Question about 'play readings'

[rayoflight104]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 11:20am

What are the purposes for 'play readings'? Is it to see if the play is strong enough to go into production? Is it just to allow the piece of work to be expressed to an audience?

I was wondering about this because of the latest news that Don Cummings' "A Good Smoke" was going to be at the Public Theatre in June...
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129372-Meryl_Streep_Debra_Monk_and_More_Set_for_Reading_of_A_Good_Smoke

[Eris0303]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 11:26am

It's very beneficial to a writer to hear their work read aloud. It helps them gauge what's good and what needs to be changed. If a reader stumbles over a line then it's, probably, not written properly. It's a wonderful tool in discovering the strengths and weaknesses of a piece.

Also, when industry people are invited it's a great way to get investors, producers, et al interested in your work. You need these kind of people behind you in order to get a piece off the ground.