Shakespeare & Company Presents Select Works from 'Women+ On The Edge of Democracy'
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LENOX, Mass. — Shakespeare & Company announceD its presentation of select plays from Women+ On The Edge of Democracy" on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m., in Studio 3 of the Elayne P. Bernstein Performing Arts Center.
There is no charge to attend.
According to a press release:
A groundbreaking initiative encouraging conversation about American democracy created by the Flynn Center in Vermont (Jay Wahl, Executive Director) and The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize (Leslie Swackhamer, Executive Director), "Women+ On The Edge Of Democracy" sets out to form a collective portrait of a nation in doubt and transformation–seen through the eyes of women+ playwrights from around the world who have long chronicled America's contradictions and dreams.
Ariel Bock, producing associate with Shakespeare & Company, said she's pleased to be able to take part in an international movement.
"I'm glad we have the opportunity to present some of these amazing plays, and that we can be part of an effort to mobilize theater as a means to help start important conversations, and encourage all of us to vote as the election gets closer," she said.
Shakespeare & Company will present nine readings of 10-minute plays, selected from "Women+ On The Edge Of Democracy" anthology of 34 woman-identifying playwrights. The titles were chosen by a committee of Company Artists, and will be presented in two acts with talkbacks at the end of each act:
Things I Worry About by Bridget Carpenter
Churn by Justice Hehir
Pecking Order by Elizabeth Diggs
Attestation by Lynn Nottage
An Uplifting High School Graduation Speech by Sarah Ruhl
Reasonable Suspicion by Lisa Loomer
The Betsy Ross Book of the Dead by Paula Cizmar
Searching for Elsie Parrish by Heidi Schreck
Common Ground by Lauren M. Gunderson
Production Manager Erika Johnson said that in reading the plays, she returned often to the notion that what is happening in our democracy affects all of us in many different ways.
"Not everyone can see the perspective of others in their day-to-day reading of the news and social media," she said. "In fact, sometimes these outlets actually further isolate us from knowing what others are going through, or try to invalidate those experiences."
To that end, patrons will be invited to share their thoughts by completing the sentence "As a __, America makes me feel ____," and posting their answers on a wall display.
According to the Flynn Center and The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize event organizers, "The commission welcomes work from across the political spectrum. Through comedy and tragedy, rage and tenderness, hope and fear, these writers will map a picture of America today–revealing how democracy feels to those who have spent their lives giving voice to the unseen and unheard."
As the U.S. marks its semiquincentennial, the Flynn has published the complete collection of plays as an anthology–free to perform–and invited artists, community groups, and citizens across the country to stage readings and performances ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. The anthology is available for purchase, with rights waived for individuals and non-profit organizations who would like to present the plays free of charge to the public. Organizations and individuals wishing to participate can sign up at democracy.flynnvt.org.
Free tickets can be reserved at shakespeare.org. For more information, email news@shakespeare.org, or call the Box Office at 413.637.3353.
