As New Leaf Theatre embarks on its 10th anniversary season, the company is excited to announce a more formally articulated commitment to developing and presenting new work. To this end, the company presents a revamped Treehouse Readings Series this Fall that will serve as an incubator for the new work portion for New Leaf's future seasons. While the support of new work has been implicit in New Leaf's production history since its inception, this year's re-envisioned Treehouse Readings Series will define the company's dedication to new play development moving forward.

"We are proud of what we see as our unique space in the play development landscape," said Jessica Hutchinson, Artistic Director of New Leaf Theatre.

"For our new Treehouse Readings Series, we are specifically interested in 'play polishing' – fine tuning work that has already received at least one initial reading, work with which we can more aggressively engage in the collaborative process," added Hutchinson.

The restructured Treehouse Readings Series will feature six total staged readings: three of the greatest hits from New Leaf's repertoire to be presented between October and December 2010, and three new works to be presented between January and April 2011. For each submission period, all the work will have a shared thematic element. For the Winter/Spring 2011 series, this element is the idea of 'Home.'

All submitted plays must have received at least one previous public reading, but not yet have received a full production with any theatre. At the end of the Treehouse Readings Series, the company will select one of the scripts to receive a full production as part of New Leaf Theatre's following season.

Submissions for the Winter/Spring 2011 Treehouse Readings Series will be accepted from October 1 through November 30, 2010. Exact reading dates and locations will be announced at a later date. For submission details and guidelines, visit newleaftheatre.org. Admission is free to all readings.

The Treehouse Readings Series kicks off Saturday, Oct. 23 with a staged reading of The Man Who Was Thursday by Bilal Dardai and directed by Jessica Hutchinson. The location and time will be announced shortly. The critically acclaimed production was one of Time Out Chicago's Top Ten of 2009.

The additional two Treehouse Readings Series plays for the Fall will be The Dining Room by A.R. Gurney and As it is in Heaven by Arlene Hutton to be directed by Joanie Schultz, December 5, 2010.

The company will announce the new plays for the Winter/Spring 2011 series in December 2010.