American Blues Theater -new playwrights program written by Julia W. Rath

American Blues Theater has launched a series of readings that deal with topical subjects containing equity and social justice components.

The first show in the series was “A Shot: #A Love Story Inspired by Black Lives Matter”, which took place on Friday, August 7th. Directed by Chuck Smith and written by Evanston playwright Gloria Bond Clunie, the virtual reading on Zoom provided an unusual take on the modern tragedy of raising a young black man amid all of the shootings and heinous gang crimes on Chicago’s West Side.

In subsequent months through June 2021, additional playwrights will be featured with their works-in-development that might one day become full scale productions on the Chicago stage.

For the near future during the pandemic, upcoming shows will be taking place online. The next announced reading on the American Blues Theater website is “Yes, My Name Is… Lucy” on September 18, 2020.

There is yet more to come about these various short performances on issues of consequence taken from the headlines. Please go to americanbluestheater.com for more information on the entire series and on other upcoming events and readings as details become available.

Note that American Blues Theater develops new plays and musicals and that 65% of their theatrical events are world and Chicago premieres. They are a 501(c)3 organization, and if you are in a position to support the important work of this theater company in these difficult and uncertain times, please consider making a donation via their website: americanbluestheater.com.