THEATER BY THE BOOK
THEATER BY THE BOOK is our series of dynamic play readings, performed script in-hand.
The director and actors come together for a brief rehearsal period, with minimal or no scenery, costumes, or staging involved.
Started by our friends at Sierra Stages, TBTB is entering its 15th season.
We at Sierra Theatre Company are thrilled to be carrying this tradition forward in the seasons to come.
Readings are on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM at the Nevada Theatre. Doors open for seating at 6:30 PM. Tickets are $20 ($10 Student) and may be purchased in advance online or at the door.
Want to join us ON stage? ✨
Theater by the Book is holding auditions on June 27th—it could be you!
Theater by the Book offers a chance to get on stage, explore characters, and perform great scenes in a fun, creatively ambitious environment. Whether you’re experienced or completely new to acting, we’d love to see you. And the biggest perk - no memorization required.
Check out our auditions page for details.
THIS SEASON WE ARE AUDITIONING FOR
The Hatmaker's Wife by Lauren Yee, July 29 • 7:00 PM
Directed by Laura LeBleu
Available Roles: Henchman, Henchman’s Wife, Voice, Gabe, Wall, Mickey, Golem
A young couple moves into a new apartment and discovers the walls may hold memories of past lives — and past loves. As reality bends and stories intertwine, The Hatmaker’s Wife becomes a whimsical, heartfelt exploration of marriage, imagination, and the invisible connections that shape our lives. Funny, surreal, and deeply human, this play asks how stories help us understand love and loss.
The American Dream by Edward Albee, September 16 • 7:00 PM
Directed by Kenny Miele
Available Roles: Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Mrs. Barker, The Young Man
In this sharp and absurd comedy, Edward Albee satirizes American culture, family life, and society’s obsession with perfection. Mommy and Daddy’s carefully ordered world begins to unravel as unexpected visitors expose uncomfortable truths beneath their cheerful suburban façade. Darkly funny and thought-provoking, The American Dream challenges audiences to question what success, happiness, and identity really mean.
Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw, November 11 • 7:00 PM
Directed by Sara Noah
Available Roles: Raina Petkoff, Catherine Petkoff, Louka, Captain Bluntschli, Nicola, Major Paul Petkoff, Major Sergius Saranoff
Set during the Serbo-Bulgarian War, this witty romantic comedy turns traditional ideas of heroism upside down. When a practical Swiss soldier seeks refuge in a young woman’s bedroom, her romantic view of war and love is challenged. Filled with clever dialogue and surprising twists, Arms and the Man humorously reveals the difference between fantasy and reality in both battle and romance.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Restless Divorcees Welcome!
May 13th @ Nevada Theatre
By Hilary Quinn
Directed by Hilary Quinn
FEATURING: Artemis Arthur, John Bivens, Chase Coney, Krissi DeKowzan, Kim Ewing, Calum Grant, Laura LeBleu, Harrison McCormick, Carey McCray, and Cosmo Merryweather
Restless Divorcees Welcome! As Opal nears her long-awaited “graduation” from marriage, a stern new judge and a self-righteous newcomer threaten to derail her fresh start. With humor and heart, this original play by local playwright Hilary Quinn celebrates the courage it takes to choose yourself—set in Reno, Nevada, 1930, when Reno was the Divorce Capital of the World!
An original work by Hilary Quinn.
The cast of Restless Divorcees Welcome!
Artemis Arthur, John Bivens, Chase Coney, Krissi DeKowzan, Ariel Elliott, Kim Ewing, Calum Grant, Laura LeBleu, Tina Marie Kelley, Harrison McCormick, and Cosmo Merryweather
You may have seen Hilary steal the spotlight as Olive in TBTB’s The Odd Couple, a firebrand housewife in Hurricane Diane, or as a rebel in The Revolutionists. Get ready—she’ll be back this summer, taking on the role of Barbara in August: Osage County with Sierra Theatre Company.
CURTAIN CLOSED
CURTAIN CLOSED
The Odd Couple
Female Version
March 25th @ Nevada Theatre
By Neil Simon
Directed by Casey Burke
FEATURING: Chase Coney, Ariel Elliott, Heidi Grass, Harrison McCormick, Tracie Nickle, Nadia White, Hillary Quinn, Alexis Zendejas
Unger and Madison are at it again! Florence Unger and Olive Madison, that is, in the female version of Neil Simon’s hilarious contemporary comic classic, The Odd Couple. Instead of the poker party that begins the original version, Ms. Madison has invited the girls over for an evening of Trivial Pursuit. The guys are replaced by the gals, and the Pidgeon sisters are replaced by the Costazuela brothers, but the hilarity remains the same. - Concord Theatrical
Heidi Grass as Florence and Hilary Quinn as Olive in The Odd Couple - photos by Heidi Grass
CURTAIN CLOSED
The Lover
February 11th @ Nevada Theatre
By Harold Pinter
Directed by Michele Nesbit
FEATURING: Katie King and Hunter Reed
Run Time: 50 Minutes
The Lover explores a seemingly conventional suburban marriage that conceals an unconventional arrangement, blurring the lines between domestic routine and erotic fantasy. It asks the audience the same question it poses to its characters: Does anyone—even the couple—truly know what is happening inside a relationship?
Katie King and Hunter Reed - photograph by Michele Nesbit
Goldilocks
and the Three Polar Bears
CONGRATUALTIONS SKY!
Best New Play Or Musical
A Musical!
By Jerrod Bogard & Sky Seals
Directed by Sky Seals
FEATURING; Calum Grant, Heidi Grass, Carey McCray, Andie Schaffer and Sky Seals
LIVE BAND; Paul Kraushaar, Steve Nicholson, Nick Roten & Sky Seals
The Three Polar Bears are out in the cold! Their icy home has melted into the sea because of rising temperatures. Enter Goldilocks, a little, yellow-haired spoiled brat -- to save the day?? It's hard to be a hero when you're only thinking about yourself. With the help of some unlikely friends, Goldilocks learns what it means to do her share and be a member of a global family.
AN INSPIRING TALE FOR ALL AGES
Featuring 9 original songs in pop, folk, R&B and Broadway show tune styles, composed by Nevada City's own Sky Seals (recent composer of "Gold Can't Love You Back", and LeGacy Productions' "It's A Wonderful Life")
Written and performed at the New York Fringe Festival in 2011, it is very surprising that this little show didn't solve the Global Warming crisis, so now it's BACK!
Wendy Remington Bowie, writing for NYTheatre.com, raved:
"I loved this play...A wonderful piece of theater for kids (though if the opportunity presented itself, I would watch it again even without the excuse of having my kid with me)....This is a play that I wish I could have on demand to pull out for a rainy, bratty Sunday afternoon as a respite and a good laugh with the added benefit of some superbly and really relate-able lessons."
Calum Grant, Andie Schaffer, Carey McCray, Sky Seals & Heidi Grass - photos by Heidi Grass
