Social Justice Shorts June 6-8 Features 19 New Works Festival

Social Justice Shorts June 6-8 Features 19 New Works Festival

Bread & Roses Missouri & A Call to Conscience Interactive Theater for Social Change at Metro Theatre Company

Social Justice Shorts 2025, a dynamic festival of short plays running June 6–8 at Metro Theatre Company. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural festival, this partnership brings together two organizations deeply rooted in using the arts to advance equity and social justice.

This year’s festival features 19 powerful short plays and monologues by playwrights from across the country that explore the urgent themes of justice, resistance, identity, and hope. Among the selected works are five compelling pieces from St. Louis-based writers—Kathleen Gamble, Nancy Bell, Michael Paplanus, Joan Appell Lipkin, and Chris Orlet—showcasing the depth and range of our local talent.

These stories speak to the heart of our region while connecting to national conversations around equity
and collective liberation.

Olajuwon Davis and Molly Wennstrom in Ow by Peter Pasco


“The struggle is still more real than ever given the current political climate. This Social Justice Short Play Festival amplifies the diverse perspectives of playwrights boldly confronting injustice. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘If you can’t fly, then run… keep moving.’ Let’s all take a stand. Join us in the fight for justice, engage with these stories, and commit to making a difference in our communities today.” says Fannie Belle Lebby, Artistic Director of A Call to Conscience Interactive Theatre for Social Change.

“We were amazed to have over 180 submissions from writers all over the country. We’re excited to be inviting local directors and actors to bring these powerful theater pieces to life in the cause of justice,” says Emily Kohring, Executive Director of Bread and Roses Missouri. Support for Social Justice Shorts 2025 is provided by the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission and the Whitaker Foundation.

Social Justice Shorts 2025 will take place at Metro Theatre Company (3311 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103) and presented in two distinct bills of plays. Audiences can attend either bill or both bills for the full experience. Tickets are available at https://cur8.com/25728/project/131879 or visit breadandrosesmo.org for more information.

Anum Arshad and Lilie Self-Miller in Aurora by Rhys Collins


SOCIAL JUSTICE SHORTS 2025
Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 7 at 3 p.m.

BILL #1: THE ISMS
Featuring:
● A Change Is Going to Come? by Kathleen Gamble
● Butterfly by Jenna Jane
● Grown-Up Stuf by D.L. Siegel
● Side Ef ects by Charles Day
● Something to Say by MC Crosby
● The Student by Nancy Bell
● The Round Up by Chris Orlet
● (UN)BOTHERED by Mildred Inez Lewis
● The 92% by Bryan-Keyth Wilson

Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, June 8 at 3 pm

BILL #2: THE GENERAL WELFARE
Featuring:
● Are You Comfortable? by J. Lois Diamond
● Aurora by Rhys Collins
● Do Better, Home Depot by Matthew Moore
● First Chapter Friday by Kaily Anderson
● My Eating Disorder, Donald Trump and Me by Joan Lipkin
● Not My Tale to Tell by Donna Latham
● Ow by Peter Pasco
● Room 404 by Bridgette Dutta Portman
● The Nearest Far Away Place by Aleks Merilo
● The Project by Michael Paplanus

Tickets are available at https://cur8.com/25728/project/131879 or visit breadandrosesmo.org for more information.

ABOUT BREAD & ROSES MISSOURI Bread and Roses Missouri amplifies and elevates the stories of working people through art, performance, and activism. They believe that cultural and creative expression are a means to effect deep and lasting social change. Bread and Roses Missouri organizes and produces arts and humanities events, exhibits and workshops for and about workers and their families. We strive to empower participants and educate audiences. Through the arts they envision a world that achieves an
economic base benefitting the entire community.

ABOUT A CALL TO CONSCIENCE INTERACTIVE THEATER FOR SOCIAL CHANGE A Call to Conscience (c2c) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) theater collective that uses a multi-media format to dramatize historical themes dealing with the struggles of the oppressed. Using speeches, essays, and adaptations we highlight transformative events that evoked change and the various architects and leaders that helped create them. C2C’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for activism within our community. Founded in 2012 by a group of women participants of the Regional Arts Commission’s Community Arts in Training (CAT) Program, C2C presents challenging original works that engages audiences in thought-provoking conversations and an exchange of ideas regarding racism, police brutality, poverty, gender inequality, and other civil and human rights.

Cover Photo: Jayson Heil, Hailey Medrano and Olajuwon Ali in The Project by Michael J. Paplanus

Free Climate Change Theatre Action Event on Saturday, Oct. 16

Free Climate Change Theatre Action Event on Saturday, Oct. 16

With the climate crisis evincing ever more  concerns this summer, our Climate Change Theatre Action event on Saturday Oct 16 could not be more timely. 

Our free afternoon event will offer eight short internationally  commissioned plays in four art galleries, a theatrical adaptation of Greta Thuneberg’s address to the UN, a dance performance, outdoor resource tables by environmental organizations, voter registration, and more. 

That Uppity Theatre Company, Artistic director Joan Lipkin, in collaboration with Climate Change Theatre Action (CCTA), a project of the Arctic Cycle will present a theatre and arts crawl on Saturday, Oct 16 from 1-4 pm at area art galleries in the Central West End.

The galleries include Duane Reed, Houska, Philip Slein, and Projects +, all located on McPherson Avenue in the historic CWE district.

“We are living in a time of increasing urgency to address critical climate change. It is no longer something that can be avoided or ignored. Regardless of our business, our occupations or personal situation, we are all in it together. Through our participation in the Climate Change Theatre Action, the gallery hopes to take part in a larger effort that is all about increasing our awareness of this crisis,” said Duane Reed, of the Duane Reed Gallery.

Viewers will be able to see a short play or two of under ten minutes before proceeding to the next gallery to see others. The event will feature 4-8 short pieces. Most performances will be repeated 6-8 times or approximately every twenty minutes, starting at 1 pm. Some work may also be performed outside.

Indoor performances will be limited to ten audience members at a time and masking will be required.

Many St Louis theatre artists are involved in presenting this project including Anna Blair, Donna Weinsting, Dan Kelly, Teresa Doggett, Susan Volkan, Michael Paplanus, Don McClendon, Carrie Hegdahl, Alice Kinsella, and Rachel Mitchell, among others.

The Central Visual & Performing Arts High School will also present a theatrical adaptation of Greta Thunberg’s speech to the United Nations called” How Dare You”. Ashleyliane Dance Company will offer selections from their critically acclaimed “Environmental
Intelligence” dance piece.

Additionally, there will be outdoors tabling by environmental groups including Great Rivers Greenway, US Green Building Council – Missouri Gateway Chapter, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Project Animal Freedom, World Bird Sanctuary, Metropolitan Congregations United, Earth Dance Organic Farm School, St Louis Voter Registration Group and more. Street parking is available as well as a paid lot on Euclid Ave between Washington and McPherson Ave.

“The issues facing us are real but so are the opportunities to change the direction of this global crisis,” said Joan Lipkin. “The arts are a pathway to illuminate the issues in an engaging way and also to promote hope, joy and engagement. It is both meaningful and important that St Louis take part in this international arts and ecology movement.”

Produced by Joan Lipkin and Pamela Reckamp, the St Louis event is part of a worldwide series of readings and performances of short plays about the climate crisis and environmental justice. CCTA 2021 will take place from September 19 to December 18 to coincide with the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26).

The last iteration of CCTA, in 2019, included over 220 events in nearly 25 countries. For more details, the list of participating playwrights, and previous collaborators, see www.climatechangetheatreaction.com.