UP NEXT FROM SPILLED INK
A MAMA JALLOH STEW book and lyrics by Tom Newcomb, music by Tom Newcomb and Jon Burr
Directed by Darleny Del Rosario, Music Direction by Moose Harris
June 22nd at 6pm (Doors open at 5:30pm).
FREE EVENT. Donations gratefully accepted.
THE GHOST OF A VEILED DREAM
The thought-provoking and timely new musical A Mama Jalloh Stew is a powerful and darkly comic production that explores the complexities of race, privilege, and the search for hope and humanity in contemporary America. A Mama Jalloh Stew follows the intertwined stories of three characters: Ed, a Black U.S. Army veteran, Kingston, his White CIA officer buddy, and Mbayo, a Black African journalist. As Kingston and Mbayo fall into a trap laid by White revanchists in government, they confront the stark realities of racial injustice and the enduring legacy of America’s troubled past. The play’s original songs delve into the characters’ struggles and illuminate the power of community, family, and love in the face of adversity in this blend of humor, sharp satire, and poignant romance, presented on Juneteenth weekend.
2025 Season
(4th Sunday of each month at 6pm – exceptions outlined in red)
About Spilled Ink
Usually taking place on the 4th Sunday of every month at 6pm (unless otherwise noted), Spilled Ink is a staged reading series that seeks to provide opportunities for local playwrights, directors and actors by providing a safe and supportive space to bring new and underperformed works to life.
Our monthly readings are broken up into four selections: New Works, Screenplays, Underperformed Plays, and Special Projects. While some of our selections cross multiple categories, we aim to perform 4-6 new works, 2-3 screenplays, and 2-3 underperformed works each year.
New Works: While we accept submissions from anywhere, we do give preference to local playwrights where possible, partly to serve our own theatrical community and partly because we believe that the playwright benefits most from being able to attend readings of their work and, potentially, at least part of the rehearsal process.
Screenplays: Our screenplay selection is curated by Jeff Hammer and has included reimagined casting of Reservoir Dogs, new screenplays from UNCSA students and alumni, and pop culture classics amongst our past productions.
Underperformed Plays: For our selection of underperformed plays, we look to the kind of scripts that provide interesting roles for actors but that are not on the radar of local theatres for any number of reasons. Some that have fallen out of fashion, some that push boundaries, some with technical requirements beyond the resources available to most of our local theatres, and some niche plays that are simply not commercially viable enough to warrant the resources of a full production. We aim to put at least one “classic” play in each season to allow local actors and directors a chance to work with some truly legendary scripts.
Special Projects: Each year we are approached about putting on a reading or a production of a particular work that doesn’t fit in to our Mainstage schedule, is an intriguing prospect for us to tackle, or doesn’t fit neatly into one of our other selection categories. These can be anything from the 2024 season’s sensational Blackbird (a project brought to us by Britt Cannino and Brian Joyce) to 2025’s co-production with AGI Productions, Clinton Festa’s Clever. These special projects are often brought to us either with the production ready to go, or already in rehearsal. Sometimes, they are just a concept brought to us by those who want to work on a particular role and are looking for a venue in which they can be supported bringing a vision to life. We are happy to be able to support these projects for local artists however we can.
CLEVER by Clinton Festa
Directed by Mike Brannon
Jan. 25th at 7pm (Greensboro) & 26th at 6pm (Winston-Salem) (New Play, Special Project)
FREE ADMISSION (Donations Gratefully Accepted)
THE ILIAD. THE ODYSSEY. THE STORY IS NOT OVER.
In the aftermath of Odysseus’s long-awaited return to Ithaca, Hera and Aphrodite wager a human life on what motivated him and Penelope to suffer such severe hardships to be reunited. Meanwhile, Circe brings her son Telegonus to the palace to meet his father Odysseus, threatening the happy reunion of the royal family. To survive, the royal family must use their mortality as an advantage against the gods.
SAINT JOAN by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Kady Tilley
Feb. 23rd at 6pm (Underperformed Play)
FREE ADMISSION (Donations Gratefully Accepted)
HER COURAGE WAS HER SWORD. HER FAITH, HER SHIELD.
Witness the extraordinary story of Joan of Arc, a young peasant girl who rises to become a pivotal figure in the history of France. Driven by unwavering faith and a belief in her divine mission, Joan challenges the established powers of her time. This powerful drama explores her meteoric rise, as she inspires a nation and leads armies to victory, while simultaneously confronting the rigid structures of the Church and the feudal system.
Saint Joan is not just a dramatisation of history; it is an exploration of timeless themes that continue to resonate today. Experience the passion and the tragedy of a young woman who dared to defy the conventions of her time and left an indelible mark on history.
ALICE-LAND by Chris Tilley
Directed by Spruce Coble
Mar. 23rd at 6pm (New Play)
FREE ADMISSION (Donations Gratefully Accepted)
THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS, DARKLY.
Lost in a whimsical, yet unsettling garden, Alice encounters familiar characters from Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories, including the White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, Mock Turtle, and the Red Queen. However, their whimsical personas mask a darker, more sinister side that becomes increasingly evident as Alice journeys through the garden, forcing Alice to question her perceptions and understanding of this strange world. As Alice seeks a way out, she must confront challenging questions about her identity and sense of self, facing a journey of self-discovery and a struggle for agency in a world where the rules constantly shift and what was familiar becomes strange and threatening.
GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS by David Mamet
Directed by Jeff Hammer
Apr. 27th at 6pm (Screenplay, Special Project)
FREE ADMISSION (Donations Gratefully Accepted)
ALWAYS BE CLOSING. ALWAYS BREAK CEILINGS.
ALWAYS BRING COFFEE.
David Mamet’s searing portrait of ambition, desperation, and the ruthless pursuit of the American dream explodes onto our stage in our April staged reading. This isn’t your typical Glengarry Glen Ross. We’ve flipped the script, casting an all-female ensemble to breathe new life into these iconic, hard-driving characters. Prepare to be captivated as these powerful performers navigate the high-stakes world of Chicago real estate, where deals are made, and lives are broken.
Experience the raw intensity of Mamet’s legendary dialogue and the cutthroat competition for the coveted Glengarry leads. Through a female lens, this production explores the timeless themes of power, vulnerability, and the relentless drive for success with a fresh and compelling perspective. This is a chance to see a classic work transformed, revealing new layers of complexity and relevance in today’s world. Don’t miss this unique and electrifying staged reading.
AGAMEMNON by Aeschylus
Adapted by Rob Taylor from the translation by E.D.A. Morshead
Directed by Sarah Thompson
May 24th at 7:30pm (Underperformed Plays, New Works)
FREE ADMISSION (Donations Gratefully Accepted)
ANCIENT TRAGEDY. MODERN INSIGHT.
AND A LITTLE SNARK TOO!)
Delve into the captivating world of ancient Greece with a reading of Aeschylus’s masterpiece, Agamemnon. Agamemnon returns home after the Trojan War, bringing with him his new concubine, the Trojan prophetess Cassandra. However, a shadow hangs over his victory. His wife, Clytemnestra, still seethes with resentment over the sacrifice of their daughter, ten years prior. To help the audience navigate the intricate web of Greek mythology and understand the nuances of this ancient world, the chorus will acts as your guide, unraveling the complexities of the ancient Greek world in contemporary language. They’ll shed light on the cultural context, the significance of rituals, and the backstory of the characters, ensuring that you grasp the full depth of the drama unfolding before you. It’s a thrilling tale of betrayal, vengeance, and the enduring power of fate in a form that mixes the rich classical language of Aeschylus with an accessible modern guide.
A MAMA JALLOH STEW
book and lyrics by Tom Newcomb, music by Tom Newcomb and Jon Burr
Directed by Darleny Del Rosario, Music Direction by Moose Harris
Apr. 24th at 7:30pm (Underperformed Plays, New Works)
FREE ADMISSION (Donations Gratefully Accepted)
THE GHOST OF A VEILED DREAM.
The thought-provoking and timely new musical A Mama Jalloh Stew is a powerful and darkly comic production that explores the complexities of race, privilege, and the search for hope and humanity in contemporary America. A Mama Jalloh Stew follows the intertwined stories of three characters: Ed, a Black U.S. Army veteran, Kingston, his White CIA officer buddy, and Mbayo, a Black African journalist. As Kingston and Mbayo fall into a trap laid by White revanchists in government, they confront the stark realities of racial injustice and the enduring legacy of America’s troubled past. The play’s original songs delve into the characters’ struggles and illuminate the power of community, family, and love in the face of adversity in this blend of humor, sharp satire, and poignant romance.