Iceberg Effect Dramatic Reading

“Iceberg Effect,” written by Alfred P. Sloan winner Michèle Aldin Kushner for the Seacoast Summer Reading Sessions, explores climate awareness, gender equity in science, and the struggles one female climate change scientist faces. It's also the story of her 13 year-old daughter's aspirations to change the world on her own terms.

The evening's presentation will be a 30-minute dramatic reading in the Laudholm Barn of this new play with professional actors, followed by a moderated panel discussion featuring the playwright and women scientists discussing their work and motivation.

This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required (donations are welcome).

A writing workshop accompanies this production and will be held on Saturday, August 7, from 11am to 2pm. More details on that program can be found here.

About the Author

Michèle Aldin Kushner is a playwright and screenwriter. Her plays have been workshopped, staged and read throughout the country at theaters and festivals. She’s been a finalist and recipient of numerous playwriting awards. Her play, Radio Galaxy, has recently been optioned after its reading in the TRU Voices New Play Series. Her screenplay, 11 Months, was an Alfred P. Sloan award winner. Michele has an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts’ Dramatic Writing Program.

This program is offered at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm as part of the 2021 Seacoast Summer Reading Sessions.

Seacoast Summer Reading Sessions

In Summer 2021, the Seacoast Summer Reading Sessions at the Rochester Opera House will present an opportunity to connect creative minds on an intimate level to address some of the major issues of our time. The aim of this program is to instigate diverse and vital new art, offer lifelong learning and to promote community-building. We hope to be able to provide accessible and affordable programming to multiple communities around the seacoast. Participants will interact and create with nationally renowned, award-winning playwrights and filmmakers, some of whom will be debuting new works during the series.

The innovative three-part series will feature three new play readings with correlating community panels/ conversations and writing labs aimed at inspiring creativity and connectivity around these diverse topics: aging with grace and imagination, the arts as a catalyst for awareness, gender equity in the field of science and climate change. With hopes to create a fusion of local artists, national writers, and the Seacoast community, the series is an invitation to witness the creation of important new works as they are in development. It’s also an opportunity to connect more deeply with the artistic process and contemplate big ideas via unique and diverse voices.