A Taste of Red Reading Series

A Taste of Red: readings of plays that excite us, confound us, and make us dream

 With our free play reading series, A Red Orchid invites you to take a peek behind the curtain and see how our team goes about exploring a play. What gets our ensemble excited about a script? How do actors, directors, playwrights, and designers all approach the same text differently? How does a play move from the page to the stage? What defines a quintessential A Red Orchid production?

 For us, these conversations are typically casual and cozy, like some friends discussing plays in someone’s living room. We’re traveling to different neighborhoods around Chicago and partnering with small businesses that have perfected this warm ambience. Grab a bite and a drink, relax, let the words wash over you, and feel free to share your thoughts afterward.

We also want to highlight and celebrate the amazing talents of theatermakers from historically marginalized communities. Keep an eye out for readings dedicated to AAPI Heritage Month, LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, and many more!

To receive invitations to these free readings, please sign up for our emails at the bottom of this page.

May 14: The Cave by Sadieh Rifai

Directed by Dana Saleh Omar

Dema’s life is upended when her Palestinian-American family moves from Las Vegas to Ohio. While Dema rapidly approaches puberty and the first Gulf War intensifies, her father Jamil’s mental health deteriorates. The world around her gets physically and emotionally darker as truths are revealed and everything around her shatters.

As part of this Taste of Red, we will have information and donation opportunities available for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) is a non-political humanitarian relief organization with 30 years of providing tens of thousands of children with free medical care and supplying necessities to those most in need.