Telling Of The Bees

By Chandler Hubbard

Director - Casey Stangl

Friday, Sept. 5 at 7:00 PM — Reading + Q&A (Barn Theater)
Saturday, Sept. 6 at 2:30 PM — Encore Reading (Church)

SYNOPSIS:

Ten years after a national tragedy befalls a rural family, the remaining members are given a chance at redemption and reconciliation when they stumble upon a young man who bears a striking resemblance to their lost son.

BIO:

Chandler Hubbard (he/him/his) is an actor and playwright in Richmond, Virginia. Written works produced include: ANIMAL CONTROL (2019 Martha Hill Newell Playwright's Fund, Richmond Theatre Community Circle Best Original Work nomination, 2020 American Theatre Critics' Association / Steinberg New Play Award Citation) (Firehouse Theatre; American Lives Theatre); MOLLY HOUSE (Richmond Triangle Players); THE MINOTAUR (Rumput/Firehouse); MAN: The Live Podcast (Firehouse/Jackleg Media); ROMAN A CLEF (RTCC Best Original Work Winner 2024) (The New Theatre at Firehouse); and SHANIDAR (Wild Imaginings). Readings/Workshops: TELLING OF THE BEES (5th Wall Theatre; Barter Theatre; College of Charleston); AKELDAMA (IATI), SMALL QUIET GOOD (Firehouse Theatre; Dragonfly Theatre Company; Clamour Theatre Company; Brightpoint Community College), SUNDAY THE THIRTIETH 3AM RAINING SLIGHTLY DRUNK (Wild Imaginings; Richmond Triangle Players), CHILDREN OF THE EMPIRE (Fulton Theatre) and YOUR SON (Firehouse Theatre). His screenplay SHANIDAR (Remember Tommy Productions, Mudroom Films and SideXSide Productions) is currently in post-production. He received the Theatre Lab at Florida Atlantic University's Fair Play Commission in 2025 for his play, THE LAST QUEEN OF SAN DOMINO. Chandler is a graduate of the University of Virginia (2012) and a proud member of the Dramatists Guild.

The Enlightenment of Percival von Schmootz

By Christopher Dimond and Michael Kooman

Director - Ashley Rodbro

Musical Director - Cynthia Meng

Friday, Sept. 5 at 4:45 PM — Behind-the-Scenes Open Rehearsal (Back Deck)
Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 PM — Reading + Q&A (Barn Theater)
Sunday, Sept. 7 at 4:00 PM — Encore Reading (Barn Theater)

SYNOPSIS:

Fed up with a world of plague, pestilence, and poor personal hygiene, the world’s only optimist sets out to personally end the Dark Ages. As he attempts to bring the light of hope to the world, Percival von Schmootz meets with hilariously disastrous results at every turn. It is only when things look the blackest that Percival learns the true meaning of enlightenment.

BIO:

Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond are an Emmy-nominated writing team for the stage and screen. They have written more than 350 songs for Children’s animation. For the stage, their work has premiered at Shakespeare's Globe, Williamstown Theater Festival, and The Kennedy Center. His most recent musical, FINN, had an all-star reading including Andrew Rannells, Kelli O'hara, and Lea Salonga. Awards and honors include the Fred Ebb Award, a Jonathan Larson Grant, the Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Award, the Samuel French Next Step Award, the Burton Lane Award, and the Harold Adamson Award. They are members of the Dramatists Guild and ASCAP, and are proud alumni of Carnegie Mellon University.

Book of Wonder

By Kate Brennan and David Lee White

Director - Roque Berlanga

Musical Director - Erik Wakar

Saturday, Sept. 6 at 11:00 AM — Reading + Q&A (Garden Patio Stage)
Sunday, Sept. 7 at 11:00 AM — Encore Reading (Garden Patio Stage)

SYNOPSIS:

In a world with no written language, a Storyteller visits the town of Astoria every night to lull the residents to sleep. But one night, the Storyteller fails to arrive. Astoria’s only denizen capable of slumber, a young girl named Abenthe, must embark on a quest to find the missing Storyteller. But some stories do not want to be found.

BIOS:

Kate Brennan is an artist, educator and creator. She has written a dozen plays and musicals and has taught across the country. She has been named a three-time O’Neill Semifinalist, a Princess Grace Finalist, a Judith Royer Finalist, a Jane Chambers Finalist, a Cultural Alliance Artist Innovator Award Finalist and a Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist. Kate is a Designated Linklater Teacher and holds an MFA from UVA. She writes More Humor More Humanity. www.katebrennan.org

David Lee White is a theatre artist and educator, whose works include the musicals ALiEN8, CLEAN SLATE, ILLUMINATE and ANATOMY OF A FLOOD (with Kate Brennan) as well as THE ANGRY GRAMMARIAN (With Jeff Barg.) His plays include SLIPPERY AS SIN, WAYS TO BE HAPPY, ETIQUETTE, FIXED, TIME FREAKS and BLOOD A COMEDY (Soon to be a feature film.) His work has been developed at Passage Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, Vivid Stage, Bristol-Riverside Theatre and The Bucks County Playhouse. David is the recipient of two MAP Fund awards, NAMI's Visionary Award and was a Jonathan Larson Grant finalist.

SHEREEN AHMED (“Shereen Ahmed: Solo”)

Director - Jen Waldman

Musical Director - Andrew Sotomayor

BIO:

Shereen Ahmed: Broadway/National Tour: My Fair Lady (Eliza) Off-Broadway: Nine (Claudia), The Light in the Piazza (Franca) and A Man of No Importance (Adele). Regional: World Premiere of The Age of Innocence (Ellen). Shereen has performed at the White House for President Biden, Carnegie Hall, and with the Boston Pops on PBS. Featured in Vogue Arabia and named a “40 Under 40” Arab American, she is a UN guest speaker and global ambassador for EFE. She holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Towson University.

Robert Anthony Jones

Director - Jeremy Gold Kronenberg

BIO:

Robert Anthony Jones is thrilled to be returning to Forestburgh, having appeared as Trunchbull, Fester and Barry, three of his favorite roles in one of his favorite places. Credits: Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera (North American Tour), Finding Neverland (Lunt-Fontaine Theatre-Final Broadway Company), 101 Dalmatians (Madison Square Garden). Off-Broadway: Arhens and Flarhety’s Lucky Stiff (AMT Theatre), Bunnicula (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording-Daryl Roth Theatre). Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar (Herod-Fulton Theatre-Deidre Goodwin-dir.), 42nd (Abner-Gateway Playhouse-Randy Skinner-dir). TV/Film: Queen of Knives (Amazon Prime and AppleTV), Kris Kringle (YouTube) www.robertanthonyjones.com
Insta: justcallmeraj

What Would Meryl Do?

Written and Performed by Neal Lerner

Director - Colin Hanlon

Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1:30 PM — Reading + Q&A (Church)

SYNOPSIS:

What Would Meryl Do? is a one-man comic whirlwind about a desperate man in a small upstate town who starts teaching a class on how to live like Meryl Streep—because why not? In playing every role, he spins a wildly funny, slightly unhinged tale that’s part masterclass, part meltdown, and entirely heartfelt. It's based on a true story, except for the parts that are completely made up. At its heart, it’s a story about identity, survival, and the courage to take center stage in your own life.

BIO:

Neal Lerner is a Yale School of Drama–trained actor who’s spent years doing theater in NYC and at regional theaters across the country. He’s appeared in over 75 TV shows and films — often as a doctor, a lawyer, or occasionally both in the same week. Most recently, he appeared in the Academy Award–winning film American Fiction and the Gus Van Sant–directed series Feud. In addition to acting, Neal has written several plays, with What Would Meryl Do? being his latest (and possibly most unhinged) work yet.