Play Reading Festival: A Celebration of Barrington Playwrights

Join PPTC for this three-night Play Reading Festival celebrating the work of talented local playwrights from Barrington

Each night will shine a spotlight on a different playwright, presenting a directed and rehearsed reading of their play. This unique event offers audiences a rare opportunity to witness fresh, original stories from voices in their own community. From gripping dramas to heartfelt comedies, each evening promises to deliver a distinct theatrical experience. After each reading, there will be a discussion, inviting the audience to engage with the playwrights, directors, and actors. Come celebrate local talent, discover new stories, and connect with the creative voices shaping our community’s artistic landscape.

Schedule

January 23, 2025

Winning Isn't Everything

What happens when a quirky family thinks they’ve hit the jackpot? Winning Isn’t Everything is a sharp, laugh-out-loud comedy about one unforgettable evening in the life of Ernie, a lovable curmudgeon with a knack for chaos, and his eccentric family.

As tensions rise over a supposedly winning lottery ticket, secrets are spilled, dreams are shared, and a bizarrely magical neighbor keeps everyone guessing. Will the family tear each other apart-or come together when it matters most?

Packed with witty dialogue, heartwarming twists, and characters you’ll love to root for (and laugh at!), this staged reading promises an evening of big laughs and even bigger surprises. Don’t miss this delightfully hilarious look at what really makes a family rich!

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January 24, 2025

Scaring The Normals

We invite you to step into the quirky world of Creative Change Therapy offices, and watch this zany comedy unravel the chaos of therapy sessions gone awry.

Meet Keaton Schmirdle, a dedicated but high-strung therapist trying to keep his practice afloat amidst an impending insurance audit. But when his mischievous brother Jack barges in, pretending to be a therapist to woo a romantic interest, things spiral into a whirlwind of comedic disasters. Add in a colorful cast of therapists, patients, and unexpected twists, and you’re in for an entertaining ride.?

Packed with funny moments, heartfelt exchanges, and a bit of absurdity, Scaring the Normals explores family bonds, personal growth, and the beautifully messy ways we connect with each other.

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January 25, 2025

Friends with Guns

You think you know your friends, your neighbors, your spouse, but what happens when you suddenly find out they have a garage full of guns? This new dark comedy explores the complicated issue of gun proliferation when two young liberal couples are forced to confront their assumptions about who should own a gun and why. The time of easy answers regarding this issue is long gone. In the wake of current events, we are all forced to reexamine our strongly held beliefs about gun ownership. Friends With Guns explores the question of what we can compartmentalize…and what we can’t. It examines what happens when guns enter the conversation. It pulls the curtain back on liberals with guns. It asks what happens when suddenly one person in a marriage does a 180 on the gun issue. And it does all of this through a female lens.

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Date:
January 23-25, 2025

Hours:
7:30pm

Location:
The Barrington Theater, 540 W Northwest Hwy, Barrington, IL 60010

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