Should playwrights allow their plays to be produced as reader’s theater? I think this depends on the play and the playwright but for me, Rodney Robbins, I’m all for it. Why? Why, after slaving for hours over a hot keyboard, flipping through the thesaurus for just he right word, and struggling with stage directions and scene descriptions, why would a playwright agree to such a thing?

• Because reader’s theater works
• Because it helps a show find an audience
• Because it allows beginning actors to enjoy great plays
• Because it’s fun

Readers theater is way more powerful than it has any right to be. Readers theater strips a play down to the essentials and if the story and characters are there, a LOT of it comes through. Sure the costumes and sets and lights and sounds are nice, but the essential essence of a great play is right there in the dialog and descriptions. It’s often all you need.

Readers theater is cheep. You could literally stage 10 reader’s theater productions for the price of one full stage production. Sure, I want ALL my plays and musicals to come fully alive on stage. At the same time, if I could get 10 times the audience, for the same money, I’d be interested. Readers theater also allows young actors, students and busy moms and dads a chance to step out of their ordinary lives and be part of the show. Imagine–a couple of rehearsals, a few hours of script analysis and you’re done! How many more people would participate in theater if that’s all the commitment they needed to get started?

Readers theater is fun. I like doing it, and I like “watching” it. I mostly hear cold readings so for me, these are kind of like a radio play. However, add a bit of scene study, a few light cues and actors with expressive faces and you’ve got a visual performance of surprising power.

Maybe it’s a confidence thing, but I’m confident that my plays hold up structurally and artistically even when stripped to the bare bones. If you love reader’s theater and are looking for a new show, check out my new play here, or my new musical.