The Book or, Dear Reader

Directed by Anna Marie Tobin

Devised by Anna Marie Tobin, Ava Resco, Avery Loving, Brooke Lyn and Jayson Cahilanne.

The life of a book who is passed through different people with different experiences. The book gets a first-hand look at love, loss, and everything in between. How do we cope with grief? How do we feel joy? These questions are explored in this entirely student-devised piece, The Book.

Book began as a class project during my study abroad semester in Barcelona, Spain, at the Institute of the Arts Barcelona in the fall of 2023. As part of my college acting program, our ensemble was tasked with developing a show in just three and a half weeks, inspired by four images. This collaborative effort eventually evolved into Book (later titled The Book or, Dear Reader). The production had a highly successful run in Spain, where its impact resonated deeply with audiences. Building on this momentum, our ensemble submitted Dear Reader to the 2024 New York Theater Festival. The New York production featured Adam Ashton and Gannon Dean. The result? Six nominations and four wins, including the grand prize for Best Production.

New York Cast:

Ava Resco, Anna Marie Tobin, Brooke Lyn, Adam Ashton, Gannon Dean

Spain Cast:

Ava Resco, Anna Marie Tobin, Avery Loving, Brooke Lyn, Jayson Cahilanne