Join Round the Bend Theatre for a reading of resident playwright Cris Eli Blak’s new play, directed by Beth Ryan Troxell. GIRL ON A HILL follows Deana Wakefield, an African American woman living out of a motel, struggling with a substance use disorder. Her life takes an unexpected turn when a journalist from The New York Times shows up at her door after he uncovers who she really is…

Cris Eli Blak is an emerging proud Black playwright and the recipient of many awards such as . the Black Broadway Men Playwriting Initiative, the Atlanta Shakespeare Company’s inaugural winner of the Muse of Fire BIPOC Playwriting Festival and the 2024 Charles M. Getchell New Play Award, among many others. He is currently an artist-in-residence with Abingdon Theatre Company and has had his works published in a wide array of publications. Round The Bend Theatre is a mobile theater company with a mission to encourage Hudson Valley playwrights through the process of inclusive readings and reflection.

This reading will feature* (in alphabetical order): Jaylen Adison, Leif Grund, Alinca Hamilton, Samantha Mileski. A Brief Q&A will follow the reading.
(*Names with links are available for those artists who have provided them.)

All tickets $15.
(Note: online ticket sales will shut off approximately 30 minutes before the event)

About the playwright:
Cris Eli Blak is an emerging proud Black playwright whose work has been performed around the world. He is the inaugural winner of the Black Broadway Men Playwriting Initiative, the Atlanta Shakespeare Company’s inaugural winner of the Muse of Fire BIPOC Playwriting Festival, the 2024 Charles M. Getchell New Play Award, and the recipient of the Emerging Playwrights Fellowship from The Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre. He is currently an artist-in-residence with Abingdon Theatre Company and has had his work published by Smith & Kraus, Inc., YOUTHPlays, Applause Books, New World Theatre, Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble, and in the Black Theatre Review.

About the Company:
Round The Bend Theatre is a mobile theater company with a mission to encourage Hudson Valley playwrights and their work in development. Through the process of inclusive readings and reflection, new voices are nurtured for future work.