Studio Theatre Debuts ‘Kings’ As Audio Play

From Studio Theatre’s 2018 production of Kings. Image courtesy: Studio Theatre

A “taut, smart, queasily of-the-moment” (Vogue) drama which premiered at The Public Theater in 2018 is coming back to Studio Theatre this month to debut as its first audio play.

The political drama Kings by Alexandria, VA native Sarah Burgess comes just in time for the contentious 2020 election and is available to stream for free on Studio’s website beginning October 29.

Here’s what it’s about: Newly elected congresswoman Sydney Millsap arrives in DC armed with her ideals and sense of duty, and refuses to play by the rules of special interests—or her own party. Kate’s a lobbyist who backs winners. The two collide. With its snappy dialogue and shrewd look at where power really sits in our government, it’s an audio play just in time for November.

Originally produced as part of Studio’s 2018-2019 season, King’s scheming and salience in this moment made it ideal to translate to a new medium. The audio play brings back director Marti Lyons, who helmed the stage production at Studio, as well as cast members Kelly McCrann and Laura C. Harris. Joining them are Studio alums Gina Daniels and beloved DC actor Rick Foucheux, who came out of retirement for the project.

“Audio work throws the audience into the middle of the story, putting the focus on the language of the play and actors’ craft. Kings is a perfect first foray for so many reasons—Sarah’s dialogue is whip-smart, the actors are all Studio alums who know how to bring a lot to an intimate space, and Marti is the perfect match for the play’s big stories about our political system and small stories of betrayal,” said Studio Artistic Director David Muse.