What is happening at Off Stage Left Theatre? by Edie Reese

I had an opportunity to see Off Stage Left’s “play incubator” in action tonight while viewing a zoom production of “Hail Mary,” one of the plays in development at Off Stage Left.

The play, written by Chicago area native Ann Delaney and directed by Christopher Wayland, follows ex-Catholic Mary (Amanda Walker) as she is forced due to economic circumstances to return as a substitute teacher to the Catholic high school she attended as a teen. As Mary begins her first day, she overhears student Alice (Lily Jenkins) say that she believes that she is pregnant. Mary agrees to help her. The year is 2006 and the “morning after pill” has just hit the pharmacies. Alice has two gal pals, June (Daryn Alexus) and Margaret (Tiffany T. Taylor). Jake Elkins is Father Robert, the parish priest and Jesi Mullins plays the principal, Mrs. Benson. Dylan Obrochta plays Joe, Margaret’s boyfriend, and Caleb Lee Jenkins rounds out the cast as Stephen, the church custodian.

During the production, the characters’ lives intertwine in surprising ways, and it turns out that everyone has something to hide. Issues such as abortion, sexism, feminism, honesty and betrayal are examined in this humorous play.

According to Artistic Director Bobbi Masters, the monthly play readings began in 2021 when in-person performance was still considered impossible or “iffy” due to COVID. She saw that audiences still wanted to see plays, and that actors still wanted to perform. A bonus to the Zoom format was that plays could be seen in the developmental stages, so that playwrights and directors could get feedback directly from their audience on how to tweak a scene or enhance a plot development. Off Stage Left is a program of Stage Left Theatre, which was founded in 1982. Stage Left’s mission is to create engaging and relevant theater for an inclusive industry by highlighting unheard voices, stories and perspectives.

This production was unusual because an outside speaker was invited to attend the post-performance discussion for the first time. A representative from the Chicago Abortion Fund was a guest speaker. The Chicago Abortion Fund is a non-profit charitable organization providing funding, transportation and emotional support for those considering or seeking an abortion. Following the presentation by the Chicago Abortion Fund, audience members asked questions and commented about the production. The playwright and director will then use these comments to further develop the work. The group is very close to announcing it’s 2023-2024 season. For more information and updates, visit the Stage Left Theatre web site at www.stagelefttheatre.com.