Bray's 'Donkey' premieres at Rose of Athens

For John Patrick Bray, 2014 will be the year of the "Donkey." Finally.

Bray, a professor in the University of Georgia's department of theatre studies, has had his play, "Donkey," in the bag for some time.

It's been workshopped by Rose of Athens, the local theatre group that's premiering the play this week, and elsewhere.

Now that it's debuted here, "Donkey" will be performed in New York City, and hopefully by other theatres as well, given that Bray's play is soon to be published and licensed through Next Stage Press.

The premise is as follows: Steve Ryan runs a coffee shop in an upstate New York college town, a place like Athens, but maybe a little smaller and more liberal. A couple of kooky regulars keep his place lively. But when a corporate coffee joint opens in town, all progressive hell breaks loose, and Ryan looses his cool.

Following each performance of "Donkey," the evening at the Steney-Stovall Chapel includes an open mic portion during which anyone is invited to recite a poem, read a monologue, sing a song or whatever.

"Donkey" is intended for audiences 18 and older. Tickets are available online or at the door.

Contact arts and entertainment reporter André Gallant: (706) 208-2230, www.twitter.com/andregallant and www.facebook.com/GallantABH.