Faculty, students and alumni from UC Davis’ Ground & Field Theatre Festival (GFTF) and members of Bike City Theatre Company are participating in the first developmental reading of a new Off-Broadway bound musical, Paper or Plastic. Presented in conjunction with The Jade/Anthony Company, the reading is scheduled for Dec. 9 in the Della Davidson Performance Studio, Nelson Hall at UC Davis.

Developed and directed by Mindy Cooper, professor of theatre and dance, the musical’s cast includes student Talia Friedenberg and alumna Lisa Quoresimo in featured roles and students Alyssa Buchthal, Ben Carter, Olivia Castera, Joseph DeLeon, Katie Halls, Charlie Lavaroni, Stephanie Nielsen and Noah VanderVeer-Harris and alumni Naveen Bhat and Shannon McCoy in the ensemble. Student Mia Qin serves as stage manager.  

Based on a completely original concept, Paper or Plastic features a book by Broadway investor Hazel Jade (Hadestown, Once On This Island) and her writing partner Jeff Brown (Jesus Freak!) with music and lyrics by Joe Stevens and Keaton Wooden (Albert Cashier, Hills on Fire).

Paige is adapting to her family’s new normal after her parents’ very public divorce. Gabe wants nothing more than to escape his parents altogether. What do these two high school seniors from Nichols Hills, Oklahoma have in common? They both work for Singleton’s General Store and have to decide their futures now. Through an achingly beautiful folk/rock score, Paper or Plastic explores the journey these two will take in search of something real, proving that chasing your dreams is hard to do at any age.

The free reading begins at 7:30pm but reservations must be made in advance here.  

This reading of Paper or Plastic is produced by Ground and Field Theatre Festival under the direction of Cooper, and Bike City Theatre Company under the direction of J.R. Yancher, by special arrangement with The Jade/Anthony Company under the direction of Miss Hazel Jade. Associate producers Molly Skye Brown and Curtis Howard also join the reading.