The Roundtable Ensemble


Roundtable Reading Series

In our Roundtable Reading Series we bring together disparate communities in New York City, especially targeting those neighborhoods underserved by Theater Arts programs. In this program, professional actors present a rehearsed and theatrical reading of a topical and entertaining play engaging the audience in a roundtable discussion following the performance. As we work on the series, we are learning that so many of the disenfranchised in our community are people with very special challenges and therefore, with special needs.

To bring these people to the table, we bring the series directly to facilities that are as familiar and comfortable for them as possible. What better way to include these audiences than to bring theater into their own neighborhood through the branch library system and local community centers? 

The program is underwritten by individual donors and corporate sponsors, so there is no cost to the audience or to the hosting venue. We are committed to making this series accessible to the fullest extent possible, and intend to accommodate people of all disabilities as best we can. 

Many of the plays that will be read are also being considered for main stage productions. We have a talented and vibrant pool of actors and continually invite the participation of new and developing artists. We hope that this partnership will prove enriching for the citizens of New York, as well as for The Roundtable Ensemble. 

Roundtable Readings

Prior readings have included:

HOOTERS by Ted Tally, Reading Directed by Stuart Goldstein
DAR AND MATEY'S CHRISTMAS SPECTACULARGH! by Larry Pontius, Reading Directed by Robert Ross Parker°
FUENTE OVEJUNA by Lope de Vega, adapted by Cusi Cram, Reading Directed by Suzanne Agins°
DAMAGED GOODS by Virginia Baeta, Reading Directed by Rebecca Patterson
THE SLOW, TORTUROUS LOVE AFFAIR OF STATEN ISLAND AND PERTH AMBOY and
MR. FIREFLY by Alexis Kozak, Reading Directed by Jesse Edward Rosbrow
FALLEN ANGELS by Noel Coward, Reading Directed by Suzanne Agins°
OTMA by Kate Moira Ryan, Reading Directed by Michael Barakiva°
THE PLEDGE by Joseph Hullett, Reading Directed by Mark Bloom
COPENHAGEN by Michael Frayn, Reading Directed by Jesse Edward Rosbrow
FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS by Terence Rattigan, Reading Directed by Suzanne Agins°
CYRANO de BERGERAC by Edmond Rostand, Reading Directed by Robert Ross Parker°
THE MINOTAUR by Anna Ziegler, Directed by Linsay Firman
FORCE OF NATURE by Steven Dietz, Directed by Jesse Edward Rosbrow
12th NIGHT PROJECT, Directed by Miriam Tobin
THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH by Thorton Wilder, Directed by Andrew Grosso°
TRUST FOUND Written & Directed by Aaron Gonzalez, with original composition by Felix Ventouras
THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR by Nikolai Gogol, Directed by Randy Baruh
APOCRYPHA by Jesse McKinley, Directed by Michael Barakiva°
SERIOUSLY, DARLING! a comedy collection, Directed by Robert Ross Parker°
LADIES AT THE ALAMO by Paul Zindel, Directed by Angela Lanza
MOST LIKELY TO... by John Benjamin Martin, Directed by Marie Marshall
SILENT HEROES* by Linda Escalera Baggs, Directed by Rosemary Andress°
STOP KISS by Diana Son, Directed by Christa Savery
THE STRAIGHT PILL by John Page Spears, Directed by Arnold Villareal
BEYOND THERAPY by Christopher Durang, Directed by Janis Schodowski
THIS IS OUR YOUTH by Kenneth Lonergan, Directed by Deirdre W. Flynn
A FITTING CONFUSION by Georges Feydeau, Directed by Robert Ross Parker°
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde, Directed by Amanda Joshi
A THOUSAND CLOWNS by Herb Gardner, Directed by Lyon Marcus
SUMMER AND SMOKE by Tennessee Williams, Directed by Janis Schodowski
GROWN UPS* by Jules Feiffer, Directed by Kelly Ann Moore
SILENCE* by Moira Buffini, Directed by Suzanne Agins°
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW* by William Shakespeare, Directed by Andrew Grosso°
BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS by Neil Simon, Directed by Frank Blake°
EDUCATING RITA by Willy Russell, Directed by Joshua Weiss
EURYDICE by Sarah Ruhl, Directed by Natalie Dvir
BLITHE SPIRIT by Noël Coward, Directed by Rosemary Andress°
CROSSROADS OF LUCY CROWN by Vladimir Aulov, Directed by Mollie O'Mara
THE SEAGULL* by Anton Chekhov, Directed by Michael Barakiva°
CRIMES OF THE HEART by Beth Henley, Directed by Hannah Fujiki DeVorkin
THE LIVING by Anthony Clarvoe, Directed by Kelly Ann Moore
MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON'S by Clark & Bobrick, Directed by Alexis Kozak°
THE HOUSE OF BERNADA ALBA by Federico Garcia Lorca, Directed by Ria Cooper
MARCO MILLIONS by Eugene O'Neil, Directed by Suzanne Agins°
PICNIC by William Inge, Directed by Mahayana Landowne°
LIFE'S A DREAM by Pedro Calderon de la Barca, Directed by Allegra Libonati

*Subsequently produced as a mainstage production.
°Director of Roundtable mainstage production.