And a Belle’s Merry Reign

press release: Shake Rag Alley’s summer theater events continue with the second Alley Stage Reading Series, featuring Chicago playwright Scott Strom’s “And a Belle’s Merry Reign” on Saturday, June 24, at 4 pm.

In Strom’s play, Mary and Raine are twins who have switched places so many times that they can no longer remember who is who. When a young woman named Annabelle arrives claiming to be Mary’s daughter, the twins must discover who is the true mother. Scott Strom (they/them) is a queer writer from Chicago with a bachelor of arts degree in writing for performance (playwriting) and creative writing (poetry) from Columbia College Chicago. They are the author of the chapbook god’s afterdrips (published by Fjords), and their work has been featured in Barrow Street, peculiar: a queer literary journal, Sleet Magazine, Rattle, A-Minor Magazine, SAND, and Into the Void.

The Alley Stage series highlights the voices of Midwestern writers, focusing on the creative ecosystem of the Driftless Area, and provides a unique opportunity for playwrights to share their works-in-progress and receive valuable feedback with a staged reading and talkback session. 

At 4 pm, the actors and moderator will take the stage with their scripts. And a Belle’s Merry Reign features local talent Paula Moon Bailey, Judy DeVido, Lorena Severson and Maureen “Mo” May-Grimm, all of Mineral Point, and Amanda Zasada of Platteville. Following the performance, a talkback session provides time for the audience to share feedback with the playwright, a valuable part of the writing process. Immediately after the play and talkback, enjoy a post-reading cocktail reception and mingle with the playwright and cast. In the event of inclement weather, events will be moved to the Sardeson Studio, 223 Commerce St.

For more information and to purchase $5 tickets, see www.ShakeRagAlley.org.