MARQUETTE, Mich.—Northern Michigan University will present staged readings of two new plays: the 2012 Albert and Mildred Panowski Playwriting Award winner Bears by Mark Rigney; and Water, Woman by NMU professor Shelley Russell. The readings are free and open to the public. They will be held at 7:30 p.m. on their respective dates in the James A. Panowksi Black Box Theatre in the McClintock Building.

Bears runs Wednesday and Thursday, March 21-22. The play will be dramaturged by Jeremy Lewis of the Players Guild Theatre in Canton, Ohio. Keli Truckey will direct the reading and the full production that is set to premiere during the 2012-13 Forest Roberts Theatre season.  Water, Woman runs Friday and Saturday, March 23-24. Derek Davidson will serve as dramaturge and Judith Stevens-Ly will come from New York City to direct.

For more information, contact the Forest Roberts Theatre box office at 227-2553.