“In L.A., Unproduced Film Scripts Find New Life Onstage”

Nice feature in the New York Times Magazine blog about Black List Live!, the staged reading initiative launched this year:

For most films, the table read — an organized talk-through of the script — is a critical, if perilous, milestone. It can be a harrowing experience for everyone involved, as producers keep a watchful eye on potential glitches: a lack of chemistry between the stars, the hint of a humdrum performance, glaringly obvious plot problems. It can also be the pivotal moment when a script that has lingered in development for years finally gains momentum. Either way, it is typically done behind closed doors, open only to those closest to the production.

Or rather, it used to be. A new monthly performance series in Hollywood is taking the table read out of the studio and into the theater. Black List Live! is a reading of one of the scripts from screenwriting organization the Black List’s prestigious annual ranking of the best unproduced screenplays. The event usually stars actors that have a cultish fan base, if not above-the-marquee name recognition, such as Nathan Fillion (“Castle”) and Alison Brie (“Mad Men” and “Community”).

Inspired by Jason Reitman’s wildly successful live reads of classic films, each Black List Live! reading is a one-night-only event. The next one, which takes place Saturday night, involves a top-secret cast and a script called “Your Bridesmaid Is a Bitch.” The screenplay was named to the list in 2010 and acquired by David Ellison’s Skydance Productions (“True Grit,” “World War Z”), but has lingered in development since; it tells the story of a groomsman at his sister’s wedding forced to confront his cheating ex-fiancée and her new boyfriend. “It’s a horror film for the main character,” says the screenwriter, Brian Duffield. “A fun comedy for everyone else.”

The final cast has been announced just hours ago via Twitter:

Want to know more about the background of “Your Bridesmaid is a Bitch”? You can read my interview about the project with screenwriter Brian Duffield here.

Black List Live!’s next event is Nov. 15 at Ricardo Montalban Theatre, 1615 Vine Street, Los Angeles. For tickets, go here.