STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

A familiar story will launch a new endeavor at The Argyros Center for the Performing Arts.

“The Beauty Queen of Leenane” will headline the first in a series of free staged play readings presented by Sawtooth Productions in partnership with The Argyros in the Bailey Family Studio.

“We’ve been doing these readings a long time, and I have really good relationships with the people at The Argyros. I proposed I do my readings in the Bailey Studio, which is a fantastic room, and they went for it,” said Kane.

Kane will present a play reading of Martin McDonagh’s gothic dark comedy “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday April 24. Set in the rugged mountains of Connemara, County Galway, the play will star Aly Wepplo as a lonely woman in her early 40s and Claudia McCain as her manipulative aging mother Mag.

When Maureen has a chance at love, Mag’s interference sets off a chain of events that veers from darkly humorous to chilling and unforgettable. Also taking part are David Janeski and Kagen Albright.

“We are delighted to partner with the Sawtooth Productions to utilize the Bailey Family Studio for this series of play readings,” said Natalie Postles, director of Marketing & Communication at the Argyros Performing Arts Center. “ ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ is a powerful and captivating play, and we are excited to bring together local talent to share this story with our community.”

Kane will follow that play reading with Kenneth Lonergan’s “The Waverly Gallery” starring Kathy Wygle, Patsy Wygle and Jamie Wygle on June 5.

“We’ll break for the summer then come back in the fall with more readings. I’m doing a show in September—“Love, Loss and What I Wore,” said Kane.

Kane presented a staged play reading of “The Beeauty Queen of Leenane” with nexStage Theater—The Argyros’ predecessor—more than 10 years ago.

“I wanted to start off our new series really strong, and it’s an incredible, beautifully written play,” he said. “It won the 1998 Lucille Lortell Award for Outstanding Play and got a Tony nomination for Best Play.

“The actors in this valley are incredibly strong, and I try to find strong work that they can do. I thought this would be a great piece for Aly and Claudia playing a mother and daughter, and I love McDonagh—he’s one of my favorite playwrights.”

Kane founded Sawtooth Productions 20 years ago to present the finrest in contemporary plays. It has an established collaboration between artists in the Wood River Valley and New York city.

IF YOU GO…

Sawtooth Productions and the Argyros Performing Arts Center will present a play reading of “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Bailey Family Studio.

The reading is free, but those wishing to attend must RSVP at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35937/production/1236239?performanceId=11622980.