The Reading Theater Project will present a staged reading of “Deb’s Dresses” by playwright Josh P. Cohen on Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at the Boscov GoggleWorks Theater in Reading.
The performance continues the company’s current season theme of “Disruption.” The reading will feature script-in-hand performances by local actors and will be directed by Patrick O’Neill with stage management by Jody Reppert.
The play follows siblings Mark and Rachel Aronson as they attempt to help their sister Becca rebuild her life after she returns home to Cleveland from New York City and takes a job at a family friend’s dress shop. However, Becca’s troubled past and previous betrayals threaten to disrupt her relationships and the fragile support system around her.
Cohen, the playwright behind the work, grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, where he first developed an interest in theater during high school through acting and performing music for plays and musicals. He later began writing plays while attending Kent State University. In addition to playwriting, Cohen writes songs and poetry. One of his poems was included in “Keystone Poetry: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania” published in 2025. He currently lives in Montgomery County.
Tickets for the staged reading are offered on a “Pay What You Will” basis, including free admission, with a recommended price of $10.
More information and tickets are available at readingtheaterproject.org.
The Reading Theater Project is a locally focused professional theater company based in the Greater Reading and Berks County area. The organization emphasizes collaboration and creative challenges and seeks to create inclusive theatrical experiences that reflect shared human stories. For more information, visit readingtheaterproject.org or call 484-706-9719.
