This Sunday and Monday (Oct. 6 and 7), theater fans are invited to two unique, exciting and FREE events, brought to Buffalo by the Second Generation and Ujima theater companies.

Actor and playwright Douglas Lyons will be in town for a reading of his new play, “Pure Glitter,” in Shea’s Smith Theatre, 658 Main St. on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.

Michael Gilbert-Wachowiak is directing the program with actors Dan Lendzian, Austin Marshall, Greg Howze, Stephen Schapero, Michael Blasdell and Matthew Crehan Higgins.

Before that, on Sunday Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. Lyons himself will be in front of an audience to talk about his work and career. “Black on Broadway: A Conversation with Douglas Lyons” will be hosted by Gabriella McKinley of Ujima and SGT’s Kelly Copps, also in Shea’s Smith. 

Lyons’ Broadway acting credits include “The Book of Mormon,” “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” and the Tony winning revival of “Parade.”  His Broadway playwriting debut, “Chicken and Biscuits,” a comedy about a family upended by long-buried secrets at a father’s funeral, was the second most produced play in America in 2022-23. 

This preview presentation of “Pure Glitter” is part of Second Generation’s free play reading series, now in its seventh season.  

In a press release, Kristin Bentley, SGT’s executive director, said, “We are thrilled to present one of the newest plays from Douglas Lyons, a playwright who is changing the landscape of today’s theater with his exciting new works. ‘Pure Glitter’ is about chosen family, and we are honored to present this piece to Buffalo audiences, and to engage the WNY community in a dialogue with Douglas.” 

Attendees can expect Sunday’s conversation to include Lyons’s work as founder of the Next Wave Initiative, a developmental branch of the Directors Company that is committed to amplifying Black voices in American theater. Next Wave awards scholarships for young creatives in areas of performance and production. In a statement about the program, Lyons wrote: “In times like these I always look towards a solution; a way to pave a path towards America’s future. The Next Wave Initiative allows the conversations around ‘Broadway equality’ to become action. This program will fight to erase the ugliness of our past while investing in the future of our profession.”

While both events are free, registration is strongly recommended to guarantee a seat, as space is limited. Go to secondgenerationtheatre.com/free-reading-series for easy sign-up to one or both events.