Intro
New Voices, New Works
In 2001, Broad Horizons Theatre Company began to pursue its mission of developing and promoting promising new works for the theatre. Since then, with the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Lewis Magruder, the company has developed new scripts by such playwrights as Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich, James McLindon, and Gordon Pengilly.
Broad Horizons’ process for working with playwrights reflects its artistic values: playwrights who submit a script deserve a thoughtful response; true to its name, the company seeks and develops a broad range of writing styles; roles are cast, in consultation with casting director Cindi Rush, with working, professional actors; each script needs the support of a process tailored to its particularities; relationships of trust allow for meaningful feedback and fruitful explorations.
While the core of the Broad Horizons’ work is producing developmental readings, it does mount productions of some scripts. For example, after working with playwright Mary Gage for several years on her script,
Evensong
, the company produced a workshop production of the play in 2005 and a full production of it in 2006.
To find out more about the company, click the arrows on the left.
Dead Buried
DEAD AND BURIED
by James McLindon
Directed by Lewis Magruder
July 18, 2011
Pictured are, from left to right, actors Lauren Ashley Carter and Jason Edward Cook, playwright James McLindon, actor Chandler Vinton, and Debralee Daco, who read stage directions.
Judgment
MATTER OF JUDGMENT
by Stan Kaplan
Directed by Lewis Magruder
June 27, 2011
Cast
Wilson Bridges
Jack Davidson
Joy Hermalyn
Julia Motyka
Joel Rooks
Elizabeth Rouse
Edward Staudenmayer
Playwright Stan Kaplan
Closure
CLOSURE
by James McLindon
Directed by Lewis Magruder
June 19, 2010
Cast
Brandon Espinoza
Ed Hyland
Liz McCartney
Mandy Siegfried
Playwright James McLindon
Flesh Ghost
FLESH AND GHOST
by Gordon Pengilly
Directed by Lewis Magruder
June 7, 2010
Cast
Joey Collins
Reyna De Courcey
Caitlin Kinnunen
Kelly McAndrew
Guy Paul
Mandy Siegried
Playwright Gordon Pengilly
Still Life
STILL LIFE
by Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich
Directed by Lewis Magruder
June 29, 2009
Cast
Todd Lawson
Sherry Skinker
Lauren Weisman
Playwright Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich
Big City
BIG CITY
by Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich
Directed by Lewis Magruder
April 27, 2009
Cast, from left to right, John E. Brady, Kerry O'Malley, Todd Lawson, Brandy Zarle, and Amy Landon (stage directions)
Evensong06
EVENSONG
by Mary Gage
Directed by Lewis Magruder
Full Production
August 10-August 27, 2006
Cast, standing, from left to right: Mikel Sarah Lambert, Donald Grody, Mary Ellen Ashley, Lucille Patton, Arthur French; seated, Pat Nesbit
Evensong Reviews
Sample Reviews of
Evensong
The New York
Times
, review by Anita Gates, August 16, 2006
The content of Ms. Gage’s rewarding, well-structured play is unexpected. Based on interviews she did with Americans 80 and older, it could have focused on the difficulties of old age or the prospect of facing one’s mortality. But “Evensong” is about these men’s and women’s lives, pure and simple....
Backstage
, review by Gwen Orel, August 21, 2006
Mary Gage’s documentary drama Evensong is as lovely as the Chopin played by pianist Marina Gabunia-Verriest to underscore the stories told by the six senior citizens on stage.
Evensong is heartening and surprisingly theatrical, thanks to the lively staging and intelligent interpretation of director Lewis Magruder (Broad Horizons’ artistic director) and the riveting performances of an able cast. Gage intercuts the material smartly, with the characters, all on stage at once, interacting and commenting on shared themes. The stories are full of grace and grit.
The melody of Evensong is a hymn to American elders.
Talk Entertainment
, review by Oscar E. Moore
The star of the evening…is the director Lewis Magruder, who has taken a script which is episodic and not altogether dramatic, and turned it into a special theatrical event—that for $18.00 should not be missed by any serious theatergoer.
Evensong05
EVENSONG
by Mary Gage
Directed by Lewis Magruder
Workshop Production
July 30-August 7, 2005
Cast, from left to right: Elizabeth Elson, Arthur French, Cam Kornman, Mary Ellen Ashley, Dante Giammarco, Gwendolyn Brown
Takeoff
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF
by Stuart Warmflash
Directed by Christine Wilson
March 29, 2004
Cast
Peter Brouwer
Peter Katona
Lisby Larson
Nicole Orth-Pallavicini
Margot White
Daniel Zaitchik
Cast Members, from left to right, Nicole Orth-Pallavicini, Peter Katona, Daniel Zaitchik, Lisby Larson
Cricket
CRICKET ON THE HEARTH
by Lowell Manfull
Directed by Lewis Magruder
December 15, 2003
Cast
Ursula Abbott
Jessica Bashline
Mac Brydon
Taylor Donnelly
James Glenn
Jack Koenig
David Little
Lucy Martin
Kelly Mealia
William O'Donnell
Playwright Lowell Manfull
Evensong02
EVENSONG*
by Mary Gage
Staged Reading
June 8 and 9, 2002
![me[1]](http://static.wix.com/media/d463be513f0f6d360e9f29944c330246.wix_mp_128)
Cast
Gail Alberini
Peg French
Joyce Kipp
Wilson Hutton
Syeed Malik
Helen Manfull
Playwright Mary Gage
*Broad Horizons worked with playwright Mary Gage to develop
Evensong
from 2002 through 2006. Click through the next two pages to see more about workshop and off-Broadway productions.
Flaw Flue
A FLAW IN THE FLUE
by Mark Dundas Wood
February 4, 2002
Cast
Mac Brydon
Andrew Dawson
Michael Doyle
James Glenn
Robin Moseley
Charles Tucker
Playwright Mark Dundas Wood, along with director Lewis Magruder and board member Pamela Lloyd
Shortwave
THE SHORTWAVE MAN
by John Orlock
Directed by Lewis Magruder
October 29, 2001
Cast
Ty Burrell
Dezur Kenna
Helen Manfull
Christopher Murney
Dance
DANCE WITH ME
by Jean Reynolds
Directed by Chrisine Wilson
September 24, 2001
Cast
Katherine Hiler
Heather Landry
Tim Steiner
Actor Heather Landry
