2014 Athena Project Arts Festival to Feature World Premiere of GOVERNMENT ISSUED LONG JOHNS & More, 3/14-30

Athena Project's annual festival is back for its second year inspired by the theme, Utopia/Dystopia. This year, the festival is sponsored by Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) and Athena Project presents a full production of a World Premiere play, a Plays In Progress Series, a Fashion Show, two galleries featuring artwork by local female artists, musicians, dancers, and in partnership with Girls Inc., a playwriting and play development experience for girls beginning March 14 at The Aurora Fox Studio Theatre, 9900 E. Colfax Avenue in Aurora, CO 80010.

Athena Project will premiere Erin Wagoner's Government Issued Long Johns, which takes place in the future where sex is forbidden, March 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 at 8 p.m.; and March 16, 23, 30 at 2 p.m.

Jane has always been a good citizen of this government-issued, long johns wearing society; she wears her long johns, obeys the rules, and never touches skin. But with one year left until her own matching ceremony (the equivalent of a computerized arranged marriage), Jane witnesses the society's rules and matching process severely damage her sister. This pushes Jane to question all she's known and in doing so, she takes dangerous risks to test the boundaries of her world.

Two Opening Night Receptions will be held March 14 from 5-8 p.m. at The ACAD Studio, 1400 Dallas Street and March 15 from 5-8 p.m.at the Kim Robards Dance Studio, 9990 E. Colfax Avenue, in Aurora.

Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for students/seniors/military, and $18 group discounts are available for 10+ people.

Athena Projecy will also feature workshop productions of four new plays by women, called the Plays In Progress (PIP) Series, on March 20, 23, 27, 30 at 7 p.m.; and March 22 and 29 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Each play will get 2 workshop readings. Workshop level productions are designed with minimum sets, lights, sound, etc. and they also allow for an audience to give feedback. One play will be selected from this Series to be produced in the Athena Project Arts Festival in March of 2015. Your vote counts! The plays are: "Crazy Patterns" by local playwright Melissa McCarl, "Relative Communication" by local playwright Nicolette Vajtay, "Paradise" by Laura Maria Censabella, and "Harm's Way" by Marilyn Kriegel.

The Plays In Progress (PIP) Series is $12 per play.

The festival will also feature art gallery showings, featuring works by female visual artists. The gallery showings will open one hour before every evening and matinee performance of the festival events.

Art pieces will be shown at The Kim Robards Studio from March 14 -30. All art curated for the showcase will pertain to the festival theme of Utopia/Dystopia. Art pieces will also be shown at The ACAD Studio from March 14-30. All art displayed in this gallery will be curated by Mo'Print/Invisible Museum. There will be an opening night reception at The ACAD Studio on March 14 from 5-8pm and at The Kim Robards Studio on March 15 from 5-8pm. Athena Project will feature female musicians during ACAD Studio gallery hours. There is no admission charge but artwork is available for sale; proceeds benefit the artist and Athena Project.

On Saturdays, March 22 and 29 from 11:30am-12:30pm at The ACAD Studio, female choreographers will present original dance pieces. The pieces will range from ballet to hip hop, lyrical to tap, and anything in between. Interested dancers should contact us for more info at info@athenaprojectfestival.org.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students/seniors/military. Discount is payable at the door ONLY.

Sundays, March 23 and 30 from 4:30-5:30pm at The Kim Robards Studio will feature the company members of Kim Robards and including a sneak peek of an upcoming world premiere.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students/seniors/military discount payable at the door. They are available at at tickets@kimrobardsdance.org, or by calling 303-825-4847.

Girls' Write PIP Series, workshop Productions of each of the short plays written by members of Girls' Write will take place Sunday, March 30 at10:30 a.m. on the Mainstage of the Aurora Fox Theatre. Girls' Write is a youth playwriting program run in conjunction with Girls Inc. This program mentors 6th-9th grade girls in all aspects of theatre and culminates in a presentation of their plays during our festival. There is a suggested donation of $10 for adults for this event and $5 for students.

For various times from March 14-30 at The ACAD Studio, Athena Project is currently seeking submissions for performances at The ACAD Studio for each hour the studio is open. Female artists are preferred. Hopefuls must provide their own equipment and set up. Send submissions or email questions to info@athenaprojectfestival.org. This event is included with purchase of a ticket to World Premiere or PIP Series during festival. Musician merchandise will be available for sale onsite.

The Utopia/Dystopia Fashion Show (Fundraiser) at The Aurora Fox Studio Theatre will take place Wednesday, March 26. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. Presented will be a Fashion Show of female designers celebrating the worlds of Utopia/Dystopia and benefiting Athena Project. Athena Project is currently seeking submissions for individual performance artists or models to be featured in the fashion show. Interested applicants should contact us at info@athenaprojectfestival.org and include a headshot/resume in the email. Tickets are $25.

Unless otherwise specified, tickets for all events can be purchased at www.AthenaProjectFestival.org or by calling the Aurora Fox box office at 303-739-1970

Athena Project is a professional group of artists dedicated to supporting and expanding women's artistic contributions to the Denver stage and the wider community. We envision a world in which women's voices are powerfully expressed and fully integrated into the creative life of every community. Athena Project's mission is to empower women and strengthen the Denver community through developing and showcasing women's and girls' artistic contributions, while inviting new audiences into the creative process.

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) is an art school like no other. Offering online and on-campus undergraduate and graduate degrees, the school provides challenging curriculum and a fresh approach to learning. RMCAD functions as a community of creatives in an atmosphere of intensity that drives students to push conventional boundaries. Find more information at RMCAD.edu or by calling 800.888.ARTS.

Kim Robards Dance is a professional modern dance international touring company in its 27th season. KRD is recognized for its high artistic standards and outstanding educational programming through outreach for disenfranchised populations and The Academy of KRD for youth and adults. Ms. Robards' choreography is noted for its driving physicality and dynamic use of space. In addition to her talent as a choreographer Ms. Robards is also a well-respected teacher and amazing dancer.KRD is housed in a 14,000 square foot facility in the developing Aurora Cultural Arts District with several studios and an informal performance venue seating 125. KRD also operates a satellite studio located at The Evans Station Lofts in Denver.

Mo'Print (The Month of Printmaking Denver) was established to advance the art of making original prints to inspire, educate and promote awareness through a variety of public events and exhibitions in Denver and the metropolitan region. Mo'Print will alternate between the Month of Photography Denver on a biennial basis, during the months of March and April. Mo'Print is sponsored by the Invisible Museum, a non-profit organization dedicated to the exchange of ideas in the contemporary creative cultural community.

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