The Reading Theater Project has announced the final installment in its Play Reading Series: Revelation with Hero Work, a new play by local writer Adam Richter. The staged reading will be held on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at the Boscov Theatre, located within GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in downtown Reading. Admission follows a Pay What You Will model, with a recommended ticket price of $10 and a “Pay It Forward” option of $20.
Directed by Julia Matthews, Hero Work follows Josh Watkins, a mild-mannered reporter who secretly moonlights as a superhero. The central conflict of the story is not a villain, but rather Josh’s struggle to balance his dual identities—particularly when disaster strikes and he must choose which version of himself will make the biggest difference.
The cast includes Alex Dorsheimer as Josh Watkins, Sandi Trait as Blair, Richard Bradbury as Gordon, Cat Whelan as Phoebe, John Gancar as Townes, Kevin Wade as the Mayor, Michael Shott as a Teenager/Victim, and Deb Brubaker as a Security Guard. Brubaker will also narrate the stage directions.
Each reading in the series concludes with a talkback session featuring the playwright, director, and cast members, offering audience members a chance to engage with the creative team. This spring’s Play Reading Series aligns with the season’s theme, “Illuminate,” showcasing original works by local and regional playwrights.
The series is part of Reading Theater Project’s Theater For All initiative, which aims to make the arts more accessible. Support for the program comes from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Berks Arts, EnerSys, Visions Federal Credit Union, and M&T Bank.
The company’s 2024-2025 season will conclude this summer with In Nature’s Studio: Toytopia, scheduled for Sunday, July 27 at 4 p.m. in the Reading Public Museum arboretum.
For more information, visit readingtheaterproject.org or call 484-706-9719. Free parking for the May 29 performance is available behind the GoggleWorks building at 200 Washington Street.
