Pilot Reading Series

Hangar Theatre Pilot Reading Series, held every month in Manhattan, offers new and established playwrights a chance to work on their new plays with Hangar alumni directors and actors.  The Hangar Theatre, located in Ithaca, NY is committed to the nurturing of new plays and the artistic collaboration that facilitates it. During the summer months, The Hangar Theatre opens its doors to its local community by presenting The Pilot Reading Series in Ithaca.  Playwrights are able to take advantage of local audiences and a longer amount of time to rehearse.

Notable Directors, Writers & Actors who have participated in the Series:

Kristoffer Diaz (Pulitzer Finalist, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity)

Anton Dudley (Substitution, Letters to the End of the World)

Director Lisa Peterson

Director Joe Calarco (In Transit)

Robert Hogan (“The Wire”, A Few Good Men on Broadway)

Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot)

Robert Clohessy (“Oz”, “Boardwalk Empire”, the recent revival of Pal Joey)

PETER FLYNN (Artistic Director) Directing credits at the Hangar include the world premiere of Tim Pinckney’s Ever So Humble starring Andréa Burns, Dirty Blonde starring Tony nominee Emily Skinner, David Mamet’s November starring Broadway veteran Wally Dunn, Penelope of Ithaca with local luminary Susannah Berryman, and Man of La Mancha starring Richard Adams & Natascia Diaz.  Recent credits include Guys & Dolls starring Andréa Burns, Shine! starring Hangar alum Bill Ryall, and Barrio Grrrl! for the Kennedy Center. Broadway credits: Actors’ Fund concerts of On the 20th Century, Chess with Josh Groban, and Funny Girl with Whoopi Goldberg. Off-Broadway credits: Lee Blessing’s Two Rooms at Lion Theatre; Henry & Mudge, and Junie B. Jones, nominated for Lucille Lortel Award - Best Musical, and Rhapsody in Seth at Actors’ Playhouse starring Seth Rudetsky. As a writer, commission: Huntington Theatre with writing partner, composer/lyricist Brooks Ashmanskas. Graduate: Northwestern University.

STEPHANIE YANKWITT is the Associate Artistic Director: Head of Casting & New Works at the Hangar Theatre.  Over the past three years, Stephanie has cast over a dozen plays & musicals at the Hangar including August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean starring Lizan Mitchell, Ever So Humble starring Andrea Burns, the regional premiere of RENT starring Eric Jordan Young, and David Mamet’s November, a play she also assisted on it’s world premiere with Mr. Mamet and Joe Mantello.  In addition to casting at the Hangar, Stephanie has cast for Hartford Stage, Atlantic Stage 2, Ars Nova, Second Stage Uptown, and Actors Theatre of Louisville – working on mostly new plays, which is her passion.  Stephanie has helped to develop by both Casting and Directing, over 30 new plays including playwrights Alan Ball, Craig Wright, Laura Eason, Anton Dudley, Kristoffer Diaz, and Bekah Brunstetter.  Stephanie started casting at Bernie Telsey Casting in 2003.  She currently teaches at NYU Tisch School of the Arts/Stella Adler Studio.

For information on our upcoming Pilot Reading Series production, click here.