right in the heart of the action and bringing you all the gossip, so get involved!

Where to get the latest from Reading & Leeds 2023

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