A new local theater company, called The New Theatre Project, is now offering a series of original play readings (The Mix New Reading Series) through the end of January.

The readings are held at and sponsored by Mix of Ypsilanti, at 130 W. Michigan Ave., and the admission price is determined by the roll of a single die, ranging from $1-$6. (Members of The New Theatre Project receive free admission.)

Upcoming readings in the series include:

"Noh CE," by Gailee Walker Wells, on Monday, January 3 at 8 p.m.

"Noh CE" is an exploration of man’s inability to grow as beautiful, artistic, questioning beings, and evolve past the politics and religions that destroy societies, as well as the greed and corruption that destroy individuals. "Noh CE" takes place at the source of the waters, where greatness was born during centuries past, and where justice is demanding.

"Girls Like Us," by Sarah Wilder on Monday, January 10 at 8 p.m.

In "Girls Like Us," two suburban teenage girls struggle to carry out a violent act in order to prove a socio-political point. A shocking portrait of the effects of education, racial and gender expectations, media portrayals, and statistical manipulations.   "Faith," by James McLindon on Monday, January 17 at 8 p.m.

In "Faith," all that Simon, a young boy, wants for Christmas is the stigmata, and to be God’s prophet; and if prayer and sacrifice have anything to do with it, Simon is well on his way. Theresa, his mother, prefers that he go to the mall and let Walmart tell him what he wants for Christmas. Simon does visit the mall, or more exactly, Walmart’s parking lot, as it is the closest approximation to a desert that he can find in his snowswept upstate New York home to wander in. And it came to pass that, there, in the parking lot, Simon saw the Harbinger, a visitor to him from the heavens and, no doubt, God’s emissary to him and earth, hovering just above the halogen glow of the parking lot lights. His prayers have been answered. Or have they?    "Iris," by Kevin Kautzman on Monday, January 24 at 8 p.m.

Iris believes it’s her wedding day and couldn’t be happier; but in reality, her father has conspired to sacrifice her to appease his demanding soldiery - well-meaning men who will only go to war upon seeing their leader offer up that which he holds dearest. Inspired by Charles Mee’s "Iphigenia 2.0," which was based on Euripides’ "Iphigenia at Aulis," "Iris" examines the high price of an unjust war and questions our assumptions about the nature of marriage, leadership, and human history itself.   "Unlocking Desire," by Barbara Neri on Monday, January 31 at 8 p.m.

At first blush, "Unlocking Desire" seems to imagine Tennessee Williams’ tragic heroine Blanche DuBois after "A Streetcar Named Desire," in an institution she could have been taken to. But all is not as it seems.   For more information, visit www.thenewtheatreproject.org.