Casting announced for PlayLabs

Some well-known actors will give the Playwrights' Center's annual PlayLabs series a boost when it kicks off at the end of Oct. 

Performers Jamila Anderson, Christina Baldwin, John Middleton and Laura Esping will play the parts in n Trista Baldwin's "Angel Fat." The play revolves around a hedge fund executive and his wife, who are unable to conceive. They hire a surrogate. Daniella Topol directs while Wendy Weckwerth serves as dramaturg and C. Andrew Mayer does design. "Angel Fat" will get a staged reading at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 and 8 p.m. Oct. 25.

Actors James Williams, Regina Marie Williams, Jennifer Blagen and Dan Hopman will play two interracial couples in Christina Ham's "Scapegoat." The two-act historical drama is set in Elaine, Ark., during the Red Summer of 1919, when African-Americans were killed in orgies of racial violence and in contemporary times.

Hayley Finn directs the play while Michael Kinghorn serves as dramaturg and Dan Dukich provides sound design. (7 p.m. Oct 22 & 4 p.m. Oct. 26).

The final work in the weeklong PlayLabs is Mat Smart's "The Royal Society of Antarctica." The play is about a girl born in Antarctica whose mother disappeared shortly after her birth. She returns 24 years later to work as a janitor as she seeks information about her history and heritage. Polly Carl, a former head of the Playwrights' Center, returns as dramaturg while Meredith McDonough's directs cast members Bruce Young, Annie Enneking, Ron Menzel, Cristina Castro, Ashley Montondo, Dustin Valenta, Neal Skoy and Pearce Bunting. (7 p.m. Oct. 23 and 8 p.m. Oct. 26).

All readings and workshops are at the Playwrights Center, 2301 E. Franklin Av., Mpls. Admission is free, but reservations are strongly encouraged.