The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Dir; Patrick Willingham, Executive Dir) announced the line-up for the popular Spotlight Series of invitation-only staged readings of new plays by The Public’s Emerging Writers Group, beginning on Mon June 10 and running through Mon Dec 9. Now in its seventh cycle, the Emerging Writers Group is an important part of The Public’s commitment and long legacy of supporting current and future generations of our country’s most important writers. This year’s Spotlight Series will present readings of a full-length play by each writer of the 2018-19 Emerging Writers Group: Brittany K. Allen, Oscar A.L. Cabrera, Daniella De Jesús, Ryan J. Haddad, Obehi Janice, Diana Oh, Ife Olujobi, Joshua Young, and David Zheng. These evenings are directed and performed by experienced artists from the theatrical community. Admission to the EWG Spotlight Series is free. If interested in joining for a reading—or the whole series—please visit the EWG Information Page at publictheater.org. The Emerging Writers Group is a component of The Public Writers Initiative, a long-term program that provides key support and resources for writers at every stage of their careers. The 2019 Spotlight Series schedule is as follows; 
LIME-A-RITA RACIST (Mon June 10), written by Joshua Young, directed by Tyne Rafaeli. Is it right to punch a Nazi? When a mild-mannered guy knocks the ever-loving crap out of a racist scumbag, it causes his coworker to wonder if toxic masculinity is still toxic if it’s used for good;
GOOD TIME CHARLIE (Mon July 1) written by Ryan J. Haddad, directed by Danny Sharron. Charlie is Cleveland’s most glamorous dentist, destined for the stage but afraid of what happens once he gets there; MY HATE LETTER TO THE GREAT AMERICAN THEATRE (Mon July 29) written and directed by Diana Oh. There is a before and after of this play and liberation is on the other side of it; NO WAHALA (Mon August 5) written by Obehi Janice. A Nigerian marriage. An American divorce. In No Wahala, polygamy, juju, and Jesus haunt four siblings in The Highlands of Lowell, Massachusetts. Behind closed doors, their parents are in trouble -- but out in the open, public reputation and community survival reign supreme. HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY (Mon Sept 16) written by Brittany K Allen. Izz, a fabulist journalist who’s been the subject of a recent national disgrace, returns to her Texas hometown seeking safe harbor—but her former-Panther grandmother is not here to absolve. PA’ TI TENGO DE TODO (Mon Oct 28) written by Daniella De Jesús. Dulce and Tato, a bickering, expecting couple, take a cruise through the Bermuda Triangle for their “baby moon.” There they meet the semi-otherworldly cruise ship staff who guide them on a journey through the Atlantic Ocean and the fifth dimension. JORDANS (Monday Nov 11) written by Ife Olujobi. In a workplace where appearance is everything, two young, black, career-minded strivers are forced together and torn apart by their race, racism, and otherworldly circumstance. KIDNAPPING JANE DOE (Mon Nov 25) written by David Zheng. Gentrification is about to pop off in The Bronx, but not if these three friends got anything to say about it. MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST (Mon Dec 9) written by  Oscar AL Cabrera. Mateo’s dreams are haunted by a long stretch of dirt road behind the hospital of his Texas hometown. Even with the disguise of his New York apartment and liberal girlfriend, he can’t run from the feeling of never truly fitting in. When his mother comes to meet his new life, what he discovers may be the key to his salvation from his family…or his damnation. Press contact: Julie Danni/The Public Theatre (212/539-8680)...