HartBeat Ensemble will perform a staged reading of our newest play in development, Project: Turnpike at 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 20^th at Hartford Public Library, Center for Contemporary Culture Auditorium.

Based on the 2007 landmark federal trial of United States vs. Dennis Paris, which took place here in Hartford, Project: Turnpike presents 72 hours in the life of four exploited sex workers in a motel room on the Berlin Turnpike.  In addition to personal interviews with people affected by the industry, HartBeat is working with Raymond Bechard, author of The Berlin Turnpike, in order to create this new play.

This is the second and last staged reading HartBeat Ensemble will perform of Project: Turnpike as part of its New Play Institute. The New Play Institute fosters an environment of experimentation and creativity for both the Ensemble and public at large and offers audiences the chance to experience new theatrical work in its early stages.

The public play reading workshop process is central to playmaking at HartBeat Ensemble. Learning from our audiences, we had over 200 people at Capital Community College attend and shape the production after the first staged reading.

Audiences response to the first reading included, “Very good reading” and “I thought commercial sexual exploitation was only an international affair. I didn’t know it was a problem on the turnpike.”

This two-year project will commence in June with a collaborative project including the Hartford Public Library Center for Contemporary Culture Auditorium, where Ray Bechard will feature his book The Berlin Turnpike: a true story of human trafficking in America.

Admission is $5 general admission and free for students with student identification.

To purchase tickets, please call 860-548-9144 ext.115.