Manhattan Theatre Club's Ernst C. Stiefel “7@7” Reading Series, formerly known as 6@6, is an annual series of rehearsed play readings dedicated to the support and development of innovative new work. Since 1999, plays developed through these readings have gone on to full productions at MTC, elsewhere in New York and around the country.

If you would like to be added to our email list, please email readings@mtc-nyc.org. Please note that reservations made through this email address will not be processed.

All readings are free and take place on Mondays at 7 PM at New York City Center, Stage I at 131 West 55th Street. Seating is limited and reservations are required.

To make a reservation, CLICK HERE or call (212) 399-3000, ext. 4163.
Seating to all readings is on a first-come, first-served basis.

March 12: DEATH OF THE AUTHOR by Steven Drukman directed by Lynne Meadow
At a university for the privileged, adjunct professor Jeff Egan detects something unusual about a paper submitted by Bradley, a legacy student a week away from graduation and parental approval. Jeff's discovery sets in motion a series of events that challenges each man's assumptions about the other--uncovering their past while potentially threatening their future. A smart and probing new drama about academia, class, and conscience.

Steven Drukman was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2003. His play The Prince of Atlantis will premiere at South Coast Repertory this spring.

March 19: PHAEDRA by Adam Bock directed by Trip Cullman
Stuck in an unsatisfying marriage, still in her sexual prime, Catherine develops a secret obsession for Paulie. But Paulie’s not just a younger man with a checkered past, he’s also Catherine’s stepson. When her epic passion is unleashed on her small suburban town, the results rock both her community and her family. A riveting modern adaptation of Racine's classic tale by the author of MTC’s The Receptionist.

Adam Bock’s plays have been produced at Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, Second Stage, SoHo Rep, Rattlestick and Clubbed Thumb.

March 26: IMPORTANT HATS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY by Nick Jones directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel
New York, 1934: A world of high fashion, none higher than the ultra-modern new collection from designer Paul Roms. But when a jealous rival starts snooping around Roms’ workshop, he finds that Roms’ influences are less Robert Piguet and more H.G. Wells. A sartorial sci-fi satire from the creator of Jollyship the Whiz-Bang and The Coward.

Nick Jones is a graduate of the Juilliard School. He is currently adapting his play The Coward for a feature film and developing a musical for the Center Theatre Group.

April 2: THE VILLAGE BIKE by Penelope Skinner directed by Kate Whoriskey
Becky’s pregnant and frustrated. Her husband is more interested in the baby books than her new underwear, and her porn stash under the bed is no longer enough. As the summer heats up, a brief encounter with a local tradesman sends her speeding downhill towards total disaster. A provocative and darkly comic look at fantasy and romance, fresh from a sold out run at London’s Royal Court Theatre.

Penelope Skinner is a British writer who won the 2011 George Devine Award and the 2011 Evening Standard Theatre Award Charles Wintour Most Promising Playwright for The Village Bike.

April 9: SEVEN HOMELESS MAMMOTHS WANDER NEW ENGLAND by Madeleine George directed by Ken Rus Schmoll
Dean Wreen’s college is on the verge of financial crisis, its beloved museum is set to close, and the community is in an uproar. But as one window to the past is about to close, another one opens: Wreen’s ex-girlfriend Greer reappears, announces she’s terminally ill and takes up residence with the dean and her much younger girlfriend. Academic and romantic worlds collide in this hilarious and deeply moving comedy.

Madeleine George’s Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England is a finalist for the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Award. She has been a MacDowell Fellow and a Princess Grace Playwriting Fellow.

April 16: THE SEDUCTION COMMUNITY by Greg Keller directed by Kip Fagan
Owen’s and Amy's relationship is four years old. Master pickup artist Baller thinks it’s time Owen isolate a new target, shotgun some negs, and drop a couple IOIs so he can DHV. Will Owen follow Baller’s advice? Will Owen’s and Amy’s relationship survive? Will Owen figure out what any of those terms mean? A rollicking, unsentimental comedy about modern relationships from the author of Dutch Masters.

Greg Keller is the author of The Young Left and Dutch Masters. He was a Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellow at the Juilliard School and is currently appearing in MTC’s hit Broadway production of Margaret Edson’s Wit.

April 23: DONNY’S BRAIN by Rona Munro directed by Dexter Bullard
Donny’s suffered a major brain injury, but he’s sure he’ll recover in the care of the love of his life, Emma. But Emma is acting strangely, and who is this other woman who won’t stop weeping by his bedside? In this funny and poignant play, Donny might get a second chance to follow his heart, if only his head will let him. Donny’s Brain was commissioned by MTC through the Alfred P. Sloan Initiative.

Rona Munro is a Scottish writer who has written extensively for radio, film, television and stage including the award winning Iron, which debuted at MTC.

PAST PROGRAMMING

7@7 2011:
Reverberation by Matthew Lopez
Carl’s Sister by Alfred Uhry
The Recommendation by Jonathan Caren
Tender by Kelly Younger
The Chooky Brae by D.C. Jackson
A Lasting Mark by Michael Elyanow
The Great Immensity written and directed by Steven Cosson

7@7 2010:
Retreat by Steven Levenson
Nocturama by Anne Baker
Pieces of Vincent by David Watson
There Are No More Big Secrets by Heidi Shreck
Stunt Girl Book and Lyrics by Peter Kellog
How the World Began by Catherine Trieschmann
Oblivion by Carly Mensch 
 
7@7 2009:
Dreams of Violence by Stella Feehily
Night for Day by Nicholas Kazan
Magic Forest Farm by Zayd Dohrn
Recall by Eliza Clark
Close Up Space by Molly Smith Metzler
The Color of Desire written and directed by Nilo Cruz
Funked Up Fairytales, Book, Music & Lyrics by Kirsten Childs
 
7@7 2008:
Shoe Story by Ben Snyder
Calvin Berger Book, Music & Lyrics by Barry Wyner
Wisdom by Simon Vinncombe
Willing by Amy Herzog
The Imprisonment of the Eye by Sam Marks
Fake by Eric Simonson
Kissing the Floor by Ellen McLaughln
 
6@6 2007:
Horse Latitudes by Hillary Fannin
Stunning by David Adjmi
A Sleeping Country by Melanie Marnich
The Front Music & Lyrics by Paul Gordon & Jay Gruska, Book by Seth Friedman
The Last Best Place by Bathsheba Doran
Human Voices by Sarah Treem
 
6@6 2006:
Men of Tortuga by Jason Wells
Strike-Slip by Naomi IIzuka
Good Boys and True by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
The Little Flower of East Orange by Stephen Adly Guirgis
Fallout by Shelagh Stephenson
The Girl in the Frame Book, Music and Lyrics by Jeremy Desmon

6@6 2005:
Based on a Totally True Story by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Durango by Julia Cho
American Klepto by Allison Moore
Edible Oils and Fats by Phil Porter
Story of My Life, Music and Lyrics by Neil Bartram, Book by Brian Hill
The Hopper Collection by Mat Smart

6@6 2004:
The Ugly American written and performed by Mike Daisey
Red Light Winter written and directed by Adam Rapp
The Scene by Theresa Rebeck
A Likely Story written and performed by David Cale
The Adventures of Barrio Grrrl! by Quiara Alegria Hudes
Dance the Holy Ghost: A Play on Memory by Marcus Gardley

6@6 2003:
Not Waving by Ellen Melaver
The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove by Regina Taylor
Dissonance by Damian Lanigan
Chrysalis words and music by Gilles Chiasson
Drug Buddy by David Folwell
Bay Windows and Shakes by Joe Hortua

6@6 2002:
40 Years in the Sunshine by Annie Weisman
Motherhouse by Victor Lodato
Coming Up Next, Music and Lyrics by Norman Noll, Book by Itamar Moses
Pro Bono Publico by Peter Morris
Jump/Cut by Neena Beber
Eyolf by John Belluso

6@6 2001:
Slag Heap by Anton Dudley
Preserve by Courtney Baron
Placement by Blair Singer
Carol Mulroney by Stephen Belber
3 1⁄2 Catholics by Julia Jordan
Joe! Book, Music and Lyrics by Dan Lipton and David Rossmer

6@6 2000:
97 Orchard Street, Music by Frederick Freyer, Book and Lyrics by Patrick Cook
Jerusalem by Seth Greenland
Crazy Jane on God by Dan O’Brien
Underneath the Lintel by Glen Berger
Suicide Weather by Jeff Whitty
Illuminating Veronica by Rogelio Martinez
The Tulip Craze by Jay Reiss

6@6 1999:
Innocence is a Sin by Lucy Thurber
Intrigue With Faye by Kate Robin
Peaking by Eric Winick
A Hole in the Dark by Hilly Hicks
Proof by David Auburn
Musical of Musicals, Music by Eric Rockwell, Lyrics by Joanne Bogart