The houselights fade and a spotlight illuminates two actors standing alone on stage. There is no set, no costumes, and no props. The actors are equipped with nothing more than a script in hand.

This was the scene last Friday at the Teatro de la Esperanza in San Francisco's Mission District, where SF State's theatre and creative writing departments joined forces to debut the first stage reading of Greenhouse 2009.

Now in its tenth season, Greenhouse showcases plays written by students from SF State's graduate creative writing program. The plays are read on stage by actors from SF State and around the Bay Area. The actors deliver the lines from the plays with the full emotion of a performance, but without physical movement or a set. This is done so that the playwrights can see their work in a live theatre setting, but can still concentrate on improving the script.

"It's called Greenhouse because the goal of the process is for us to develop our plays and make them stronger, make them grow, but in a sort of protected environment -- like a greenhouse," said Greenhouse playwright James Wilson.

Greenhouse 2009 began last Friday and will run through April 26. There are four playwrights participating this season, whose plays each run for one weekend.

The four Greenhouse playwrights are part of SF State's Creative Writing 825 class, taught by lecturer Brian Thorstenson. The playwrights' theater workshop class is designed to help students refine their pieces through readings and rehearsals, and Greenhouse presents them with opportunities to do so.

"I look forward to using what I learn from the [Greenhouse] readings," said playwright Evelyn Pine. "I'm jazzed to roll up my sleeves and make the telling of my story even more compelling."

This plots of this season's four plays are all quite different. They explore everything from dysfunctional families to the story of Christopher Columbus. Whatever the story the playwright is trying to tell, Wilson thinks Greenhouse provides an invaluable place for writers to transform their ideas from paper to stage.

"Having seen and heard [the play] only in my head at this point, I can't wait to see and hear it for real," Wilson said. "I think just getting the words out there and watching it with an audience in the room will be extremely helpful to me in order to take the play to the next step."

Greenhouse participants invite playwrights, directors, and actors from around the Bay Area to attend the staged readings and give feedback. "It's really valuable to be able to hear the play, invite others to give feedback, and be able to make changes," said Greenhouse director John Caldon.

Greenhouse playwrights hope to improve their work so that it may someday end up as a full-scale production, which many past Greenhouse plays have gone on to become.

This week's Greenhouse reading is "The Secrets of the World" by Evelyn Pine. It runs in March, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door at the Teatro de la Esperanza, located at 2940 16th Street in San Francisco.