RESISTING FASCISM ~ Menapace by J. Lois Diamond

J. Lois Diamond’s work has been performed off-off B’way, regionally, Canada, London, @ International Human Rights Art Festival & Inge Festival.Growl Downtown Urban Arts Festival, Theatre Odyssey, (runner up best play), Valdez Theatre Conference. Monologues published Smith & Kraus’ Anthologies, Applause Books’ She Persisted and in The Bishop Arts Theatre Center’s Monologue Project 2024, an online resource for audition-length monologues for Women of the African Diaspora. She is committed to telling the stories of historic women, as a way to promote the value of all women. She is a proud member of Honor Roll!, Polaris North and The Dramatists Guild, where she recently studied with Tina Howe.

• jloisdiamond.com
• https://newplayexchange.org/users/20210/jlois-diamond

ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE
I wrote a longer version of this monologue in 2021 after reading the obituary of Lidia Menapace, whom the N.Y. Times profiled in a series on people who died of covid. For years, I have been writing plays inspired by historic women for The 365 Women a Year Project and leapt at the chance to write about her. I was also looking for role models at a very dark period in time.

Menapace was a feminist, writer and a member of the Italian resistance who fought Mussolini. I found her story to be fascinating. I set the piece in a girl’s high school in Italy.

When I saw the call for plays and monologues about resisting fascism, I trimmed the work to be the required length of a single page, removed the references about covid and put the focus on her efforts to fight fascism, nazism and sexism. My hope is that learning about women like Lidia Menapace will instill appreciation and courage in others and maybe even inspire them to live as she did.

     ~ Excerpt published by permission, all rights held by the playwright.

If you enjoy a piece published in the RESISTING FASCISM project, we encourage you to reach out to the playwright to tell them so. If the playwright has not included an email address or website, let us know at info@nycplaywrights.org and we'll pass along your message.

Have any of you had men say rude things to you, make catcalls, obscene gestures on the way to school today?  

 

(looking around) 

 

More than half. That’s how it all starts and it only gets worse! A woman in Italy is murdered every three days. The church does not protect us. Fascists like Trump and Berlusconi never have any respect for women. They show other men they can treat us like garbage and get away with it. When I was young, my teachers made me praise Il Duce. But at home, my mother had me destroy school papers claiming I was an “elite member of the Aryan race”. 

 

(imitating her mom’s voice) 

 

“We are not animals! Don’t let them turn you into an animal, Lidia!” ... 

 

I hope all of you will think critically about what they teach you here. I was about your age when I joined the resistance. They could have arrested and tortured me at any moment, but that never stopped me.

-------------

Fascism update: Trump voters sold out democracy for cheaper eggs - and they won't be getting cheaper eggs. 

Egg prices skyrocket in central Pa.: The ‘most extreme we have ever seen’

The Playwrights Realm writers programs

Website

Deadline: February 10, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST

SUBMISSION FORM

Applicants for the Writing Fellowship and/or Scratchpad Series will submit:

• Online application - short-answer questionnaire (see details here)
• Artistic résume (PDF format)
• Complete draft of the play that you wish to develop (PDF format), with your name and the play title on the cover page.
• Music samples (if applicable)

Please carefully read program details below, and then decide which application to fill out.

Writing Fellowship

The Writing Fellowship is at the heart of what we do: helping writers write. Four early-career playwrights receive nine months of resources, readings and feedback designed to help them reach their professional and artistic goals. The culminating event of the program is our INK’D Festival, which features public readings of each Fellows’ play. To be eligible you must:Live within commuting distance to Midtown Manhattan, and be able to make it to regular evening writers meetings, rehearsals, and events.

Have a script that would benefit from a nine-month, intensive development process.

Please note: short plays, solo plays, plays with multiple authors, and musicals are not eligible for the Writing Fellowship.


Scratchpad Series

Scratchpad Series jumpstarts The Realm’s relationship with early-career playwrights from around the country. Participants will spend a week in New York City for a developmental reading of their play with top-notch professional collaborators—director, cast, and The Realm’s artistic staff. If the playwright is based outside of New York, The Realm will provide travel and housing or per diem. To be eligible you must:Have a script that would benefit from dramaturgical conversation with The Realm and 15-hour developmental reading process reading. (Plays can be anything from a rough first draft to a play that is close to production-ready.)
Be able to be present in New York City for a process of between 3-6 days, at a time agreed upon by both you and The Realm.

Please note: short plays and solo plays not eligible for the Scratchpad Series.

If you apply for both:

Please be prepared to discuss how you think your script could benefit from the two different opportunities these distinct programs offer. To use this form you must:

Live within commuting distance to Midtown Manhattan, and be able to make it to regular evening writers meetings, rehearsals, and events.

Understand that you are applying to both programs with a single script. We accept just one play, per playwright, per season.

Please note: Short plays and solo plays not eligible for either program.

To access the application form you will either log into your Submittable account, or if you don’t have an account already, create a secure User ID and log in for Submittable. This will enable you to save drafts as you work and verify that your application has been received.

StageWorks Theatre Group seeks short plays

Website

Deadline: March 1, 2025

Submission fee waived for members of Dramatists' Guild

Please send manuscripts to:

StageWorks Theatre Group, INC.
237 Hamburg Turnpike
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 

Auditions: Spring 2025 - Exact Dates TBA
Show Dates: July 25th, 26th, 27th 2025

Writers must submit their one-act plays (with a running time of 20 minutes or less)
Entries will be judged on plot, character development, dialogue, and overall quality.
Please send manuscripts and enclose your $20 reading fee (waived for members of Dramatists' Guild)
(checks made payable to StageWorks Theatre Group, INC.) to:

StageWorks Theatre Group, INC.
237 Hamburg Turnpike
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442

Attention: One Act Jamboree

Alternatively, you may submit your play via our website. Click "Submit Your Play" to send your manuscript via Google Form. Then, click "Pay Reading Fee" button above to pay your reading fee (online payment convenience fees apply). Manuscripts will NOT be considered until the reading fee has been submitted. (Fee waived for members of Dramatists' Guild).

Between 6 and 10 winners will receive the prize of a staged production of their play at the StageWorks One Act Jamboree, which will be held during the Summer of 2025 at StageWorks Studio 237.

The production will have auditioned actors, directors chosen by committee, producers, stage managers, ushers, ticket takers, and tech crew.

2025 Annual One-Act Jamboree Terms and Conditions

Writers are encouraged to submit their one-act plays (with a running time of 20 minutes or less) by Sunday, March 1, 2025. Entries will be judged on plot, character development, dialogue and overall quality by a committee of three to five. Directors will be chosen by the committee.

Between 6 and 10 winners will receive the prize of a staged production of his or her play at the StageWorks One Act Jamboree, which will be held during the summer of 2023 at StageWorks Studio 237.


Plays will be judged on the following criteria:

• Plot
• Character Development
• Dialogue
• Overall writing quality

Playwrights are limited to three (3) submissions.

How to Submit:

Please read and follow our submission guidelines. Submissions that are incomplete or do not follow these guidelines will be disqualified. 

To enter your play, you must submit the following:

(1) Three (3) hard copies of your play (or Google Form submission in advance for electronic submissions/Paypal payment).

• Plays should run 20 minutes or less and be written in the proper playwriting format (when in the proper format, running time is approximately one minute per page):
• A list of characters with a brief physical description of each should also be included.
• Plays should contain 12 or fewer actors.
• One person plays are accepted.
• No musicals, unless you are providing accompaniment.
• Plays should have simple staging and technical needs.

(2) A cover letter with the following information:

The name of your play

Your name full address, full contact information (including your e-mail and phone number)

A brief synopsis of your play (for publicity purposes if your play is selected)

A brief biography


(3) A check in the amount of $20 (US dollars) for each play submitted, made payable to:

StageWorks Theatre Group, INC. *Fee waived for members of Dramatist Guild (must include proof of current membership) Please write "One-Act Jamboree" in the check's memo line.

As the playwright, you are invited to auditions and will have input regarding casting and production presentation. However, Executive Director may choose to exercise her authority regarding questionable content and/or presentation of the show with consideration and protection of the reputation of the company in its entirety.

Prizes:

At the conclusion of the jamboree, one winner will receive a $250 cash prize based on audience vote.

The Playwrights Group ~ the Art of Playwriting

The Weekly Workshop

Start the New Year off right! 

Join our nationwide community of playwrights on Zoom. 

It’s a great way to stay connected and motivated.

 

Participating in a weekly workshop can give you the kick you need to see your script through from beginning to end.  You can bring in anything you’re working on — a full length script, a musical, a TV pilot, whatever. And when your script is ready — we’ll present it in a Public Reading. We also bring in Guest Speakers, like Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Edson (Wit). 

 

 

Sit in on a session and see for yourself!

Tuesdays or Thursdays 7 - 9:30pm EST

 

Check out our website for more details and rates. 

 

Script Consultations

 

If you don’t have time for the workshop but have a script you’d like some feedback on — just send a PDF of your script and you’ll get a critique via email and/or video conference. See website for rates.

 

Richard Caliban has worked with  individuals on their scripts from all over the world — Indonesia, China, Greece, Australia, Serbia, as well as right here in New York. A script consultation will provide you with feedback on the structural soundness of your story, the dramatic arc of your protagonist, thematic unity and much more.

 

Online One-on-One Courses

 

If you’re looking for more, check out our One on One Online Playwriting Courses:

 

•       The Art of Playwriting

•       Write a Play in 10 Weeks

•       3 Hour Short Course

 

All are with instructor Richard Caliban, and since it’s One on One, the courses can be adjusted to fit your level of experience. 

 

Please visit our website for further Info and Rates: 

 

www.theplaywrightsgroup.com

 

Contact us at 

scripts@theplaywrightsgroup.com

RESISTING FASCISM ~ Less is More by Frank Shima

Member of Playwrights’ Center Frank Shima, a native of Minnesota, either entertains or annoys neighbors by playing Czech songs on his accordion. He has written four novels, VENCIL, DEAD LETTER, PLUM CREEK, and LYING IN THE WEEDS, available on Amazon. His plays have been performed throughout the United States in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Long Island, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York City, North Carolina, and Ohio, and in England and Wales where he learned not to use unleaded gas in a diesel engine.

 

ABOUT THE PLAY

The premise for “Less is More” came from the poem “First They Came” by Pastor Martin Niemoller. When a regime tries to eliminate everything that it doesn’t agree with, it affects everyone. You never know when you yourself will be targeted. They might come for you and there will be no one to speak out for you. Less Government – More Freedom is actually More Government – Less Freedom.
America was built on diversity. It is this diversity that made America great. And it is this diversity that will allow America to survive a fascist regime.

    

     ~ Excerpt published by permission, all rights held by the playwright.

If you enjoy a piece published in the RESISTING FASCISM project, we encourage you to reach out to the playwright to tell them so. If the playwright has not included an email address or website, let us know at info@nycplaywrights.org and we'll pass along your message.

 

            MONTY

Be realistic. There are some things the government provides that are necessary.

             ELLEN

And who decides?

             MONTY

It should be obvious.

            ELLEN

Like the things you want and need.  

             

            MONTY

Precisely. If I don’t need it, other people shouldn’t either.

            TIM

But all people aren’t the same. 

 

            MONTY

That’s the problem. The differences in people are what cause the problems.

             TIM

So, you are against anything different than you.

            MONTY

Of course. That should be obvious. Doesn’t everyone feel that way?

              ELLEN

Not really. It seems to me that you now have LESS freedom.

               MONTY

I have the freedom to live the life I want in the house I want.

            

                ELLEN

Without government controls. 

 

                MONTY

Yes. There were just too many government rules and regulations.

                ELLEN

Maybe they were there for a reason. 

 

                MONTY

Just to cost me more money for permits. 

 

                ELLEN

    

Or maybe so your house is built correctly and safe to live in.

                MONTY

Never mind. I can watch out for myself. 

 

                ELLEN

And if someone can’t.

                MONTY

That’s their problem.

                ELLEN

Until it becomes your problem. 

     

                TIM

I was just wondering, Monty. Where are you going when you have to leave the country? 

 

                MONTY

What do you mean? I’m not going anywhere.

                TIM

That’s what you think.

                ELLEN

I wonder if you agree with the latest presidential executive order?

                MONTY

I agree with all of them. They’re for the good of the

country.

                ELLEN

I don’t think you’ll agree with this one.

                MONTY

Why not?

                TIM

We weren’t going to say anything. But your neighbor told us you weren’t born in the United States. 

 

                MONTY

So what? I’m a naturalized citizen. I fulfilled all the

requirements and took the oath of allegiance.

                ELLEN

It doesn’t matter. The President has rescinded all of them by proclamation.

                TIM

He can’t do that.

                ELLEN

He can and he did. Your naturalization has been revoked, repealed, and annulled.

                TIM

You’re out of here.

                MONTY

That can’t be. My whole life is here. My whole family.

                TIM 

 

They’re out of here, too.

                MONTY

That can’t do that to me.

                ELLEN

What do you think of your less government now?

                TIM

And your more freedom?

                MONTY 

 

It’s not right. It isn’t fair.

 

                ELLEN

Of course, it’s not fair. But it’s what you voted for.'

THE LATEST TRUMP FASCISM ATROCITY: Pete Hegseth was confirmed as Trump’s defense secretary despite allegations of sexual assault and spousal abuse

The Guardian:  ...experts raised alarms about Hegseth’s apparent affinity for far-right symbols – noting that his tattoo sleeve featured at least two images associated with far-right and neo-Nazi groups. Hegseth himself has complained publicly that the US Army declined his service during Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration after a fellow servicemember flagged him as a potential insider threat.

The Orange Players Acting Up! 2025 seeks 10-minute plays

Facebook page

Deadline: February 7, 2025 9PM EST

Or until they receive 250 total play submissions

The Orange Players will be hosting “Acting Up! 2025”, a performance of ten-minute one act plays for unpublished works to be presented on Friday, August 22 and Saturday, August 23, 2025. If you are an author of an unpublished one act, we would love to work with you.

PLAYS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA

• Scripts must be sent to OPplaysubmissions@gmail.com no later than 9 PM EST February 7, 2025.
• Works must be no longer than 10 minutes when performed.
• No monologues.
• Works must be in script format, PDF or MS Word preferred.
• Works must be unpublished.
• Set pieces should be minimal and small in size.
• Playwright must be 16 years of age or older.
• Playwrights are limited to 2 submissions.
• There will be a cap of 250 total play submissions.
• Playwrights will be notified of receipt of works submitted. Please contact us after 24 hours at TheOrangePlayers@gmail.com if you have not received confirmation of receipt of your submission(s).
• One act submissions will be reviewed and chosen by the Orange Players Reading Committee.
• All Playwrights will be notified of selection status no later than June 1, 2025.

PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

PLAYWRIGHT/DIRECTOR MEET AND GREET
• The week of June 8, 2025 a meet and greet for Directors and Playwrights will be scheduled on Zoom.
• Each author will have an opportunity to speak about their play for a few minutes.
• Copies of the plays will be made available electronically for Directors to read through after the meeting.
• Directors will send their top three play choices via email to the Producer no later than June 20, 2025.
• The Producer will assign the plays to the Directors accordingly.
• Assigned Directors and authors will have a chance to chat and exchange info prior to auditions.
AUDITIONS
• Open auditions will be held for two nights on Tuesday, June 24 and Wednesday, June 25, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at High Plains Community Center (HPCC), 525 Orange Center Rd., Orange, CT, 06477. All performances and tech week will be held at HPCC.
• Playwrights may attend if they wish.
• Playwrights may not audition for their own works.
• Sides or monologues will be made available at the time of auditions.
REHEARSALS
• Orange Players will provide one copy of the script to each actor and Director in the one act assigned.
TECHNICAL
• Tech Rehearsal will be held August 18, 19, 20 with Dress Rehearsal on Thursday, August 21, all at 7:00 PM
• Set pieces must be relatively small in size – pieces that can be moved by 1 or 2 people at the most.
• Body mics will be utilized during the performances.

PERFORMANCES
Dates: Friday, August 22, 7:30 PM and Saturday, August 23, 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM
Event Location: High Plains Community Center, 525 Orange Center Rd, Orange, CT 06477
Seating: Cabaret style seating, BYO adult beverage and food
For further information please contact TheOrangePlayers@gmail.com

June Bingham New Playwright Commission 2025

Website

Deadline: February 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST

Submit at liveandincolor.org

The June Bingham New Playwright Commission Submissions are now open! This submission form will close on 2/1/2025 at 11:59 pm EST. You will be notified by 2/28/2025 if you are selected as a Semi-Finalist.

This commission opportunity provides resources and support toward the creation and development of a new play by early-career women/femme and/or non-binary storytellers. We define “early-career” as artists who have written pieces previously, or have engaged in writing via books, film, TV, etc. but have not had theatrical work that has been extensively professionally produced by commercial or non-profit organizations and have less than two full-length pieces that have been published in print. 

If you have questions about your eligibility or any portion of the application, please email Junebinghamcommission@liveandincolor.org.

The opportunity will culminate in a 60- 90 minute 2-person play that will be workshopped and presented as a reading for an audience at L&IC’s Fall Retreat in September of 2025.

The total fee for this Commission will be $3,000; housing, meals, and travel for the retreat are also provided. Schedule and deadlines will be at the discretion of the commission recipient and the program director.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
The Play must be able to be performed with 2 actors.

All submissions should include:

• Short (5-page max) writing sample/excerpt in PDF format
• 1 page artistic statement in PDF format describing your influences, perspective and style, and addressing how this piece you hope to create fits- or doesn't fit- within your body of work and what impact you hope this piece might have on communities or audiences.
• Resume/CV in PDF format

Go Try Play Write January 2025

Website

Deadline: January 31, 2025

SUBMISSION FORM

We're proud to announce a new monthly playwriting contest in collaboration with Bamboo Ridge Press. Every month, Kumu Kahua's artistic director Harry Wong III will select a writing prompt on the first day of that month. We're looking for 5-page monologues or 10-page scenes based on that prompt; the due date for submissions are always the last day of the month. 

All entries must be written in traditional play format; instructions on this format can be found here (https://www.dramatistsguild.com/script-formats), courtesy of the Dramatists Guild.

There will be one winner each month. Scripts will be submitted to the judges anonymously. Winners will receive $100 and a subscription to Bamboo Ridge Press. Woo!

The prompt for January 2025 is:

A chop stick prompt. Write a 10-page maximum scene about someone learning how to use chop sticks to eat. The scene should end with either success or failure. Have fun with this one.

RESISTING FASCISM ~ Weitiko Principle by Christopher Soucy

Christopher Soucy is a playwright living in Savannah, Georgia. He has been a theater professional in the south east for over thirty years and is a co-founder of Odd Lot Improv and Savannah Shakes Theater Company.

www.soucywrites.com
IG: @soucywriter
FACEBOOK: @soucyman

     ~ Excerpt published by permission, all rights held by the playwright.

If you enjoy a piece published in the RESISTING FASCISM project, we encourage you to reach out to the playwright to tell them so. If the playwright has not included an email address or website, let us know at info@nycplaywrights.org and we'll pass along your message.

                 MARGE

I don’t know how to handle this deep hatred I have for those mother fuckers. 

 

                 CHOGAN

Yeah... that’s a toughy. 

 

                MARGE

I’ve tried to purge them from my life... But they make up half the goddamn country. I don’t know who’s safe.

                   

                CHOGAN

Mmm... maybe no one is. 

  

                MARGE

Maybe. 

 

                CHOGAN 

You want to combat the evil?  

 

                MARGE

Yes! 

 

                CHOGAN

Good. To make it easier, you must think of the evil as a disease. 

 

                MARGE

What? 

 

                CHOGAN

A disease. Spreading rampantly throughout the land. 

 

                MARGE

What kind of disease? 

 

                CHOGAN

Selfishness. Greed. Excess. All of these things inspire people to cannibalize their fellow human beings. 

 

                MARGE

Those are choices, not a disease. 

 

                CHOGAN

Perhaps. But when we think of it like a disease, it makes sense to still engage with those infected. We hope that they will come to health. We hope that we can provide a means for them to come to health. 

 

                MARGE

That’s crazy. That won’t work. They don’t think they are sick! 

 

                CHOGAN

And that is why it spreads so virulently. Fight the evil. Not the person. Forgive the person. 

 

                MARGE

I can’t. 

 

                CHOGAN

And that’s okay. I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m not sayingbyou’ll succeed. But you must not let the same evil consume you. 

 

                MARGE

What? I’m not!

  

                CHOGAN

No? You are not feeding your rage. Pitting yourself against everything and everyone. 

 

                MARGE

They’re wrong. 

 

                CHOGAN

And they will never learn to be right if they are cut off from examples. If you vilify them, they will respond with villainy. 

 

                MARGE

But they won’t change. 

 

                CHOGAN

No. They won’t. But what’s important, truly important, is for you not to change. For you not to give in to fear and hate and prejudice. 

 

                MARGE

This is ridiculous. You don’t know what you’re talking about. 

 

                CHOGAN

I’m a figment of your imagination. A slightly racist figment. But, I’ll let it slide. The nation is facing a terrible crisis. My people call it Wetiko. An evil that preys upon the spirit. It contaminates and twists otherwise good people into selfish acts. 

 

                MARGE

It sounds like you’re asking me to just roll over. 

 

                CHOGAN

What? No. Fight. Fight with everything you have. Show nobility. Show understading. For as selfishness can be spread from person to person, so can compassion. 

 

                MARGE

What if I fail? 

 

                CHOGAN

We do not do these things to succeed. We do them because they are right. And sometimes, what is right does not win. But that is no reason to stop trying. 

 

                 MARGE

 So... what? I just let these fucking pieces of shit back into my life? 

 

                CHOGAN

No. God no. But maybe stop filling yourself up so full of venom that it comes spilling out so readily. Try to evaluate the people in your life on an individual basis. Perhaps, some of those you have cut out of your life may have a place in it after all. 

 

                MARGE

You think I should take Ben back? 

 

                CHOGAN

Fuck no! That guy’s an asshole and a half. 

 

                MARGE

Okay... Thanks.

                     

                CHOGAN

Don’t thank me... I’m probably just a manifestation of a Wikipedia article you read once and forgot about. 

 

                MARGE

Right... 

 

                CHOGAN

Good luck. 

 

                MARGE

Thanks. 

 

                CHOGAN

It’ll be hard, but it will be worth it.

The latest fascist atrocity: Trump pardons thousands of violent criminals and traitors. 

History will remember this as one of the worst moments of the United States of America, and the people who supported this monster will be rightly condemned as fools and cultists.