EVER WONDERED WHAT A 'GRASS WIDOW' WAS? FIND OUT AT THEATER IQ

THEATER IQ PROJECT

AMT Theater launched the Theater IQ Series in July 2025 with our reading of The Royal Family by Kaufman and Ferber. This project aims to enhance theater knowledge amongst theater goers and performers and the public at large through readings of theatrical works, both classic and contemporary, followed by an educational discussion to dive deeper into the plays world, on the playwright, the play itself or perhaps a particular production or creative artist (director, actor, etc.) of past productions of the piece.

For this first Theater IQ of 2026 we have joined forces with Horton by the Stream, and The Church of St Mary the Virgin, for our Winter Theater IQ Reading on January 24, 2026 at 7pm in St Joseph's Hall in the Church of St Mary the Virgin.

We have chosen the play Talking Pictures by Horton Foote, which is a richly layered comedy with a heart as big as the Lone Star State itself. This play superbly orchestrates a rich mix of characters and a wildly chaotic array of situations. Set in Horton Foote’s fictional town of Harrison Texas, theatergoers can count on meeting genuinely funny people caught in some deeply moving situations. Set in a boarding house the play introduces a host of characters who are facing a range of professional, personal, and emotional changes. At the center is Myra, a “grass widow”, who’s struggling to raise her son, Pete. She manages to make a living playing for the silent movies, but the dawn of the “talkies” — which have already forced many like Myra out of their jobs — are threatening her ability to make a living. Join us for this Theater IQ reading to find out what a grass widow is and how Myra manages to move forward with her life.

Janet Girardeau and Greg Grove, co-founders and producers of Horton by the Stream, will conduct the introduction and talkback session for the evening. They knew Horton Foote personally and have extensive knowledge of his beautiful plays. 

PARTNERSHIPS 

At AMT we are aiming to create community within the performing arts and so we feel that partnerships with local not for profit entities and local businesses strengthens our mission to create theater that is accessible to everyone. Collaborating with Horton by the Stream and The Church of St Mary the Virgin expands our outreach and introduces AMT Theater to a wider audience.

About Horton by the Stream & The Church of St Mary the Virgin

Horton by the Stream is a grassroots theater project celebrating the work of Horton Foote. Starting 30 years ago with Horton’s most well known plays like Blind Date and The Trip to Bountiful, Horton by the Stream set out to introduce audiences in Greene County, NY, to the Horton Foote genre. Set in small town Texas, and exploring universal truths through this lens, Horton Foote has been called America’s Chekhov. Our own Development Director, Zoë Reeve, has worked with the HBTS team for 3 years now and what a blast it has been for her. Working up in the Catskills and meeting all the wonderful people involved with this organization has been such a thrill for her. They even gave her the opportunity to exhibit her work in progress installation at their show last year. It just made sense to bring AMT and HBTS together for this reading and share the joy with everyone.

The Church of St Mary the Virgin in Times Square is a vibrant Anglo-Catholic witness in the heart of New York City. With their identity in Christ and a preference for the poor, they are an inclusive, diverse community called to love God and each other for the life of the world. This is another Zoë connection as she is a happy congregation member of this wonderful church and knowing that they are supportive of the arts it seemed like a good idea to bring them in for this Theater IQ reading night.

We can't wait to see you there!