In Dialogue Staged Reading: Buena Vista

by Edith Freni
Directed by Desdemona Chiang
April 12 & 13, 2014

Featuring: Tim Blough*, Chris Murray*, Jenny Newbry, Vana O’Brien*
Stage Managed by D Westerholm*

When Noah shows up at his family’s isolated Colorado cabin, he discovers his estranged mother has been squatting there for months. Then Dad walks in—questioning the reason for his son’s retreat—and Noah’s weekend getaway turns into a bizarre, snowed-in family nightmare. A series of revelations ignite Buena Vista’s surreal conclusion, unfolding in a frozen wooden box at 12,000 feet above sea level.

Edith Freni [Playwright] Edith’s work has been produced, and developed at theatre across the country including Steppenwolf Theatre Company, New York Theatre Workshop, LAByrinth Theatre Company, The Public Theatre, Williamstown Theater Festival, and Ensemble Studio Theater. Current commissions include a trilogy of classics adaptations for the University of Miami—where she is on faculty—and a new play for Steppenwolf. Ms. Freni is a former competitive amateur boxer and received her BFA and MFA in Dramatic Writing from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Desdemona Chiang [Director] Desdemona’s directing credits include Playmakers Repertory Company, Aurora Theatre, Crowded Fire Theatre Company, Azeotrope (co-founder), FringeNYC, Playwrights Foundation, Golden Thread Productions, Washington, Ensemble Theatre, SF One Minute Play Festival, among others. Additional theatre credits include the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Intiman Theatre, ACT Theatre (Seattle), California Shakespeare Theater, Arizona Theatre Company, Mark Taper Forum, Magic Theatre, Theatreworks, Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, among others. Intersection for the Arts Triangle Lab Artist-Investigator. SDC Sir John Gilgeud Directing Fellow. Drama League Directing Fellow. BA: UC Berkeley. MFA Directing: University of Washington.

Playwright Events:

April 11: Stop in to La Bonita (on N. Killingsworth) around 8pm, where Playwright Edith Freni will be enjoying taco’s and and conversation. If you can’t make it at 8pm, still stop by La Bonita on April 11th to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner, as 20% of ALL SALES on Friday will be donated to Profile.

April 12: Pre-show discussion at 7pm with Edith Freni on Morrison Stage.

April 13: Join us ten minutes before the performance for a quick discussion with Edith Freni and a little background on the play. Following the performance, the playwright and members of the reading will answer questions from the audience.

*Member Actors’ Equity Association, the professional union of actors and stage managers.