anarchy starts intimately
Intimate Anarchy Play Reading Series
Following the 2024 Presidential election, A Short Leap’s Ensemble began to feel an even stronger need for community spaces than may have been present before. This led to A Short Leap’s first Intentional Night of Community. Looking back on history in meetings since the election, a shared sentiment echoed: “Anarchy starts intimately.”
Left to right: William Sebastian Rose, Alexis Queen, J. Imani, Vanessa Copeland in Apologies to Lorraine Hansberry (You Too, August Wilson). Photo: Alex Albrecht, 2025.Theatre, sharing ideas, creating community: all of this is anarchist behavior. A Short Leap’s Intimate Anarchy reading series will feature a series of scripts that feel topical in today’s society. All plays will focus on the power we have as individuals; and in building community– one of A Short Leap’s founding principles.
Come join our community as we create Intimate Anarchy.
UPCOMING ANARCHY
UPCOMING ANARCHY
An Evening of
Intimate Anarchy
Nov 16
7:00 PM
Mrs. Murphy and Son's Irish Bistro
Tickets $15
Join us on November 16th at 7pm at Mrs. Murphy & Son’s Irish Bistro for PlayFest — the culmination of A Short Leap’s Intimate Anarchy play reading series. The night features a lineup of bold, new short plays by Chicago playwrights, ensemble-created showcase pieces, and a special collaboration with LocalLab. Performed in a lively staged-reading format, PlayFest is part theatre, part community gathering — a celebration of creativity, conversation, and the joyful chaos of live performance.
Opinions by SCOTT CARTER COOPER
directed by TORI KILKENNY
The Importance of Representation by AQDAS AFTAB
directed by RASHAAD BOND
On-The-Rag Dolls by ALLISON FRADKIN
directed by BRIANNA BRUGOS
The Blood Eagle by RACHEL HERRIGES
directed by NATHAN DALE SHORT
THE PLAYS
Hummingbird by KENNEDY FRAZIER
directed by HAVEN JANEIL CRAWLEY
Persu Railhead by CHLOE ADAMO
directed by MADALENE STEICHEN
No Rest by JARED GOUDSMIT
directed by VANESSA COPELAND
J. Imani and Vanessa Copeland in Apologies to Lorraine Hansberry (You Too, August Wilson).
Photo: Alex Albrecht, 2025.The Playwrights
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Scott Carter Cooper
HE/HIM
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AQDAS AFTAB
THEY/HE
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Allison Fradkin
SHE/HER
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Rachel Herriges
SHE/HER
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Kennedy Frazier
SHE/THEY
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Chloe Adamo
SHE/THEY
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Jared Goudsmit
HE/HIM
The Directors
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Tori Kilkenny
SHE/HER
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Rashaad A. Bond
HE/HIM
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Brianna Brugos
SHE/HER
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Nathan Dale Short
THEY/THEM
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Haven Janeil Crawley
THEY/THEM
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Madalene Steichen
SHE/HER
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Vanessa Copeland
SHE/HER
The Actors
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Sia Mesariya
SHE/HER
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Benjamin Jouras
HE/HIM
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John Francis Klingle
HE/THEY
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Katie Bevil
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Kayla McAllister
THEY/SHE
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Cella Marsz
SHE/THEY
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Annemarie Andaleon
SHE/HER
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Bijoy Azad
HE/THEY
