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Project Goals W ith Staged: New Play Readings in 2023, OdysseyStage aims to <br />prov ide new v oices for theatre in Orange County, building on the <br />success of the current Staged: New Play Readings series. (1) Staged <br />will address an inv aluable step in new play dev elopment by giv ing <br />playwrights the opportunity to hear the play performed by actors and <br />listen to how the audience responds. This experience prompts <br />rev isions that are needed toward mounting a full production. (2) <br />Staged will respond to the need to increase div ersity in recruiting <br />playwrights, actors, and directors and div ersity in themes of the plays <br />that we select. (3) Staged will dev elop new and more div erse <br />audiences; through talk-back discussions after each performance, <br />which are moderated by a theatre professional, the audience is ev en <br />more engaged and inv ited to giv e feedback to the playwright. The <br />audience benefits as does the playwright, as this process generates <br />a stronger understanding and appreciation of play dev elopment. This <br />experience enriches the theatre community. (4) Finally, Staged will <br />grow awareness and v isibility of OdysseyStage across Orange <br />County, building a brand that is recognized for producing quality <br />work and memorable theatrical experiences. <br />Audience Description Audiences for staged readings v ary in size and composition. The <br />subject matter and familiarity with the playwright's work influences <br />who attends. In 2022 the attendance for OdysseyStage plays is as <br />follows. “Ona” had a liv e audience of about 40; more than twice that <br />number watched v ia Zoom and included participants across the <br />state, the country, and ev en from Europe and Australia. “Milk and <br />Honey W hiskey” had a liv e audience of nearly 50. “Johnny Johnson” <br />had a liv e audience of about 70. “Power, Money, Sex … Oh Yeah, and <br />Lov e” had a liv e audience of 25. <br />“Ona” featured three Black actors, a Black director, and a Black <br />moderator, resulting in broader audience div ersity because friends <br />and relations attended. Audience div ersity was more limited in <br />subsequent performances. Note that Anthony Garcia-Copian, whose <br />play will be performed on June 12, identifies as LGBTQ+ and Cuban <br />American. W ith his extensiv e network of friends and fans, <br />considerable audience div ersity is expected. <br />Liv e audiences typically reflect the Orange County population and <br />more broadly the Triangle region. As OdysseyStage applies <br />nontraditional casting, we anticipate more audience div ersity. In the <br />2023 Staged series, we will encourage playwrights who identify as <br />LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and those who are otherwise underrepresented, to <br />submit. Since tickets to at least half of Staged performances are free, <br />with an option to make a donation, we hope to engage new audiences <br />who may not typically spend entertainment dollars on theatre. In this <br />way OdysseyStage can grow a larger and more div erse audience for <br />future shows <br />DocuSign Envelope ID: 1315607F-75E6-42DD-A441-EE50D987E820