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 playwright selected from our Read & Rant lottery:  Kenya Mahogany Fashaw.

Kenya Mahogany Fashaw’s Happy to Be Nappy: Our Hair Story

Happy to Be Nappy is the hair story of Black Americans told through live theater, dance and poetry. Black Americans have a complex and convoluted relationship with their hair and Happy to Be Nappy, takes you on a storytelling journey that builds awareness, education and celebrates the ever-changing state and beauty of Black hair. The story is being told through the eyes of G-ma, a hip grandmother is telling the Black hair history story to her granddaughter Kayla, and Kayla’s best friend Hanna. Kayla is ashamed of her natural hair, and the kids at school tease her. That’s when G-ma saves the day with her hair stories. Each story G-ma tells, will take the audience to a play of nostalgia and love to different Black hair journeys in time. Braids, conk’s, lye, Afro puffs and curls. Each time period will display the struggles and victories of Black Hair. The ending of the play will bring in a celebration, as G-ma has taught Kayla how to love and embrace her natural hair.

After you register for a session, you will receive information on how to access our featured scripts. The Zoom link for the meeting will be emailed out 30 minutes prior to the event and made available on this page. We want everyone to participate who would like to learn more about these talented playwrights and their plays.