"The crusts made by Pie Birds... go to pieces in flaky, buttery splendor. The fillings are lovely, too (light apple crumb, pumpkin topped with pecans), but that is incidental. Are the pies technically impeccable? Perhaps not, but they were the ones I kept eating, long after it was necessary for this review.”
-Ligaya Mishan, Food Critic, The NY Times
Have a slice of pie provided by NY Times Recommended Pie Birds, who were part of the 1st ever Smorgasburg, and grab a pint for a staged reading of a new play with professional actors from stage and screen. The pie is inspired by the play!
Each play presented is proudly written, directed, and produced by women+ artists!
The Pie, Pint, and a Play Reading Series was started by actress and baker, Jessica Giannone (Bristol Old Vic, Williamstown, SPACE on Ryder Farm) and was in residence at 61 Local in Brooklyn from 2016 to 2020.
Our oven is always on for upcoming seasons of Pie, Pint, and a Play Readings, and we happily accept submissions from female-identifying directors and playwrights who’d like a piece of the pie!
Submissions can be sent to piepintandaplay@gmail.com.
PREVIOUS PIE, PINT, AND A PLAY READINGS
FEBRUARY 2016
LOVESONG by Abi Morgan
“BACKYARD PEACH TREE” PIE
The first Pie, Pint, and a Play Reading was held in February 2016 at 61 Local in Brooklyn. The play was Abi Morgan's Lovesong, and the pie was BACKYARD PEACH TREE Peach Crumb Pie.
The cast included Becky Ann Baker (Girls, Freaks and Geeks, The Public Theatre, Broadway), Jessica Giannone (Bristol Old Vic, The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre), Andrew Dawson (The Secret Life of Edward Gorey, The Onion Network), Anthony Winters (Bristol Old Vic), and Cori Hundt (Fuente Ovejuna).
Directed by Kimberly Faith Hickman (Bechdel Project, MTC, Roundabout).
MAY 2016
THE BECHDEL PROJECT
“NEWTON’S CRUMBLY APPLE” PIE
A wonderful second edition of Pie, Pint, and a Play Reading in collaboration with the Bechdel Project was held in May 2016 at 61 Local in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.
The cast included Lizbeth Mackay (Broadway’s The Humans, Domesticated, Crimes of the Heart), Keira Naughton (These Paper Bullets!, LCT), Jessica Giannone (Bristol Old Vic, The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre), Cori Hundt (Fuente Ovejuna), Sophie McBean (Bristol Old Vic), Maria Maloney (Bechdel Project), Kate Siepert (The Liar, iO Chicago), Heather Gilles (Hairspray), Tommy Crawford (The Lobbyists, The Women's Project), Ian Harkins (Chichester Festival), Andy Bustillos (UCB Tour Co.), Griffeth Whitehurst (Asolo Rep), Brett Dameron (Berkshire Theatre Festival), Jens Rasmussen (Bechdel Project), and David Gautschy (A Little Princess, Shakespeare on the Sound).
Directed by Kimberly Faith Hickman (Bechdel Project, MTC, Roundabout).
SEPTEMBER 2016
SCISSORING by C. Quintana (CQ)
“BOURBON ST. PECAN” PIE
A lovely and fun third edition of Pie, Pint, and a Play Reading was held in September 2016 at 61 Local in Brooklyn with the play SCISSORING by C. Quintana (ABC’s The Baker and The Beauty, Gumbo).
Directed by Rebecca Cunningham (Girl Tales, HERE Arts, Signature Theatre).
Cast for the night included Joseph Cordaro (Ivoryton Playhouse), Jessica Giannone (Bristol Old Vic), C. Kelly Wright (Scottsboro Boys), Richard LaFleur (The Producers), Ashton Muniz (Taylor Mac's A 24-Decade History of Popular Music), Ashley Marie Ortiz (The 52nd St Project), Amanda Rodhe (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Mary Round (The Living Theatre), and Elise Santora (In the Heights).
MAY 2017
A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE by Bekah Brunstetter
“BROOKLYN CUSTARD” PIE
What a lovely group and audience for the May 2017 Pie, Pint, and a Play Reading at 61 Local in Brooklyn of A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE by Bekah Brunstetter. Have at the look at our feature on Broadway World, here!
Bekah is currently a writer and producer for NBC's This Is Us. Her newest play The Cake will be part of La Jolla Playhouse's 2017/18 Season. Her other plays include Oohrah! (The Atlantic Theater) and The Oregon Trail (WP Theater).
Directed by Illana Stein (Theater for a New Audience, A.R.T., Signature Theatre).
The cast included Gil Perez-Abraham (The Batman, The Young Pope), Jessica Giannone (Bristol Old Vic, Williamstown), David Ebert (Master of None, UCB), Valeria A. Avina (The Flea, INTAR), Melissa Mickens (Williamstown, Shampagne), Starr Kirkland (Ars Nova, Writopia), and Oscar Cabrera (INTAR, Bonnet Blues).
OCTOBER 2018
THE REGULARS by Eliza Bent
“DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? MAPLE PUMPKIN” PIE
A fun and magical final Pie, Pint, and a Play Reading with THE REGULARS by Eliza Bent (Aloha, Aloha, or When I Was Queen).
Directed by Kate Eminger (Ars Nova, Actors Theatre of Louisville, SPACE on Ryder Farm) in October at 61 Local in Brooklyn.
“Set in 2002 in a magic shop in Boston's Faneuil Hall, Eliza Bent's new play The Regulars examines the stories we tell ourselves (and the more complicated realities) about what it has meant to be an "average American" throughout our nation's history, from its founding through today.”
The cast included Ellie MacPherson (54 Below), Gail Shalan (Bristol Old Vic), and Gus Cuddy (Geva Theatre Center) with returning Pie, Pint, and a Play actors Rachel Griesinger (Naked Angels) and Jessica Giannone (Bristol Old Vic, Williamstown, SPACE on Ryder Farm).
Featured article in Broadway World!
APRIL 2017
LE FOU by Bekah Brunstetter
“LOVE LETTER AND ROSE APPLE” PIE
We had a wonderful 1st Anniversary of Pie, Pint, and a Play Reading at 61 Local in Brooklyn held in April 2017 with the play LE FOU by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC's This Is Us, The Cake, Oohrah!).
The cast included Jennifer Dorr White (Human Race Theatre Co., The Onion Network), Jill Melanie Wirth (The Normal Heart, La MaMa), Kathleen Choe (Two River Theater), Aurora Heimbach (The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui), Jessica Giannone (Bristol Old Vic, Glasgow Citizens Theatre), Cori Hundt (Hudson Warehouse), Juan Luis Acevedo (MCC), Ian Harkins (Chichester Festival), Rafe Terrizzi (Peccadillo Theatre Co.), and Tim Nicolai (Z: The Beginning of Everything, The Public).
Directed by Hannah Tova Wolff (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Bachelorette, The Gallery Players).
MARCH 2018
HOW TO FLY by Olivia George
“BERRY PIE IN THE SKY” PIE
The 3rd Season happily began in March 2018 with HOW TO FLY by Olivia George (TILES, The Lark).
Directed by Daniella Caggiano (Named one of The Interval's Women to Watch in 2016, Current MTC Directing Fellow). Have a look at the article in Broadway World!
The cast included Azalea Lewis and Rachel Griesinger along with returning Pie, Pint, and a Play actors Starr Kirkland (Hottentotted, Ars Nova) and Jill Melanie Wirth (The Normal Heart, La MaMa).
SEPTEMBER 2019
MRS. GALVESTON by Sarah B. Mantell
“THE CARING CHERRY” PIE (EXTRA CRUSTY)
A wonderful beginning to the 4th Season with MRS. GALVESTON written by Sarah B. Mantell (Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Playwrights Realm).
Directed by Rebecca Cunningham (PPP’s Scissoring, Girl Tales).
"Rose wants her light fixed, Liz doesn’t understand what a “really big favor” is, and Mrs. Galveston needs Jim to read her that big book even though it has no words. Can Jim handle eldercare for his clients and for his own family?"
The cast included Marie Louise Guinier (INTAR), Hassan Nazari-Robati (The Flea), Karen Eilbacher (Fun Home National Tour), Jessica Giannone (The Cake), and Steven Lee Johnson (Broadway's To Kill a Mockingbird).
Broadway World Article!
PIE, PINT, AND A PLAY READING: IN THE KITCHEN
EP. 1 HOW TO FLY by Olivia George
EP. 2 SCISSORING by C. Quintana (CQ)