First Fridays continues online this fall!
Works in Progress
Theme: Stories “Of”
Guest Host: Varina Sammurtok
November 5th
Online via Zoom
6pm EST – Casting Starts
7pm EST – Readings begin
November is Native American History Month. For this edition of First Fridays, we are accepting works-in-progress submissions spotlighting our First Peoples, with a welcoming hand to share the space with our BIPOC allies. As a mixed-race Inuk raised outside of my culture, I grew up with a sense of Loss – of culture; tradition; language; connection. But it also gave me the opportunity to bear witness to the shared experiences of other BIPOC on their own emotional journey “back” – to their people; culture; and most importantly, their personal sense of identity. So, it is in the spirit of shared experience and unity that I offer the theme… Stories “of”. This broad theme allows you to embrace subtopics that overlap the situation and/or sensibilities of the Native American experience, thus highlighting the common threads of strength and resilience between all BIPOC nations and communities struggling to reemerge whole; intact; perhaps reimagined. Inspiration can be found in:
- Identity (mixed race or being raised outside your birthright experience can result in a perpetual sense of not belonging)
- Loss; or Stolen (culture; language; connection)
- Return (the challenges; joys; wonderment of)
- Connection/belonging
While these are deep and often painful subjects, they also hold great potential to tell stories of strength; resilience; empowerment; humor; and celebration. Qujannamiit (thank you) for joining us on this journey!
– Varina Sammurtok
We are accepting up to 10 pages of scripts-in-progress from plays, screenplays, web series, or one-acts. Email your 10 pages or less to firstfridays@barrowgroup.org by Friday, October 29 at 5pm EST. All writers chosen will receive a $50 stipend.
The plays will be cast the night of the event. To be considered for casting, reserve your free ticket and login by 6pm EDT on November 5.
First Fridays is a free monthly curated event that offers artists the opportunity to share their work, practice their craft, and connect with fellow creators. Writers are pre-selected to share up to 10 pages of their script-in-progress and actors are cast on the spot to participate. Learn more and reserve your free tickets Please note, all writers selected each month will be considered for the First Fridays Festival— our culminating event in June 2022. Writers will be paired with TBG directors to cast and workshop the pieces, which will be shared in front of an audience. All artists involved receive a stipend.
About this month’s host:
Varina Sammurtok is readjusting to life on land after 11 years of life on a boat with her husband and son. She considers herself messy but kind, putting her messiness to good use as fuel for her creativity, both as an actor and a writer. This year, she has committed to saying “yes” to all things creative, regardless of fear, joyfully reaping many unexpected rewards as a result – her quiet mantra has become “Go forth!” Her Indigenous roots extend to the Arctic, but was raised “in the south” (Halifax, NS, Canada) with her younger brother. Her creative inspiration comes from introspection and observation, but credits her mother for her grand passion of the written word.