Read and Rant – November 21, 2022

Read & Rant is Athena Project’s book club exploring plays written primarily by women. We read one to two scripts or ancillary materials during the month and typically meet every third Monday online via Zoom, to discuss the works. Learn what makes a good script, discuss how it affects us, and explore the ways it links to the larger world. Join us to converse with invited guests who bring an in-depth knowledge base. This monthly free offering to the community aims to raise awareness of the under-representation of women’s stories on stage.

Starting in January of 2022, we will be exploring and uplifting new plays written primarily by women playwrights through our Read & Rant program! Each month, we will feature one to two scripts that have never been professionally produced and invite the playwright to join our conversation.

Guided by a dramaturg, we invite you to share your constructive comments, thoughts, and affirmations in order to aid in the development process of the piece. Curious to learn more about new play development and the role of a dramaturg? Join us each month to hear from a professional dramaturg about their past experiences and favorite new play development practices.

This month we will be featuring two playwrights selected from our Read & Rant lottery: Adrienne Dawes and Jordan Elizabeth Henry.

Adrienne Dawes’ Dupe:
When emerging writer Parker Davis discovers her image has been stolen and appropriated as the author photo for the infamous urban book series “Pastor Prey,” she enlists the help of her estranged identical twin sister/entertainment lawyer Poesía Whetstone to sue the publishing company. Feeling Grasso, CEO of Ghettro Publishing, then turns to her estranged identical twin sister/famous YA novelist Great Grasso for help connecting to her lawyer . . . Poesía Whetstone.

Jordan Elizabeth Henry’s HOWLING:
Lin & Birdie are engaged, but Birdie is struggling to tell Lin about her recent diagnosis as Autistic. As Lin prepares to meet Birdie’s parents, Mona & Mal for the first time, Birdie prepares herself for her mother’s vitriol. Meanwhile, Birdie keeps returning to the woods, her waking life, dreamworld, and memories bleeding into one another as she tries to keep the wolf at the door.

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.

After you register for a session, you will receive information on how to access or where to purchase our featured script(s). Please know that if a script involves a purchase and that creates a hardship for you, please reach out and we will take care of it for you. We want everyone to participate who would like to learn more about these talented women and their plays.