The New Works Series: Staged Readings of Plays in Progress is in its 4th season this year at Bennington Theater. Local actors perform original new plays, scripts in hand, after only 6 hours of rehearsal. The plays may be staged or simply read aloud. Tonight's play is an enhanced staged reading Why do play readings? First, it's a vital part of developing new plays and nurturing playwrights. Second, it allows us to share the process of how plays are created. It all begins with a script. But a script is not a play. Until a script is seen and heard, until the characters speak, feel, move & become human- -only then does a script begin to be a play. A play is a living thing that we discover, step by step. The first step is a reading. Readings give playwrights, actors, and directors the space to take chances. To discover what works and what doesn't work and to trust the audience.