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2025 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:
Hallmark Dystopia by Jolie Frazer-Madge
Dramaturg: M.J. Kang
“I know the answer but why are Hallmark movies always…like that?” In this satire of the Hallmark Christmas movie, successful businesswoman Bridget Lake leaves the Big City and heads to Yuletown to scope out some new business prospects. While she’s there, she butts heads with local Christmas tree farmer Brent. The two of them are slowly able to reconcile their differences, but is this world actually what it seems?
Jolie Frazer MAdge
Jolie Frazer-Madge is a stage manager and playwright based in Boston. As a stage manager, she has freelanced at many companies in the Boston area, including Blue Man Group, where she works part time. Her plays have been developed at Boston University and with Full Circle Players in California. Born and raised in South Carolina, she is very passionate about works that diversify Southern and queer narratives.
i wish i was her(s) by SMJ
Dramaturg: Reilly Conlon
At the age of 16, Alison is a country singer playing small county tours, trying to release her first album, and struggling to make any friends… until she connects with one of her biggest fans on MySpace: 16-year-old Marina, a person with dreams of becoming a singer. Over the course of a few years, Alison’s career explodes into mega-pop stardom while Marina struggles as an indie musician and Alison’s secret co-writer. After reaching the peak of her powers, questions surround her dating life, her friendships, and her close relationship with Marina. She breaks off the friendship to become friends with two celebrities, Dianna & Karlie, who seem safe. However, a mysterious podcast makes accusations about her private life (she’s secretly queer and a manipulator). It’s revealed to be Dianna & Karlie who started the podcast and released an AI deepfake interview of Alison “admitting” that she’s queer. Ripping the bandaid off, Alison returns to get Marina’s friendship back, but it might be too little, too late.
SMJ
SMJ (they/them) is a mixed-Latiné and NYC-based playwright originally from Mount Vernon, OH. They are proud to be the Co-Artistic Director of Andy’s Summer Playhouse. They were a 2022-2023 Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellow. As a writer, their work has been seen with Ars Nova, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, New York Stage and Film, Latinx Playwrights Circle, The Orchard Project, Carnegie Mellon University, and others. Currently, their work is being developed through American Theater Group, Babes with Blades Theatre Company, and Breaking & Entering Theatre Collective. www.smjwrites.com
Evening hosted by Athena Project’s Literary Manager, Emily Perez, and we are joined by Read & Rant’s Resident Dramaturg, Samara Siskind.
After you register for a session, you will receive a confirmation email that includes information on how to access our featured scripts. You must click the link in this email, and it will take you to the scripts. We want everyone to participate who would like to learn more about these talented playwrights and their plays.
When you register for the event on Eventbrite, you should receive a confirmation email.
- Email subject line will say “Order Confirmation for Athena Project: Read & Rant [month, year]”. This initial email has a synopsis and the links to both scripts.
- Two days prior to the event, you should receive another email with the subject line “Reminder for Athena Project: Read & Rant [month, year].” This email also includes the synopsis and links to both scripts.
- Plan to read scripts well in advance before the Zoom meeting
Please note that the scripts don’t come as attachments, they are .pdf links. So the body of the email will contain two paragraphs with the details of that month’s scripts.
For example:
Mak Shealy’ s Victorian Psychedelic Sleepover Play
On the eve of a 16th birthday, four teens meet after their writing is rejected by the school lit mag to create a Literary Zine of their own. Seeking editorial guidance, they conjure the ghosts of writers past and find themselves possessed by the spirit, chaos and conflict of the Victorian Era radicals they have long admired.
Content Warning: bullying, blood/bodily fluids, discussion of IVF, birth, substance use, disordered eating implied
You must click the link, and it will take you to the script.
If there are any questions or concerns please contact [email protected]
