2023 Read and Rant

Athena Project’s Read & Rant program seeks to combine the sharing of theatrical work with the wider public and the new play development aspects of our former Plays In Progress Series while also fostering collaboration between playwrights and dramaturgs. Think book club for plays! Learn what makes a good script, discuss how it affects us, and explore the ways it links to the larger world. This monthly free offering to the community aims to raise awareness of the under-representation of women’s stories on stage.

Each month, we read two new and unproduced scripts selected from a nationwide call for submissions and typically meet every third Monday online via Zoom to discuss the works. Join us to converse with invited playwrights who bring an in-depth knowledge of the works and theatrical writing at large. Guided by a dramaturg, we also invite you to share your constructive comments, thoughts, and affirmations in order to aid in the development process of the pieces.

This month we will be featuring two playwrights selected from our Read & Rant lottery:

Paige Conway’s Lost Girls

On the precipice of adulthood, Edith decides to testify against her attacker. But when the trial is turned and twisted, help arrives in the most surreal form: The Lost Girls, a band of women+ pirates from centuries ago whose rage has brought them back to fight the battles women can’t seem to win. Dragged into this ancient fight in a post Roe v. Wade society, Edith is taken in by The Lost Girls as they chase after BlackBurns (played by a woman) and his sidekick Cap, who are intent on wrecking the reputation of women across time. ‘Lost Girls’ explores what happens when women turn on each other, and the strength and courage it takes to listen to what’s beneath their screams.

Catherine Weingarten’s I Wanttt a Unicorn Frappe!!!

Jenny’s engaged! OMG! The only problem is her fiancée Sebastian can’t seem to be bothered showing up to wedding prep meetings with their wedding planner…he also isn’t around much. But when Jenny find’s the magical and mythical Starbucks unicorn frappe, she suddenly feels way happier and it’s way easier to plan her wedding and deal with everyone in her life’s concerns about the fact that Sebastian is always SAT tutoring or at wannabe SAT tutoring beach conferences in non-disclosed locations.

Things start to get really weird though when some reason a REAL prince with a REAL unicorn keeps appearing who kinda looks like her fiancé but is nicer than him and kindaa handsome and richer?? The Prince on a unicorn is madly in love with Jenny unlike her fiancée and begs her to dump Sebastian and just be with her. But Jenny is legit planning a wedding with Sebastian, even if he seems to perpetually forget that. As the play goes on, Jenny’s unicorn frappe addiction gets more and more intense until reality and fantasy fully clash in a frothy and color coded way.

By the end of the play Jenny needs to choose between Sebastian and her dream wedding and the prince on a unicorn. Jenny decides to choose the Prince and Jenny’s friends and family have to deal with that and pick up the pieces.

After you register for a session, you will receive information on how to access our featured scripts. We want everyone to participate who would like to learn more about these talented playwrights and their plays.