By Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan, Globe Staff | April 8, 2006

Actor Michael T. Weiss knows he'll have to work tonight in the reading of Valerie Martin's play ''Property," which is part of the Huntington Theatre's Breaking Ground Festival of New Readings. But his trip to Boston is mostly about pleasure. ''For something like this, it's just a chance to work with playwrights at an early stage in the work," said Weiss, who appeared in two Huntington productions in the last two seasons. ''It's the opportunity. It's not the same as a full production, so it can be more fun than work." He added, ''I really like Boston. I really like the Huntington." Weiss is probably best known as the star of TV's ''The Pretender." He will appear along with Pamela Gray and Will LeBow in the reading of Martin's play, which is based on her 2003 novel of the same name. The festival, at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, concludes tomorrow with two more readings, one starring Campbell Scott.

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