Illustration by Tabi Walters
On a recent July evening, the Argus Cafe on Packard was packed. At tables, chairs and stools, and on foot, an audience had assembled to see first-rate professionals, some with Broadway creds, read a play. Well-behaved children, offspring of some of the players, sat on the floor in front and at a counter along the side, watching Christopher Durang’s The Actor’s Nightmare; the dark comedy is decidedly not for the younger set but perfect for an educated Ann Arbor audience.
Eva Rosenwald, the actress who initiated and is developing the series she calls “Acting Out,” told spectators that actors like to get together to read plays when they’re between productions. Why not read them in public? she wondered. Why not take the opportunity to bring the community together for a free theater experience?
“For me, this reading series is about carving out time to just be creative and play with fellow artist friends, a chance to do what we love with no barrier to entry,” says Kristin Shields, who has appeared on TV, in films, and locally at the Purple Rose and Tipping Point theaters. “We just pick up a script and go on the ride. To share it freely with the community is an added perk.”
Working in a space that isn’t traditionally used for theater removes barriers, Rosenwald notes. At Argus, that might also mean that actors and spectators have to listen past a noisy ice cream machine. But the small crowd’s laughter was loud and drowned out any noise.
Dramaturg Christine Bean introduced the play and followed the reading with some thoughts. It’s rare for any but the best-endowed professional theaters to employ dramaturgs—people trained in theater history and play analysis—to give actors and audiences useful background. Bean “really added a layer of depth to our work as she filled in some blanks for us during our single rehearsal,” says Shields.
This is a new project—the first reading was in June—and Rosenwald is just starting to put it together. Though the readings so far have all been of one-acts, they may consider doing full-length plays. Rosenwald is also looking into holding readings in other venues that have space and will let her bring crowds in for free.