One of our favorite actors demonstrates his talents as playwright and director tonight with Cincinnati Playwright Initiative’s New Voices play reading series.

Kevin Crowley, who returned to his hometown a couple of years ago after a career in Chicago and L.A., and memorable as part of the terrific cast of “Opus” at Ensemble last season, has been writing for years. His “Monkey’s Paw” was showcased in last year’s Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Crowley says its under consideration for production in London.

Crowley’s “Hitchhikers May Be Inmates” opens the evening. It’s described as “two recovering alcoholics battle their demons and each other as they flirt with falling back into the arms of their personal addictions.

Back in Chicago, "A friend and I started getting together to write," Crowley says, but somehow it would devolve into a party. "So I wrote about two guys and drinking. I think it's a dark comedy. Of course, I tend to think everything is a comedy."

Gary McGurk and Charlie Roetting are the readers. Crowley also directs.

“Booty of the Year,” scheduled earlier in the season but cancelled due to a Cincy winter weather issue (what else is new), will be the second half of the playbill. Cisco Montgomery (from Dayton) has written a story of sibling rivalry set in the world of professional wrestling.

Crowley directs Khrys Styes, Piper Davis, Reggie Willis and Khisaun Ferguson.

7:30 p.m., Fifth Third Bank Theater, Aronoff Center, Main at Seventh. Tickets $7 at the door.