Begun in 2007, Stockyards Theatre Projects' "Play for Keeps" pairs actresses with writers (female or male) to create positive, substantial roles in plays for women performers, via three months of workshops, culminating in public readings over three nights. This year's topics include the trials of love through three generations (a grandmother war bride, a fifties mom and a lesbian daughter); alienation in varying cultural groups in the US; and body image and women.
For "Play for Keeps," about 40 actresses were selected to meet every other week (starting on June 30, 2008), first to read well-known works to create a common terminology about play structure, style and character. They are then connected with up to 10 members or teams, and asked to bring eight pages of new work to subsequent meetings, where they are read aloud for group feedback. Stockyards Managing Director Francesca Peppiatt, who created the initiative, then facilitates these critique sessions, plus meets with the artists one-on-one for comments. Finally, directors join the process to supervise what will become the final public readings, which include audience talk-backs as well. Participants include actors who have never written, actors who are working on a show for themselves but need somewhere to develop, and playwrights.
Information at 773-936-7896 and
www.stockyardstheatreproject.org.
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