A pair of musicals will be part of Kent State University at Trumbull Theatre’s 2024-25 Sips & Scripts season.

The series features monthly offerings of new works presented in readers’ theater style — actors reading from the script and performing the work without blocking, costumes, etc. It’s a valuable tool for the creators in the development of a new work to hear how it plays in front of an audience.

Eric S. Kildow, associate professor of theater at KSU Trumbull, said they receive about 15 to 20 submissions each year from playwrights throughout the region. Kildow eliminates some entries if he doesn’t feel they can do them effectively in the current version, and then a jury picks the titles to fill the eight slots on the schedule.

The two musicals are “Headliner,” which originally was scheduled last season and was canceled due to illness, and “Good,” featuring music and lyrics by Shiloh Hart and Marquis Brown and a book by Paul Dahman, John Morris and Hart. Hart directed KSU Trumbull’s recent production of “American Idiot” with Dahman in the cast, and Dahman and Morris lead the local improv troupe the Dinner Theatre Rejects.

While the plays usually can be performed with only two or three rehearsals, musicals require additional preparation so the actors can learn the music.

The season opens Wednesday at downtown Warren’s Darlene Lounge with “Pit,” written by Daniel Prillaman of Sandusky and directed by Kildow.

“It’s about two people who are caught in a pit,” Kildow said. “They can’t get out. They don’t really know why they’re there, but there they are. And so they kind of have made peace with it, and then a third person is thrown in. The space is just not big enough for three people. And so they learn how to sort of negotiate that changing environment and figure out how to live together. If we’re stuck here in these abysmal conditions, how do we deal with it and how do we cope?”

The cast features Emelia Sherin, Brian Westerley and Keith Stepanic. Westerley and Stepanic will direct shows later in the season.

In addition to helping the playwrights, the series also provides additional opportunities for KSU Trumbull students.

“This has been where some of our students, especially students who might be interested in directing or taking on additional leadership responsibilities (get a chance),” Kildow said. “We kind of use Sips & Scripts as a test — if you want to be considered to maybe direct a show or do maybe a small studio production or something, first of all show me you can deliver a product on time with a team. Do this first.

“It also exposes them to new works, works that have not been vetted by the canon. Some of them are quite good, and some of them maybe less so. Some of them are first drafts and it gives them the experience of navigating that ecosystem where the work is not familiar, where it’s not filled with catchy songs you already know.”

2024-25 Sips & Scripts season

Sept 4 — “Pit,” written by Daniel Prillaman and directed by Eric S. Kildow

Oct. 2 — “Good,” written by Paul Dahman, John Morris, Shiloh Hart and Marquis Brown and directed by Rosie Bresson

Nov. 13 — “Hem & Scott,” written by James and Bronwyn Jameson and directed by Dakota Smith

Dec. 4 — “The Monster,” written by Jeremy Gaydosh and directed by Jessica Brumfield

Jan. 8, 2025 — “Headliner,” written by Marilyn Forster and directed by Shiloh Hart

Feb. 5, 2025 — “Sticks,” written by Emmett Podgorski and directed by Brian Westerley

March 5, 2025 — “Things Left Behind,” written by Dylan Todd Brown and directed by Keith Stepanic

April 2, 2025 — “Bandages,” written by Dar’jon Bentley and director to be determined.

All readings start at 7:30 p.m. at Darlene Lounge, 145 W. Market St., Warren. Admission is free.