Irvington Theater’s Arts Incubator series, celebrating new and in development works of theater and performance, returns this August with a one-night-only reading of “I Want To Be Good” by Michael Mastro.
The new play – the first one-man show from the Broadway staple – is set during the summer of 1975 and follows a small-time altar boy bursting with Broadway dreams. Suddenly, he finds himself questioning everything he knows after the arrival of his church’s hip new parish priest. Drama League, Drama Desk, and Tony Award nominee Geoffrey Nauffts directs the reading.
“It’s so fantastic to see our Arts Incubator continue to grow and evolve in this way,” says Irvington Theater Manager Greg Allen. “This series pre-dates COVID and has taken many forms, and earlier this year, we celebrated 5 consecutive years of free Arts Incubator short play festivals featuring new works of theater, both online and in-person, from artists across the country and globe. To have these 2 Broadway artists share their in-development, full-length play with our audiences really feels like the logical next step in the multi-year growth of this incredible series.”
“This iteration of the Incubator comes as a gift from Tom Heller after our exclusive screening of Patricia Arquette’s directorial debut Gonzo Girl,” added Irvington Theater Commission Co-Chair Jessica Arinella. “We are proud to be keeping the arts alive during a time of great contraction across our industry.”
Playwright Michael Mastro has appeared on Broadway in Funny Girl, West Side Story, Twelve Angry Men; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Mamma Mia!; Judgement at Nuremberg; Side Man; Barrymore; and Love! Valour! Compassion! Regional: Paper Mill, Shakespeare Theatre DC, Dallas Theater Center, Barrington/North Shore, Old Globe, Penguin Rep, Williamstown, George Street Playhouse. Film: Paterno, Tesla, Kissing Jessica Stein. TV: “Law and Order: SVU,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Magic City,” “Alias.”
Director Geoffrey Nauffts has worked as an actor both on and off Broadway, regionally, and extensively in film and television. He’s directed plays by Kenneth Lonergan, Frank Pugliese, Theresa Rebeck, Suzan-Lori Parks, as well as Steven Belber’s critically acclaimed Tape in New York, LA, and London. His writing credits include; Baby Steps, an award-winning short film starring Kathy Bates, Jennifer, a CBS movie of the week, Political Animals, Greg Berlanti’s Emmy-nominated mini-series for USA, and 13 seasons for ABC as a writer/producer on shows such as: Brothers and Sisters, Grand Hotel, Nashville, and A Million Little Things. His critically acclaimed play Next Fall received the Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award in 2010 for Best New American Play and was nominated for a Drama League, Drama Desk, and Tony Award. And he is currently developing an original new musical with the internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Jonatha Brooke.
Irvington Theater’s Arts Incubator reading of Michael Mastro’s “I Want To Be Good” takes place on Sunday, August 3, at 7pm. This event is intended for mature audiences only. All tickets are just $15 (plus fees) and on sale now at https://www.irvingtontheater.com/events/iwanttobegood.
