Read & Rant (3/15)

Read & Rant is Athena Project’s book club exploring plays written primarily by women. We read one or two scripts or ancillary materials during the month and 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. 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.

Known for National Women’s History Month, St. Patrick’s Day, and the vernal equinox marking the first day of spring, March is full of promise this year. Here at Athena Project’s Read & Rant monthly meeting we’ll be celebrating Irish-American Denver playwright Mary Coyle Chase and her brilliant creation, Harvey, the play about a six-foot-tall invisible rabbit. Inspired by the desperate times wrought by World War II, Chase’s desire to bring joy back to a suffering nation resulted in one of the best-loved plays of modern times and a Pulitzer Prize for its author. Join us as we Read & Rant about one woman’s experience as a playwright during the upheavals of the mid-20th century and consider in what ways her work is meaningful today. At this month’s Read & Rant, we’re delighted to be in discussion with Mimi Pockross, author of a new biography, Pulling Harvey out of Her Hat: The Amazing Story of Mary Coyle Chase. And we welcome back Jennie MacDonald as our co-facilitator this session.

Bio for Jennie: Award-winning playwright Jennie MacDonald received her PhD in literary studies at the University of Denver. She’s a member of The Dramatists Guild of America and Colorado Dramatists. In addition to playwriting, Jennie was a long-time actor with Germinal Stage Denver (GSD). She’s now a regular contributing writer to One Night Stand Theater’s audio productions. Other publications include her edited collection, Schabraco and other Gothic tales, short stories, fine art photography, and articles concerning 18th and 19th century Gothic and children’s literature, theatre, and visual and material culture.

QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION:

• To prepare for our meeting, please read Harvey (1944), widely available at libraries and bookstores, and/or watch the 1950 film starring Jimmy Stewart.
• Why did Harvey win the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Drama over The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams?
• Why does Harvey remain a popular choice for theatres to produce?
• Why is Mary Chase’s story a woman’s story?

OBTAINING THE SCRIPTS: 

To access this month’s Read & Rant, please register through the link below  You will gain access to the Zoom link and the play we are reading by registering for the event here:

Please be sure to check your Eventbrite confirmation email for the Zoom link to join this month’s meeting as well as the links to this month’s material.

FOLLOWING THIRD MONDAY READ & RANTS of 2021
Next date: April 19, 2021