Stephen Wrentmore loves drama.
He also loves musicals and comedies.
And he especially loves edgy theater and nurturing new playwrights.
It is the latter that is behind the Arizona Theatre Company associate artistic director's baby: Cafe Bohemia.
Wrentmore introduced Cafe Bohemia shortly after he joined ATC early last year.
Saturday, its second season begins with a stage reading of a script based on the popular graphic novel "Kill Shakespeare."
"Because I was new to Arizona and Tucson, I wanted to find a mechanism whereby we could work with artists, but also offer something that was a bit different and where we could work within the community," says Wrentmore, his crisp British accent not at all diminished by 1 1/2 years in the Southwest.
People are also reading…
And, he added, he wanted to talk - with audiences, actors, writers.
Cafe Bohemia takes place in the small cafe at the Temple of Music and Arts. Productions are casual, with actors in street dress and carrying scripts, and audience members sitting around in a living-room-type of setting, perhaps with a beer in their hands.
While the readings - one night only, generally on 2nd Saturdays Downtown - may amplify, complement or add a counterpoint to the play on ATC's main stage at the time, that isn't always the case.
Wrentmore wants to champion new works by local playwrights, but often goes beyond Tucson's city limits to find the plays.
And he gives local actors, particularly students from the University of Arizona, a chance to help bring the new work alive.
While some of the plays may need revisions, or are too experimental for the ATC main stage, they are ready to be exposed to an audience.
"We're talking about plays that are complete and the writers are willing to share them with the public," Wrentmore says.
When a playwright hears a piece performed by actors in front of an audience, she (or he) can gain new insight into the work.
And the audience gets the thrill of hearing something new, something perhaps daring and different and provocative, before most people.
"Kill Shakespeare," based on the graphic novel of the same name, brings together the Bard's villains and heroes. Some are ready to off Shakespeare; others want to protect him.
"It's a mixture of lines from Shakespeare mixed with the spirit of 'Shakespeare in Love' and 'Lord of the Rings,' " Wrentmore said of the play by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, who also wrote the 12-issue comic book series.
"Three actors play multifaceted characters from Shakespeare. The centerpiece is a projection of images from the comic book."
This, or the other plays staged by Cafe Bohemia, may never see life on ATC's main stage. They may be too small, or too edgy.
But that's not the point here, Wrentmore says.
The point is, he says, "to cause conversation, make debate, argument - make a space where ideas could flourish."
If you go
• What: A staged reading of "Kill Shakespeare."
• By: Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery.
• When: 8 p.m. Saturday.
• Where: Temple of Music and Art cafe, 330 S. Scott Ave.
• Tickets: $5 at the door.
• Information: 622-2823.
• Et cetera: Cafe Bohemia's fall season, as well as that of Tucson's performing arts organizations, will be detailed in the Fall Arts Preview in Sunday's Star.
