Palm Beach Dramaworks Master Playwrights Series Continues 2/4

West Palm Beach's only professional multi-award-winning resident theatre, Palm Beach Dramaworks, continues its 6^thannual Master Playwrights Series featuring the work of Jean Genet and Wendy Wasserstein at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre (201 Clematis Street). Inspired and produced by Mark Perlberg and sponsored by Nancy and Jay Parker, the Master Playwright Series invites audience participation, discussion and an overview of the work and themes of each playwright in addition to staged readings of their work.

The Master Playwright Series was developed in 2007 as part of Dramaworks' educational initiative. Every season three playwrights are examined, with two segments devoted to each playwright. The first segment is an overview of the playwright's life and work, with scene readings by professional actors. The second segment is a staged reading of one of that playwright's important plays. In addition to the readings, the audience is invited to discuss the work and themes.

Following the first successful installment of the series focusing on the work of Lanford Wilson, comes the second Master Playwright Series offering on February 4^th & 5^th with an overview of French playwright Jean Genet followed by a staged reading of The Maids on February 11^th & 12^th. The Maids tells the story of Claire and Solange, two housemaids who fantasize and act out sadomasochistic rituals against their mistress when she is away. Genet's play was inspired, in part, by the infamous Papin sisters who, in 1933, brutally murdered their employer and her daughter in France.

The final segment of the series highlights the work of Wendy Wasserstein with an overview on April 1^st & 2^nd and a staged reading of The Heidi Chronicles on April 8^th & 9^th. This Pulitzer Prize-winning play follows the life of Heidi Holland from the 1960s through the 1980s, simultaneously tracing the changing role of women during those two decades.

Dates and reading times are as follows: Jean Genet Overview - Monday, February 4^th at 7PM; Tuesday, February 5^th at 2PM & 7PM. "The Maids" - Monday, February 11^th at 7PM; Tuesday, February 12^th at 2PM & 7PM. Wendy Wasserstein Overview - Monday, April 1^st at 7PM; Tuesday, April 2^nd at 2PM & 7PM. "The Heidi Chronicles" - Monday, April 8^th at 7PM; Tuesday, April 9^th at 2PM & 7PM.

Individual tickets to each segment may be purchased for $18 each. Palm Beach Dramaworks is a non-profit, professional theatre and is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the South Florida Theatre League, Southeastern Theatre Conference, Florida Professional Theatres Association, Florida Theatre Conference, and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.

The Don & Ann Brown Theatre is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, at 201 Clematis Street. For ticket information contact the box office at (561) 514-4042, open Monday from 10AM to 5PM, Tuesday through Saturday from 10AM to 6PM, and Sunday from 11AM to 5PM, or visit www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.

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