Lone Star College-CyFair Reader’s Theatre returns this April to make audiences laugh after a pandemic hiatus with two one-act comedies followed by a talkback.

This spring’s Reader’s Theatre cast will read "The Bicyclers" and "A Proposal Under Difficulties” by John Kendrick Bangs, which English Professor Laura Taggett said are very much works of the times along the lines of Jane Austen.

Taggett said she and fellow coworkers will take attendees back to 1896 to experience the manners, the “ordinary” of the time and the comedy that rises from events, such as learning to ride a bicycle or the ins and outs of marriage proposals, for those who are somewhat privileged and protected.

Joining Taggett are faculty from a variety of disciplines including Keith Altavilla and James Seymour - history, Shamim Arastu - education, Patrick Barton – speech/journalism, Jorge Iglesias, David Maslane and Semira Taheri – English, Mayada Shahrokhi - math, and Joseph Urick - drama with Matt Turner, who also teaches English, hosting the talkback. Seymour, Taggett and Turner are the only remaining original cast members from the college’s first Reader’s Theatre show “The Foreigner” in 2004.

“Dramatic reading is right up my alley, as I have been doing it in class for years. What had to be figured out in that (inaugural) show was the how (of doing the play),” Seymour said. “We decided on doing the performance like a radio play, where we read dramatically without acting out the part physically. That, plus the reading the lines rather than memorizing them, made it an easier task for busy professors and staff members.”

In addition to being involved in a theatre-like experience without the time commitment and memorization, Reader’s Theatre provides faculty and staff a chance to have fun learning something new.

“I am participating because I have always had an interest in theatre, but never engaged much in that area,” said Arastu, one of the returning cast members. “I enjoy taking on a role of a character and can do so without the pressure of ‘acting’ it out.”

Altavilla, one of the new cast members drawn to the fun, said he joined because “it sounded like a more casual way to get involved in events around campus” as well as “a great way to draw students and community members back to campus.”

Choose to enjoy the Reader’s Theatre performances in person April 6 at noon in the outdoor amphitheatre in front of the Center for the Art building at 9191 Barker Cypress or online with the 10 a.m. WebEx April 8. For information, email Laura.Taggett@LoneStar.edu.