Naked Stage builds a bridge to expand its reach

When the Ides of March approaches, it will serve as more than a reminder of the historic murder of Julius Caesar as dramatized by William Shakespeare. This year, it brings with it a new theater option for the East End.

Beginning in mid-March, a new black box theater will open at the Bridgehampton Community House (BCH) with the aim of bringing an urban vibe through specializing in new plays.

To launch the new venture, new 10-minute plays are being accepted for a play festival devoted to the abbreviated genre in May. High school students are being invited to write monologues for a High School Monologue Challenge running from April 30 to May 2. Both events are linked by the theme of “What you don’t know…” A free acting class will be offered on March 14 at 2 p.m. led by Joshua Perl, the founder and artistic director of the Naked Stage (TNS).

The Bridge is the latest endeavor undertaken by TNS, and moving into the Bridgehampton Community House for a three-month stint is another way of fulfilling the group’s mission of bringing theater to the East End, said Mr. Perl. So is keeping the emphasis on the plays instead of the spectacle of theater.

The Bridge will be a black box theater, borrowing a page from edgy urban spaces in New York where plays aren’t always presented in a conventional theater. To create a hip and intimate space, Mr. Perl and Naked Stage Director of Development Peter Zablotsky fashioned a complete theater space using only the stage at the BCH.

The idea struck Mr. Zablotsky while the pair were walking around the cavernous space. The stage proved the perfect size once the velvet curtains were drawn, enclosing both audience and actors.

“Part of our success—and the reason we enjoy the play readings so much—is because the actors are close to the audience,” said Mr. Zablotsky. “This keeps the focus on the words and allows the actors to develop their craft without having to consider projecting their voices and worrying about moving around the stage … The large rectangular stage was perfect for creating intimate theater.”

To set The Bridge apart from play readings at Guild Hall, the emphasis will be on new plays. The New Play Development Series is being launched on March 18 with “Welcome to Hell” by Mary Vettel. The group’s annual Irish Night is slated for March 19. Instead of a new play, James Joyce’s only play, “Exiles” will be read. The lead artist is playwright and actor Peter Fitzgerald.

New plays continue on March 25 with “Unused Characters” by Susie Merrill and “The Big Dark” by Jonathan Wallace on March 26. Tickets for the New Play Development Series and Irish Night are $5.

Weekends feature the B’way East series of reading established plays. “The Perfect Party” by A.R. Gurney Jr. will be read on March 20 and 21. “Copenhagen” by Michael Frayn will be read on March 27 and 28. Tickets are $10.

Looking ahead, TNS at The Bridge will produce two new works festivals. The High School Monologue Challenge will be held April 30, May 1 and 2. Students have the option to read their monologue or have an actor present it.

The 10-Minute Play Festival will feature eight fully produced plays. The competition is open to everyone. Submissions must be received by March 10. All plays must include the phrase, “What you don’t know…” The festival runs from May 7 to 16.

By the end of the first three-month run of The Bridge at BCH, Mr. Perl hopes stir enough interest to warrant a return in the fall. With steady audience growth, he hopes The Bridge will become a year-round theater and prove as popular at the Naked Stage’s play reading series. Workshops are also in the works and will be added as the slate is developed. A new play written by Dava Sobel may also be workshopped at The Bridge this spring.

“When we first began holding readings of plays, no one thought there would be enough interest in plays without full staging. But there was,” said Mr. Perl. “We think there’s enough sophistication here that people will enjoy black box theater like you find in New York. There’s nothing like this on the East End. I hope people will enjoy it.”

Information on The Bridge at BCH and the Naked Stage play readings can be found at www.thenakedstage.com. Questions on the 10-Minute Play Festival and the High School Monologue Challenge can be e-mailed to thenakedstage@optonline.net. All tickets will be sold at the door.