Inverse Theater to Launch Five-Year Nationwide Reading Series of Kirk Wood Bromley's Plays

Inverse Theater's Upcoming Reading Series

Inverse Theater is set to commence an ambitious five-year nationwide reading series starting on July 25, 2026. This exciting initiative, titled "The Kirk Wood Bromley Reading Series - Celebrating America's Greatest Verse Playwright - 20 Plays in 5 Years!" aims to honor the significant contributions of playwright Kirk Wood Bromley, renowned for his poetic storytelling and innovative theatrical work.

The series will kick off with the play The American Revolution, which Bromley penned to coincide with America’s 250th birthday. The choice reflects both a celebration of historical founding narratives and an acknowledgment of Bromley's influence on contemporary theater. Each season throughout the five years will introduce one of his remaining 19 plays, ensuring audiences experience the breadth of his remarkable repertoire.

Celebrating a Literary Powerhouse

Bromley has earned notable comparisons to Shakespeare from various publications. For instance, OffOffOff.com stated, "for a taste of what it must have been like to see Shakespeare in his own time, you couldn't do better than Bromley." Widely recognized for his rich verses, he has been hailed as the 'Verse Play Champion' by The Village Voice. His works are lauded for their creative depth and literary quality, allowing them to thrive both on stage and in printed form.

Melissa Stuart, the Producer at Inverse Theater, emphasized the suitability of Bromley's works for a reading series format, highlighting their literary merit. "Inverse was the first company in NYC to collaborate with Robert Lopez, the Oscar Award-winning composer of Frozen and Book of Mormon, who created music for The American Revolution,” she explained. "In Robert's words, 'Kirk's writing is among the most engaging in New York theater.' This series will allow audiences to appreciate the literature aspect of his plays in a new light."

Launch Details

The inaugural performance features The American Revolution, set to take place in Raleigh, North Carolina, hosted by Social Animal under the direction of Joshua Spafford. Esteemed actor James Urbaniak will portray George Washington, recognized for his roles in The Venture Brothers and American Splendor. Subsequent readings will extend to major cities including New York City, Austin, Columbia, and Los Angeles, with various directors helming different productions.

This initiative is not merely a showcase of plays but also an opportunity for a deeper engagement with Bromley's work. Audiences will benefit from insights shared by Bromley himself, along with social media coverage that documents each performance. Melissa Stuart invites directors interested in participating to reach out, promising a rich festival experience that will broaden audiences’ perspectives on Bromley's groundbreaking contributions to American theater.

As Melissa emphasizes, "This festival will be an incredible chance for new audiences to engage with Bromley's revolutionary work. This collaboration will be instrumental in starting the multi-generational task of interpreting this vital collection of dramatic poetry across the American theater landscape."

Full details and the complete calendar for the series will be available at inversetheater.org, allowing theater enthusiasts to join in what promises to be a transformative journey through Bromley’s acclaimed works.