Why You Need to Get Yourself to the Mary Scruggs Works by Women Festival
- Rebecca Gerstung
- Feb 16, 2018
- 2 min read
For two days and two nights, women will own the Second City Training Center stages.
You can thank the former head of the Writing Program Mary Scruggs for the opportunity. "Mary was an incredibly funny and talented person," says Jay Steigmann, the current head of the Writing Program. "She inspired and mentored writers." Steigmann counts herself as one of those inspired. "[Mary] pulled me into a meeting one day and said, 'Jay, I've decided that your purpose here is to elevate female voices and be a mentor to women.' I took that challenge very seriously. It's not every day someone gives your life meaning."
The Mary Scruggs Works by Women festival is now in it's seventh year. Created in 2011 by Second City teacher Spike Kunetz, who continues to co-produce the festival, in honor of his friend Mary after she passed away early that year. The festival will showcase original sketches and songs written by the women of The Second City Training Center. Over 250 submissions were received and on February 16-17, approximately 75 will be performed. New this year are three FREE! women-taught workshops including Improv for Writers, Give Stand-Up a Try!, and Intro to Storytelling. (Workshops are currently sold out for pre-registration but show up anyway to fill in the no-show spots!)
Here are Steigmann's don't-miss-it-or-you'll-kick-yourself festival picks:
Saturday, February 17, 6pm
The all-female ensemble of Second City's newest revue "She The People: Girlfriends' Guide to Sisters Doing It For Themselves" will host a panel discussion to talk about their creative process, their individual experiences, and how they got to where they are.
Friday, February 16 and Saturday, February 17, shows at 7pm, 8:30pm, and 10pm
"The Punch Up! Series is the thing I'm looking forward to most. We have an amazing group of actors who are going to cold walk scripts," says Steigmann. "After the scripts have been walked, two female faculty members will give feedback directly to the writers in the room. The goal is to see and hear fresh work and have professionals up the ante for the artist."
Friday, February 16, 9pm
Out of touch fairy tales are re-imagined and performed by Second City's Musical House Ensemble Infinite Sundaes. "It's a musical, satirical hot take," says Steigmann. "Get ready to clap back!"
For a full schedule of events, click here.
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