The Depot for New Play Readings

In 2015 the Depot for New Play Readings opened as a gathering place for theater lovers who wish to stay abreast of trends in theater today. The group meets to read and discuss new work in a former train station outbuilding in Hampton, a rural village in Connecticut’s Quiet Corner.

The Depot sits on land formerly inhabited by the Nipmuck Tribe.

Our mission is simple. Meet friends. Read new plays.

In 2015 the Depot for New Play Readings opened as a gathering place for theater lovers who wish to stay abreast of trends in theater today. The group meets to read and discuss new work in a former train station outbuilding in Hampton, a rural village in Connecticut’s Quiet Corner.

The Depot sits on land formerly inhabited by the Nipmuck Tribe.

Our mission is simple. Meet friends. Read new plays.

  •

    Ben Scranton’s superb “The Last Battalion of Children” is set in the nightly dream of a former Nazi doctor. In this realm where anything may occur, visions of victims and family confront the doctor with his crimes. Lyrical monologues combined with the suspense of a courtroom drama raise emotions to a pitch. The fabulous dialog is never marred by a weak line, and the imagery is pinpoint. A powerful exploration of guilt that engages the intellect and the heart in equal measure. Highly recommended.

    Ben Scranton’s superb “The Last Battalion of Children” is set in the nightly dream of a former Nazi doctor. In this realm where anything may occur, visions of victims and family confront the doctor with his crimes. Lyrical monologues combined with the suspense of a courtroom drama raise emotions to a pitch. The fabulous dialog is never marred by a weak line, and the imagery is pinpoint. A powerful exploration of guilt that engages the intellect and the heart in equal measure. Highly recommended.

  •

    Amy and Jeff are having trouble trying to have a baby, and their annoying neighbor Mrs. Teitelbaum knows just how to help. With that simple set up, Arianna Rose delivers an unforgettable play about pregnancy and parenthood, and Wiccan and science in New York’s Upper West Side. With rapid-fire dialog, hilarious physical comedy, and a lot of heart, "The Ripple Effect" walks a fine line between fantasy and reality. The result is utterly charming. A sure crowd-pleaser. Very highly recommended.

    Amy and Jeff are having trouble trying to have a baby, and their annoying neighbor Mrs. Teitelbaum knows just how to help. With that simple set up, Arianna Rose delivers an unforgettable play about pregnancy and parenthood, and Wiccan and science in New York’s Upper West Side. With rapid-fire dialog, hilarious physical comedy, and a lot of heart, "The Ripple Effect" walks a fine line between fantasy and reality. The result is utterly charming. A sure crowd-pleaser. Very highly recommended.

  •

    Steve Gold’s “Barren Landscape” portrays with accuracy and heart the loneliness of Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. In two scenes, we see a mother and daughter contend with the mother’s disease. The story is common, and Gold hits the right tragic notes. What makes his play stand out, though, is its humanity. With tight dialog, he depicts the way Alzheimer’s reduces social filters, and the result is dialog that's funny. The play is all the more powerful for it. Strongly recommended.

    Steve Gold’s “Barren Landscape” portrays with accuracy and heart the loneliness of Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. In two scenes, we see a mother and daughter contend with the mother’s disease. The story is common, and Gold hits the right tragic notes. What makes his play stand out, though, is its humanity. With tight dialog, he depicts the way Alzheimer’s reduces social filters, and the result is dialog that's funny. The play is all the more powerful for it. Strongly recommended.

  •

    Jack Rushton’s “Far from Nirvana” manages a three-act structure in ten minutes. A middle-aged couple seeks to revive their passion with a drug that promises to take them to Nirvana. Riveting and unpredictable, the trip takes the couple somewhere neither they nor the audience expect. Easily staged with minimal props, the play also can be adapted easily for radio broadcast. Highly recommended.

    Jack Rushton’s “Far from Nirvana” manages a three-act structure in ten minutes. A middle-aged couple seeks to revive their passion with a drug that promises to take them to Nirvana. Riveting and unpredictable, the trip takes the couple somewhere neither they nor the audience expect. Easily staged with minimal props, the play also can be adapted easily for radio broadcast. Highly recommended.

  •

    Andy Levine’s “Close Your Eyes” dramatizes the agonizing decision an average suburban family must make when their middle child, a boy with developmental disabilities, becomes too difficult for them to care for. Set in the late 1960s, when the only option available was institutionalization, Levine portrays the stakes for every member of the family in all its complexity—the fear, anger, and grief they feel. “Close Your Eyes” is a terrific play that is both poignant and tragic. Highly recommended.

    Andy Levine’s “Close Your Eyes” dramatizes the agonizing decision an average suburban family must make when their middle child, a boy with developmental disabilities, becomes too difficult for them to care for. Set in the late 1960s, when the only option available was institutionalization, Levine portrays the stakes for every member of the family in all its complexity—the fear, anger, and grief they feel. “Close Your Eyes” is a terrific play that is both poignant and tragic. Highly recommended.

View all 59 recommendations