Have you ever wondered how a play makes it to the big stage? This month the Pittsburgh Playwright’s Theatre Co. is giving audiences a first hand look at the process local playwrights go through to have their works staged.

The Pittsburgh Playwrights Collaborative March Staged Reading Series is going on now at its Downtown venue. PPTCo Stage Manager Eric Smith said the series gives playwrights from Pittsburgh a chance to get their work heard, and to see what it would look like on stage.

The month-long series, organized by PPTCo Founder and Artistic Director Mark Southers, features works from nearly 40 Pittsburgh writers including Jonathan Carney, who’s piece “Pedigree” was featured earlier in the month and provided a snapshot of the series’ intent.

Carney’s “Pedigree” is a story of two law school students; Winton and Charles, one white the other Black. The story focuses on racial quotas, friendship and the class system in America. “Pedigree” reading featured actor/director Lonzo Green and 18-year-old Pierre Harrison of the North Side.   

Local actor Jason Wisniewski attended the reading of “Pedigree” and said the entire series is good exposure for playwrights and actors. He also said the reading series is good for the public because it exposes audiences to new works by local writers.  

Speaking of playwrights, kudos to PPTCo stalwart and playwright Brendon Bates, who’s play, “Corps Values” was recently published in New York City.  

The balance of the PPTCo staged readings are as follows:

Week Three—March 14: “Bustenai” by Leibel Cohen, directed by Jeff Simpson (8 p.m.); March 15 “Moonlight & Love Songs” by Scott Sickles, directed by Lora Oxenreiter; March 16: “Dibbs” by J.P. Nickles, directed by Wali Jamal; March 17 “Say Hi to Rose Rabbit for Me” written and directed by Michael Swartz; March 18: Benjamin Franklin & Hall of Famers by Sue Danks, directed by Stephanie Figer (3 p.m.); “The Chimes Of War” by J.R. Hall (7 p.m.).

Week Four—March 19, 7 p.m. “Mad Honey” By Amy Hartman, directed by Martin Giles; March 20: “The Sisters Of Zivena” by Christina Kukucka, directed by Tammy Dixon; March 21: “Switched at Birth” by Denise Pullen and “Ramblings” by Mel Packer; March 22: “Cherry Smoke” by James McManus, directed by John Gresh; March 23: “Pig” by Tammy Ryan, directed by Mark Southers; March 24: “The Art Of Paring” by Brandon Siple, directed by Meagan Reagle; March 25: “The Tree Grows Strong” by Bob Gorczyca, directed by Kim El (3 p.m.); “Job” by Corey Rieger, directed by Mark Clayton Southers (7 p.m.).

Week Five—March 26: “James McBride” by Mark Clayton Southers, directed by Corey Rieger (6 p.m.); “Waxworks” by Jeanne Drennan; Mar 27: A New Play by Renee Aldrich, directed by Jeanine Foster McKelvia; March 28: “Writer’s Block” by Wali Jamal; March 29: “South Star” by Rebecca Gorman, directed by Rob Gorman (7 p.m.), “Not Eureka” by Cory Tamler, directed by Tara Adelizzi (8.p.m), “Fueled” by Tara Adelizzi, directed by Cory Tamler (9 p.m.); March 30: “Wake Up Screaming” by Michael McGovern; March 31: “Good Black Don’t Crack” by Rob Penny, directed by Vernell Lillie (4 p.m.), “Pit Fall” by Brendon Bates, directed by Eric Smith (8 p.m.)

Weeknight performances begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted, weekends as specified above; performance schedule is subject to change, so call to confirm. All performances are free to the public, but a donation of $3-$5 is suggested. The Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Co. is located at 542 Penn Ave., mezzanine level, Downtown in the Cultural District. For more information, call Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Co. at 412-288-0358.