New Play Readings At O’Neill Center

We’re already onto the third, and biggest, of the four prestigious “conference” workshop retreats at the bucolic Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Writers prepare their new projects with the assistance of directors, actors, dramaturgs and others, taking advantage of the calming atmosphere of the grassy, water-hugging artistic haven.

This week marks the time at the O’Neill Center in Waterford when some of the National Music Theater Conference performances (held through July 15) begin to overlap with the National Playwrights Conference (July 6 to 30).

This year’s slate includes “Running on Fire” by Aurin Squire (July 6 and 7 at 8:15 p.m.); “Teenage Dick” by Mike Lew (July 8 and 9 at 7:15 p.m.); “The Burdens” by Matt Schatz (July 13 and 14 at 8:15 p.m.); “Small Town Values” by Kathryn Walat, pictured, (July 15 and 16 at 7:15 p.m.); “Against the Hillside” by Sylvia Khoury (July 20 and 21 at 8:15 p.m.); “Laura and the Sea” by Kate Tarker (July 22 at 7:15 p.m. and July 23 at 3:15 p.m.); “Girls in Cars Underwater” by Tegan McLeod (July 27 and 28 at 8:15 p.m.); and “Up the Hill” by Keith Huff (July 29 and 30 at 7:15 p.m.).

There’s another playwright writing feverishly at the O’Neill — Stephen Karam, who just won a Tony for “The Humans” — but his work won’t be read publicly. Tickets for the readings are $30 each. Information: 860-443-5378, theoneill.org.