MERCY, GOING HOME and NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK Set for MCC Theater's Spring 2013 Playlab Readings

MCC Theater has announced the line-up for their Spring 2013 PlayLab readings of new plays by three members of the company's Playwrights' Coalition: Adam Szymkowicz, Ed Napier, and Ashlin Halfnight to be held respectively at 7PM on June 3, June 10 and June 23, 2013 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street). The series offers a rare look into the development process of new plays by some of New York's most exciting playwrights. Audience members will also be invited to meet and greet the artists at receptions directly following the readings.

MCC Theater, well known for its fostering of new works on its main stages and beyond, is now in the twelfth year of its Playwrights' Coalition, which brings together a diverse group of some of the most talented, exciting playwrights working today. The Coalition offers writers the resources and support necessary to help conceive, develop and ultimate present their work to a New York audience, with an emphasis on roundtable readings and intensive script analysis. The resulting works reveal most often bold, original theatrical voices, many of whom have taken scripts developed through PlayLabs on to productions at MCC and other renowned theaters regionally across the U.S., in New York, and internationally.

The series is offered free of charge, but reservations are recommended. Reservations can be made by visiting www.mcctheater.org.

MCC Theater is currently presenting the final production of its acclaimed 2012-13 Main Stage Season: the world premiere of MCC Playwright-in-ResidenceNeil LaBute's new play, Reasons to Be Happy, which LaBute also directs. This season marks the 10th Anniversary of LaBute's relationship with MCC. Leslie Bibb (Iron Man, ABC's "GCB") and Jenna Fischer (NBC's "The Office") are making their New York City stage debuts opposite Josh Hamilton (The Coast of Utopia) and Fred Weller (MCC's Still Life and In a Dark Dark House) in this companion piece to LaBute's critically-acclaimed award-winning play,Reasons to Be Pretty, first produced at MCC Theater in 2008 before moving to Broadway where it was nominated for three 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Play. Performances of Reasons to Be Happy began on May 16th at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) and continue throughJune 23, 2013. An official opening is set for June 11, 2013. Tickets are now on sale.

2013 Spring PlayLab Readings:

Monday, June 3, 7 p.m.

Mercy

Written by Adam Szymkowicz

Directed by Ethan McSweeny

Orville is grieving the vehicular manslaughter of his beloved wife. When by chance he faces the driver who killed her, he begins an agonizing conflict between revenge and forgiveness.

Monday, June 10, 7 p.m.

Going Home

Written & Directed by Ed Napier

When Tony leaves Manhattan for his mother's funeral in Ceredo, West Virginia, he is thrown into the maelstrom of ancient family grudges and unexpressed affection. Rich with local color and ribald humor, this is a story of coming to terms with what place your past has in your future.?

Sunday, June 23, 7 p.m.

New Hampshire, New York

Written by Ashlin Halfnight

Directed by May Adrales

Christmas in New York City. This delightful comedy follows the travails of loves found and lost and found again by a group of five confused but endearing characters in search of a soul-mate.

MCC Theater - founded in 1986 as Manhattan Class Company - is committed to developing and producing new work that challenges artists and rewards audiences. Our mission is carried out through an annual season of world, American, and New York premieres, literary development programs for emerging writers, and ground-breaking education programs that enable more than 1,100 New York City high school students to find - and use - their own unique voice each year through the creation and performance of original theater pieces. Notable MCC Theater highlights include: the New York premiere of The Other Placestarring Laurie Metcalf (which transferred to Broadway during the 2012-13 Season); the 2008 Tony Award-nominated Reasons to Be Pretty by Neil LaBute,The Pride, Fifty Words, the 2004 Tony-winning production of Bryony Lavery's Frozen, Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, Rebecca Gilman's The Glory of Living, Marsha Norman's Trudy Blue, Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning Wit, Tim Blake Nelson's The Grey Zone, Alan Bowne's Beirut, The Submission, winner of the inaugural Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award for new American plays, and last season's newly reworked and fully re-imagined production of Carrie, the musical. Over the years, the dedication to the work of new and emerging artists has earned MCC Theater a variety of awards.