NEW WORKS IN ACTION Play Reading Series
Oct. 4, 2pm: Crocodile Club (presented with Colectivo 84)
Oct. 26, 2pm: The White Bitch (in conjunction with STC)
Admission for New Works reading is FREE.
Oct. 4, 2pm: Crocodile Club (presented with Colectivo 84)
Oct. 26, 2pm: The White Bitch (in conjunction with STC)
Admission for New Works reading is FREE.
Sat., October 4, 2025 at 2pm
CROCODILE CLUB Play Reading
By Mickaël de Oliveira, Directed by Elizabeth Dinkova
Featuring Danilo Gambini, Alina Collins Maldonado*, Victor Salinas, Ellen Schiavone
* member, Actors' Equity Association
Co-Produced with Colectivo 84
Spooky Action hosts Portuguese theater company Colectivo 84, a premiere incubator and producer of original plays that explore the challenges of dramaturgy and the visuality of the stage through transdisciplinary and intermedial approaches.
The evening will include a staged reading of the first play and an excerpt from the second play in Mickaël de Oliveira’s trilogy Pequenos Males (Small Evils).
ABOUT THE TRILOGY:
In medicine, the term Petit Mal refers to a minor form of epilepsy characterized by brief lapses of consciousness, often subtle enough to go unnoticed by observers. The Small Evils Trilogy examines the contemporary nature of "evil" and its representations across three dimensions: political (“Crocodile Club”), religious and pedagogical (“Promised Valley – Conference Center), and artistic (“Adaptação”). The trilogy not only revolves around these themes but also employs a shared intermediality, rooted in the interplay between theatre and cinema, with cinematic montage serving as a central device for crafting stage narratives.
ABOUT THE PLAY:
A tragicomic exploration of Portugal's evolving political landscape, mirroring a global trend of rising far-right ideologies and new populisms that seek to exploit dissatisfaction and stoke fear. "Crocodile Club" examines the fragility and boundaries of democracy through the lens of a weekend retreat among friends. The play draws upon imagery and conventions rooted in the tradition of horror cinema.
Content transparency: death, cannibalism, expression of alt-right sentiment, strong language
COLECTIVO 84 (founded in 2009) is a Portuguese organization dedicated to the creation and programming of performing arts. It is led by John Romão and Mickaël de Oliveira and has been supported by the Directorate-General for the Arts (Ministry of Culture) since 2010. The collective develops projects throughout Portugal, with a particular focus on the Central Region, where it integrates its artistic programs across various districts. Colectivo 84’s productions are defined by a commitment to original playwriting and exploring
the challenges of dramaturgy and the visuality of the stage through transdisciplinary and intermedial approaches. Its programming includes the biennial Festival END (Encounters in Contemporary Playwriting), which celebrates the practices of writing and dramaturgy, as well as training and artistic mediation programs like From Here On Out (Daqui para a Frente) and School of the Emancipated Spectator (Escola do Espectador Emancipado), in partnership with the National Arts Plan. Notable productions include Mickaël de Oliveira's works such as Crocodile Club (Crocodile Club, 2024/25), Wild Life Episodes (Episódios da Vida Selvagem, 2022/23), 15th Birthday Party (Festa de 15 Anos, 2019), The Constitution (A Constituição, 2016), and Socrates Must Die (Sócrates Tem de Morrer, 2017–18). Other highlights include Current (Corrente, 2023), Romeo and Juliet (Romeu e Julieta, 2020) by W. Shakespeare, Pigsty (Pocilga, 2015), and Theorem (Teorema, 2014) by Pier Paolo Pasolini, directed by John Romão. The company’s productions and programs have been created in partnership with leading cultural institutions, including Centro Cultural Vila Flor (Guimarães), Cineteatro Louletano (Loulé), Culturgest (Lisbon), São Luiz Teatro Municipal (Lisbon), Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente (Coimbra), Teatro Aveirense (Aveiro), Teatro Municipal do Porto (Porto), Teatro Nacional D. Maria II (Lisbon), Teatro Nacional São João (Porto), Teatro Oficina (Guimarães), Teatro Viriato (Viseu), Teatro Virgínia (Torres Novas), among others. Colectivo 84 operates as a performing arts organization (Theatre) with Sustained Support from the Directorate-General for the Arts (2023–2026).
CROCODILE CLUB Play Reading
By Mickaël de Oliveira, Directed by Elizabeth Dinkova
Featuring Danilo Gambini, Alina Collins Maldonado*, Victor Salinas, Ellen Schiavone
* member, Actors' Equity Association
Co-Produced with Colectivo 84
Spooky Action hosts Portuguese theater company Colectivo 84, a premiere incubator and producer of original plays that explore the challenges of dramaturgy and the visuality of the stage through transdisciplinary and intermedial approaches.
The evening will include a staged reading of the first play and an excerpt from the second play in Mickaël de Oliveira’s trilogy Pequenos Males (Small Evils).
ABOUT THE TRILOGY:
In medicine, the term Petit Mal refers to a minor form of epilepsy characterized by brief lapses of consciousness, often subtle enough to go unnoticed by observers. The Small Evils Trilogy examines the contemporary nature of "evil" and its representations across three dimensions: political (“Crocodile Club”), religious and pedagogical (“Promised Valley – Conference Center), and artistic (“Adaptação”). The trilogy not only revolves around these themes but also employs a shared intermediality, rooted in the interplay between theatre and cinema, with cinematic montage serving as a central device for crafting stage narratives.
ABOUT THE PLAY:
A tragicomic exploration of Portugal's evolving political landscape, mirroring a global trend of rising far-right ideologies and new populisms that seek to exploit dissatisfaction and stoke fear. "Crocodile Club" examines the fragility and boundaries of democracy through the lens of a weekend retreat among friends. The play draws upon imagery and conventions rooted in the tradition of horror cinema.
Content transparency: death, cannibalism, expression of alt-right sentiment, strong language
COLECTIVO 84 (founded in 2009) is a Portuguese organization dedicated to the creation and programming of performing arts. It is led by John Romão and Mickaël de Oliveira and has been supported by the Directorate-General for the Arts (Ministry of Culture) since 2010. The collective develops projects throughout Portugal, with a particular focus on the Central Region, where it integrates its artistic programs across various districts. Colectivo 84’s productions are defined by a commitment to original playwriting and exploring
the challenges of dramaturgy and the visuality of the stage through transdisciplinary and intermedial approaches. Its programming includes the biennial Festival END (Encounters in Contemporary Playwriting), which celebrates the practices of writing and dramaturgy, as well as training and artistic mediation programs like From Here On Out (Daqui para a Frente) and School of the Emancipated Spectator (Escola do Espectador Emancipado), in partnership with the National Arts Plan. Notable productions include Mickaël de Oliveira's works such as Crocodile Club (Crocodile Club, 2024/25), Wild Life Episodes (Episódios da Vida Selvagem, 2022/23), 15th Birthday Party (Festa de 15 Anos, 2019), The Constitution (A Constituição, 2016), and Socrates Must Die (Sócrates Tem de Morrer, 2017–18). Other highlights include Current (Corrente, 2023), Romeo and Juliet (Romeu e Julieta, 2020) by W. Shakespeare, Pigsty (Pocilga, 2015), and Theorem (Teorema, 2014) by Pier Paolo Pasolini, directed by John Romão. The company’s productions and programs have been created in partnership with leading cultural institutions, including Centro Cultural Vila Flor (Guimarães), Cineteatro Louletano (Loulé), Culturgest (Lisbon), São Luiz Teatro Municipal (Lisbon), Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente (Coimbra), Teatro Aveirense (Aveiro), Teatro Municipal do Porto (Porto), Teatro Nacional D. Maria II (Lisbon), Teatro Nacional São João (Porto), Teatro Oficina (Guimarães), Teatro Viriato (Viseu), Teatro Virgínia (Torres Novas), among others. Colectivo 84 operates as a performing arts organization (Theatre) with Sustained Support from the Directorate-General for the Arts (2023–2026).
Sun., October 26 at 2pm
(RSVPs for the reading are currently at capacity)
THE WHITE BITCH - Or, Hedda Gabler in Helgeland
By Drew Lichtenberg (Artistic Producer - Shakespeare Theatre Company), after Ibsen
Directed by Elizabeth Dinkova
Vine leaves in her hair, Viking headdress in her arms, Valkyrie breastplate over her heart, the creature formerly known as Hedda Gabler is on the hunt. The White Bitch has the power to grant every man his heart's desire, but the only cost is his soul. In this irreverent and maximally theatrical adaptation, Ibsen's late-career masterpiece is reimagined as never before. Is it a work of Viking romanticism in realist drag? A cutting satire shot through with shades of Nietzschean myth? A Sapphic cabaret? You be the judge.
Run time: 2 hours including a 15-min intermission
Content transparency: Violence, gunshots, suicidal ideation, strong language.
Drew Lichtenberg (adaptor) is thrilled to be collaborating with Spooky Action. Drew is Artistic Producer and dramaturg in residence at Shakespeare Theatre Company, where he has worked on more than 65 productions since 2011. He has also worked at the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, at theatres on and off Broadway, and at regional theaters throughout the United States. He is on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University and Catholic University of America, and has taught at Eugene Lang College at the New School and David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University. His byline has appeared in The New York Times and he is the author of two books.
(RSVPs for the reading are currently at capacity)
THE WHITE BITCH - Or, Hedda Gabler in Helgeland
By Drew Lichtenberg (Artistic Producer - Shakespeare Theatre Company), after Ibsen
Directed by Elizabeth Dinkova
Vine leaves in her hair, Viking headdress in her arms, Valkyrie breastplate over her heart, the creature formerly known as Hedda Gabler is on the hunt. The White Bitch has the power to grant every man his heart's desire, but the only cost is his soul. In this irreverent and maximally theatrical adaptation, Ibsen's late-career masterpiece is reimagined as never before. Is it a work of Viking romanticism in realist drag? A cutting satire shot through with shades of Nietzschean myth? A Sapphic cabaret? You be the judge.
Run time: 2 hours including a 15-min intermission
Content transparency: Violence, gunshots, suicidal ideation, strong language.
Drew Lichtenberg (adaptor) is thrilled to be collaborating with Spooky Action. Drew is Artistic Producer and dramaturg in residence at Shakespeare Theatre Company, where he has worked on more than 65 productions since 2011. He has also worked at the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, at theatres on and off Broadway, and at regional theaters throughout the United States. He is on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University and Catholic University of America, and has taught at Eugene Lang College at the New School and David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University. His byline has appeared in The New York Times and he is the author of two books.
The New Works in Action Program provides you the chance to see fresh new full-length plays that push the boundaries of reality and tell human stories in a magical way. Stories too big for the small screen, too lively for a living room, and too urgent to stay on the page. Bring your imaginations and enjoy some of Washington’s best artistic talent and freshest new voices!
New Works in Action is made possible in part through support from the DC Commission on the
Arts and Humanities, the Share Fund, the Dimick Foundation, the Dupont Circle Citizens Association, The Kennedy Center's Local Theatre Residency, and individual donors.
THANK YOU!
Admission is FREE.
New Works in Action is made possible in part through support from the DC Commission on the
Arts and Humanities, the Share Fund, the Dimick Foundation, the Dupont Circle Citizens Association, The Kennedy Center's Local Theatre Residency, and individual donors.
THANK YOU!
Admission is FREE.
