Announcing our "Renewal Reading Series" - Call for submissions!

We here at UP lament the postponement of Lizzie Donahue's A BARN PLAY. We are committed to its production during our 2020-21 season. We find some solace in knowing that our play was only one of countless productions from around the world that were cut short, postponed, or canceled outright. 

 In the interest of honoring new works that were on the cusp of taking their next step before outside forces intervened, UP is issuing a call for scripts of new plays whose readings, workshops, or productions were impacted by the Coronavirus. We will select up to eight plays to present as readings during our 2020-21 season. 

We are calling this series "Renewal"  - the opposite of "canceled - and we hope to breathe new life into this work.

Click HERE for submission guidelines

To say that these are uncertain times feels trite. So we will instead say that we will get through them and that we look forward to seeing you on the other side.  

Dead of Winter 2020

4 Cold Saturdays! 4 hot readings. An annual exploratory reading event, of plays in differing levels of development.

January 4th- Bastard

Written & directed by Seth McNeill

Two brothers attend a wake for their mother. Or is it their father? The woman who may or may not be their sister knows the answer. Or does she? Maybe the only thing real is the longing for connection.

January 11th- The Best Punk Band in Conway, Missouri: An Oral History of Presley Cox and the Fallout Five

By Kirby Fields, directed by Rachel Murray

An older punk rocker looks back at the hard knocks and glory days and the band that propelled her to fame, sort of.

January 18th- Mr. Theater

By Doug Bost, directed by Ashley O’ Neill

A comedy about an octogenarian moves to New York- and onto his son’s couch- and tries to make it as a serious actor.

January 25th- Drown

By David Hilder, directed by Amanda Joshi

A teenage boy attempts to cope with his mom’s suicide by drowning, while his mom tries to cope with her new life under the sea.

LOST/NOT FOUND: The Reviews Are In!

“Funny and entertaining. Riveting…”

Jamie Saunders, Devin E. Haqq, Max Lebow

014A0231 (1).jpg

“This was incredible. This is the type of theater that I live for.”

Mariette Strauss, Max Lebow

014A0814-e1496631973905.jpg

“I am willing to see 10 Bad Plays in a row if it means I get to see a hidden gem like this every once in a while.

Max Lebow, Andrew Manning, Jamie Saunders

014A0423.jpg

 

“…extremely well executed”

Set by Frank Oliva. Lighting by Duane Pagano. Costumes by Janet Mervin.

“…the set was perfect.”

014A0086.jpg

Read all the reviews at SHOW SCORE.

Onward & UPward: Meeting Manny Ramirez

“From an early age Manny understood the importance of the words ‘we’ and ‘us’ and that our neighborhood is strengthened by everyone’s participation. He developed Dichter Pharmacy into an Inwood institution with exhibitions, performances and soda shop with free meeting space. His unbridled support of Inwood and its arts and culture make Manny a most deserving recipient of the UPstanding Person of the Year award.”

— Martin Collins (Community Leader, and UPstanding Person of the Year ’16)