QUEER READING SERIES 2022

September 28, 2022

7:00pm

Benchmark Theatre

Join us for an evening of staged readings of new works by playwrights from the LGBTQIA+ community. The Queer Reading Series is part of our special projects program led by Madison Kuebler, Associate Artistic Director. The reading series is often the first step in the birth of a new play, often the first time the piece is in front of an audience bringing their words from their imaginations to the stage. The plays, after two rehearsals, are then “read” script in hand sitting at music stands. The audience in attendance allows the playwright to note reactions and what works and what may need to be looked at again. An index card is handed out for the audience to write out first impressions or questions that the playwright then takes with them back into the developement process.

THE PLAYS & PLAYWRIGHTS

LADYBALLS by Allison Fradkin

During World War II, it was a woman's patriotic prerogative to embrace a man's job. The War enabled women to experience a change of pace and, for members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, a change of base. But when South Bend Blue Sox teammates Josephine and Penny develop a war bond, it's hardly the kind the government—let alone the League—had in mind. Will the gals take a crack at a romance that, like a baseball, won't be seamless? Or will they take the base path of least resistance and prioritize the game over the dame?

ALLISON FRADKIN-Allison Fradkin- Scriptly speaking, Allison Fradkin (she/her) creates satirically scintillating stories that (sur)pass the Bechdel Test and enlist their characters in a caricature of the idiocies and intricacies of insidious isms. An enthusiast of inclusivity and accessibility, Fradkin freelances for her hometown of Chicago as Literary Manager of Violet Surprise Theatre, curating new works by queer playwrights; and as Dramatist for Special Gifts Theatre, adapting scripts for actors of all abilities.

THE WAITING ROOM BY CORINNE LANDY

This ten-minute play takes place in a purgatory-like waiting room, where recently-deceased Walter Morris contends with the Gatekeeper. According to God, or at least Her employee, Walter is heaven-bound. But how can he accept this eternal fate when he knows the person whom he loved most on Earth won’t be there, but in hell?
> The play deals with the morality of “just doing your job,” the duality of good and evil in the people we love, and what we’re really searching for when grief leads us on a hunt for answers.
>

Department of Pubic Works- by Andrew Catterall

An IRS auditor is surprised to discover the truth about every Coloradan's least favorite time of year: construction season.

DIRECTOR

ANDREW CATTERALL

Andrew is a recent transplant to the Denver metro area. He has been worrying his family with the startlingly self-indulgent, Kafkaesque plays he's been writing since he was old enough to hold a pen. He would like to dedicate this piece to Andie MacDowell, who is simultaneously the most accomplished and perplexing actress of her generation. Is it raining, I hadn't noticed?

MADISON KUEBLER (She/Her)

Madison is so excited to be back home in the theatre world and is honored to be working with And Toto too for the 4th Queer Reading Series. She's worked as a sound designer, actor, and director for various companies in Denver over the last 10 years. She has a BA in Theatre from Metropolitan State University with a Minor in Women's Studies and is very passionate about telling stories from and about the Queer and LGBTIA+ community. In her spare time she manages a funeral home and helps families work through grief with meaningful goodbyes.

CAST

Iliana Lucero Barron

CORINNE LANDY

Corinne Landy- Corinne Landy is a Denver-based actor (and she's learning to call herself a playwright as well!). She graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2019 with a BFA in Musical Theatre and minor in Queer Studies. Some of her favorite performance credits include Cindy Fankhouser (Angry Psycho Princesses), Casey (First Date), Leaf Coneybear (The 25th...Spelling Bee), and, most recently, Jo (Late: A New Musical). Besides her theatrical endeavors, Corinne can be found playing Galaga or bombarding her cat with forehead kisses.

Marlene studied theater at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and the University of Wyoming, graduating in the greatest year to ever happen: 2020. In their free time they enjoy rollerskating, exploring downtown Denver, and absolutely destroying their friends at rhythm games. Some of their favorite roles have been Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Snowy Range Summer Theater), Emerson in TEACH (Athena Arts) and Heather Macnamara in Heathers: The Musical (UWYO). You can see them performing in Boulder this current September/October in Arts In The Open's Frankenstein! They want to thank to their friends, family, and partner for their constant love and support. @itismarlene 

Iliana Lucero Barron is a bilingual, latinx teaching artist, creative, and advocate based in Denver, Colorado. Graduating from the University of Colorado at Denver in 2016, Iliana became a first generation college graduate, earning a degree in Theatre, Film and Television. Since her introduction to the stage, Iliana has gone on to perform in a variety of works with several theatres in Colorado such as: Northside (Su Teatro), The Shakespeare in the Parking Lot Educational Tour (The Denver Center for the Performing Arts), One Night, Six Plays (5280 Artist Co-op), Fever Dream Festival (Benchmark Theatre), etc! Beyond performance, Iliana has worked with multiple organizations, focusing on educational programming for children and youth, creative exploration, collaboration, and DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access). Organizations include: The DCPA, The Colorado Theatre Guild, Mirror Image Arts, IDEA Stages, Casa Milagros Youth Solutions, and more.

MAUREEN HALL

CAL MEAKINS

MATTHEW/MAX

Cal Meakins is elated to perform in his second Queer Reading series at And Toto too! He was an intern for the 2019 Diversity in the Arts program at the Arvada Center & has since worked around Denver as an actor, stage manager, and house manager. He is especially passionate about new works. Previous acting/reading credits: Batang Lalaki/Boy (Curious Theatre), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Vintage Theatre), Your Issue (And Toto Too), Avenue Q (Miner’s Alley Playhouse), A Thousand Maids, Under A Baseball Sky, The Pool (Colorado New Play Festival), Into the Woods (Arvada Center), Late: A New Musical (CenterStage Theatre Company), Man Up (Empathy Theatre Project), The Fantasticks (Town Hall Arts Center). Stage Managing: Love, Loss, & What I Wore (Theatre Aspen), A Year With Frog & Toad (Arvada Center).

MARLENE HALL (They/Them)

SAM

This is Marlene's second time reading in And Toto too's Queer Reading Series and they're so excited to be back! Marlene is a Denver based actor, most recently seen in Fun Home at Vintage Theater. They have a BFA in musical theater from University of Wyoming and studied theater at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. When not on stage, you can find them at home, bothering their cat Carrot. 

CORINNE LANDY (She/They)

MEGAN

Corinne Landy is an actor and singer based in Denver. She's a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a BFA in Theatre & Dance, concentration in Musical Theatre, and a minor in Queer Studies.  Some of her favorite credits include Reptile Logic with Wounded Cobra Productions, First Date and The 25th... Spelling Bee at Snowy Range Summer Theatre, and Stonewall at Benchmark Theatre. When not onstage, Corinne can be found knitting or bombarding her grumpy cat with forehead kisses.

TROY LAKEY

NEAL/RICHARD

Troy Lakey is an actor, director, and playwright. He recently directed The Legend of Georgia McBride at the Vintage Theatre and he will be directing The Perfect Arrangement at the Firehouse Theater that opens in April. He was most recently seen in the play Cock at the People’s Building. He is working on a second staged reading of his autobiographical play, Your Issue, which was part of And Toto too’s Queer Reading Series last year. Troy appreciates the ongoing support of his friends, his partner, Stock, his sons - Alex and Brendan, and his Frenchies, Dublin and Oslo.