Fronting the Order

by Warren Bodow

directed by Sheldon Metz

Tuesday, May 11^th at 7:15 p.m.

Admission: Pay what you will

Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

The five character play is set in 1959 in upstate New York and deals with the clash between fast profits and long-term good.  Four encyclopedia salesmen are about to canvass the town, getting into homes with a patently deceptive pitch.  Deception plays a leading role in the relationships of the men, as well.  The play's  theme is developed with a lot of humor, sharp witty characters, and multiple turnabouts. 

 After the performance, you are asked to help Warren with your comments and observations.  Like his  last  play, RACE MUSIC, which enjoyed a three-week run in New York this past September, our goal is to develop this play for New York and other theater venues.

The members of the readers group for this play are Mary Ellen Thompson, Roger Owen, Todd Fitzpatrick, Robert Anthony Peters, Jake Chapman and Denise Blum.

Warren G. Bodow, formerly President of New York classical radio station, WQXR (recently sold by The New York Times to WNYC and Univision Radio), is a self-proclaimed “second act” playwright. Since 2005, he and his wife Ellen have been part-time Tucson residents. Last fall, his full-length play, Race Music, presented as a staged reading at Beowulf Alley’s Reader’s Theater in 2009 was produced by Diverse City Theater Company in New York City. Mr. Bodow’s three short plays about Valentine’s Day were the February 2009 offerings for Beowulf Alley’s Out to Lunch Theater. His full-length play, Harry the Hunk on His Way Out, was presented as a staged reading at Beowulf Alley prior to its New York Equity Showcase run at The Cherry Lane Theatre in October 2007. Mr. Bodow is a member of Tucson’s Old Pueblo Playwrights and has served on the Boards of the New York State Broadcasters Association and the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.

Sheldon Metz has been active in theatre since the age of six in Chicago and Los Angeles as a director, set designer, actor and teacher of acting and directing. He directed and designed the set for the MAC Award-nominated Proof at BATC last season as well as the World Premier of Gavin Kayner’s Noche de los Muertos and will direct The Beauty Queen of Leenane next season at Beowulf Alley. He is the Program Chair for BATC’s Old Time Radio Theatre and recently directed Oleanna at LTW’s Etcetera Theatre. Sheldon’s recent set designs include BATC’s upcoming production of A Piece of My Heart and Arizona Onstage Production’s f The Great American Trailer Park Musical.  His most recent acting roles include the short film, Plant Life and George Washington Slept Here.  His 97 directing assignments include the premieres of The Octette Bridge Club (Los Angeles),  Dear Mr. Caterer (World), of P. J. Barry’s After the Dancing in Jericho and J. R. Robinson’s The Cover of Life (West Coast), winning a Best Director award for the latter. He’s received awards for directing I’m Not Rappaport  and The Elephant Man.  Sheldon has designed over 90 sets throughout L.A., winning numerous awards, most recently for L.A.’s Kentwood Players production of Proof. The Los Angeles Music Center’s Artistic Director, Gordon Davidson, calls Sheldon his “go to guy.” Sheldon founded and served as Executive Director of A.C.C.T., too! - The Association of Commercial and Community Theatres - the West Coast Theatre Conference (Los Angeles) and The Theatre Conference (New York). He also served as a Producing Director for the Playwrights Kitchen Ensemble (PKE), under the Artistic Direction of Dan Lauria.

Reader’s Theatre at Beowulf Alley, RT@the Alley, is a project to give Tucson Metropolitan area playwrights an opportunity for the public to hear the words of a finished play that has been thoroughly vetted and thoughtfully crafted based upon a critique process and following guidelines on our website at http://www.beowulfalley.org/html/playwrights_submissions.html

 The community is invited to become involved as volunteer readers to read characters and assist with this monthly event. The ability to read dramatically is necessary. We also invite members of the community to join the committee to read and comment of plays under selection consideration and to assist with front of house and concessions on the nights of the readings.

 Participation is limited to those who have their own local housing and transportation and can be available at pre-arranged time. Questions and inquiries regarding participation in the Reader’s Theatre project may be made via e-mail at theatre@beowulfalley.org. Script submissions are ongoing and may be mailed (please do not e-mail) to:

 Beowulf Alley Theatre Company

Reader’s Theatre Program

11 S. 6^th Avenue

Tucson, Arizona 85701

Do You Like to Read or Write Plays?

Join the Readers Theatre Volunteer Group at Beowulf Alley Theatre

Let Your Words and Story Be Heard; Help with a Play Reading  

 Beowulf  Alley’s Readers Theatre wants four to eight volunteers to help us read and select plays, assist with the reading rehearsals and public presentation nights, usually two volunteers per presentation. Playwrights (including volunteers) are invited to submit scripts to Beowulf Alley’s lively and entertaining Readers’ Theatre Program. Readers Theatre is about the words. The program is designed for the public to hear the words and respond with comments and questions to help the playwright refine the script. Script submissions are ongoing. Plays submitted should be finished pieces, thoroughly vetted and thoughtfully crafted. One act plays are acceptable but will be scheduled on a date when two one act plays can be paired within the same evening, possibly from different playwrights.  Readers Theatre is held on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month, as scripts are available. Each participant in Readers Theatre gets to see the Out to Lunch Theatre, Old Time Radio Plays, Late Night Theatre for free. Other performance tickets may be discounted.

 Readers Theatre is simple –

• Playwrights submit plays according to guidelines
• The Readers Theatre committee reads and selects plays to present
• Two committee members take responsibility for front of house duties at a scheduled reading and attend the rehearsals to open and close the facility
• Playwrights are responsible for (with a little help from the committee)
• Readers
• Narrator to read the script directions
• Someone to bring up and take down stage lights
• There are no costumes or props
• If sound is essential, a boom box for sound with someone to run the boom box
• Only one or two rehearsals

 Playwright’s Guidelines and Responsibilities –

• One securely bound script mailed to the theatre or an e-mailed copy in pdf format or MSWord 2003 or 2007. The cover page must include playwright’s name, address, phone number and e-mail address submitted for reading and review by the Readers Theatre committee. PARTICIPANTS WHO PREFER TO HAVE THEIR SCRIPTS RETURNED VIA MAIL MUST INCLUDE A SELF-ADDRESSED, STAMPED ENVELOPE. SCRIPTS WILL BE HELP FOR PICKUP AT THE THEATRE OFFICE FOR ONE MONTH FOLLOWING THE CLOSE OF THE READING AFTER WHICH TIME THEY WILL BE DISCARDED.

• Arrange for actors, narrator and an additional person if sound is needed and the playwright does not wish to do it (Beowulf will help by holding auditions onsite if necessary and provide the contact information of players who have volunteered to read RT plays.)
• Scripts with more than 10 characters should be double cast
• Provide a written synopsis, contact sheet (including names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of all participants), and 100-word bios for each participant (preferably all of these materials will be e-mailed to the Readers Theatre designee at least three weeks in advance of the reading (this is how long it takes to execute promotion
• Arrange and manage no more than one or two rehearsals (generally at Beowulf in the week leading up to the reading, pending proper scheduling to arrange for space in theatre)
• Supply the required number of scripts for the reading
• Coordinate planning and presentation with and through Readers’ Theatre committee members
• Clearly communicate requests and questions in advance of rehearsals

 Beowulf will provide -

• Lighting that is sufficient for readers to see the script clearly

• An audition space and time (if required)
• Rehearsal space and time (for up to three reading rehearsals pending available space and timely request for scheduling)
• One public reading on the Baron Stage (generally the 2^nd Tuesday of the month)
• Public announcements and press releases containing information provided by director (we reserve the right to edit)
• Front of House Manager (from Readers Theatre Committee)  
• A committee member liaison to manage and coordinate the reading

INQUIRIES REGARDING PARTICIPATION IN THE READERS' THEATRE PROJECT MAY BE MADE VIA E-MAIL AT theatre@beowulfalley.org. PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO THOSE WHO HAVE THEIR OWN LOCAL HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION AND CAN BE AVAILABLE AT ALL PRE-ARRANGED TIMES.

Please check our website at

http://www.beowulfalley.org/html/playwrights_submissions.html for more information.

 Participation is limited to those who can be available for the audition, rehearsals and the actual reading  (as required).

 PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE THEIR OWN LOCAL HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION AND CAN BE AVAILABLE AT PRE-ARRANGED TIMES. QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES REGARDING PARTICIPATION IN THE READERS' THEATRE PROJECT MAY BE MADE VIA E-MAIL AT theatre@beowulfalley.org. There are no stipends or royalties paid for participation in this program. It’s for fun! This is an opportunity to hear your play, receive audience feedback and introduce the piece to the community at large.

Script submissions are ongoing and may be mailed to:

© 2010 Beowulf Alley Theatre Company