Everything You Need to Know About the 2025 Rocket City Playwrights’ Series
Like supporting local theatre? Love being first? Looking for something different to do this weekend?
We’ve got an event for you!
The 2025 Rocket City Playwrights’ Series brings new plays to life this August in an event that’s equal parts contest, short play showcase, and live theatre.
What to Expect at the Event
You’ll see six short plays performed onstage by local actors.
They are using a minimalist performance style called reader’s theatre, so they’ll be reading their lines (rather than having them memorized like in a typical show).
There will be no costumes or props - basically we’re letting the words speak for themselves because afterall this is a contest about playwriting.
Once all the plays are finished performing, your part comes in!
You’ll vote on your favorite plays either online or with a paper ballot.
The Final Plays
The six new works from North Alabama playwrights that will be premiering are:
Exit Interview by Justin Miller
A Modern Fairytale by Robin Maise
Nyx by Ash Burhans
Smarvelous by Karlton Stephens
The Sorry-Not-Sorry Gameshow by Victoria Rich
Wrong Number? by Kimberly Breeze
A panel of judges from Theatre Huntsville and Evil Cheez Productions (the two groups organizing the event) selected these 10-minute plays from numerous entries submitted this year.
Meet the Finalists
Who better to introduce a writer than the writer themselves? Here are what this year’s playwrights have to say about themselves:
Ash Burhans
She collects pretty words and interesting teacups. She has a degree in anthropology and sociology from Agnes Scott College, where she received the Janef Newman Preston Award for Creative Nonfiction.
Ash lives in North Alabama with her spouse, a dog, and a cat. She is currently working on a novel.
Kimberly Breeze
She is new to playwriting. Insomnia began her journey of desiring communication to clear her brain before sleep, while her friends and family were already down for the night.
Her inspiration comes from seeking to understand her loved ones. She wants to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps as a published author.
Robin Maise
She enjoys fuzzy blankets, a good book, playing board games, and all things theatre. She fell in love with the stage at a young age when she played an Oompa Loompa in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.
When she’s not quoting lyrics from musicals, she’s reading books with ridiculous character voices at the preschool where she works.
Justin Miller
He started his journey into theater and entertainment while in High School. He acted in the fall shows at his school.
His script writing began when his brother Chris asked for some scripts. Chris was in film school and needed stories that he had not written himself. He was lucky enough that he got to see one actually filmed and on screen.
Victoria Rich
She wants to – when the time comes – be buried in glitter. So far, she is the author of Lukas and Thea's Magical Cuffing Season (on Amazon) which is about an Ogre from everywhere and a Faery from Huntsville.
She adores writing poetry, dancing in public, and fully living life in her hometown, Huntsville.
Karlton Stephens
He was born and raised in Decatur, Alabama. He works at Calhoun Community College and plays bassoon in the 151st Army Band, Alabama National Guard.
He lives with his wife, Janet and is proud of his children Kat and Kai. ‘Smarvelous is his first play.
The Actors & Directors
If you’ve seen any shows around Huntsville lately, then you will certainly recognize our cast members.
This year, our plays will be performed by the talented:
Jonathan Bain
Angel Coleman
Juan Bedolla
Nina Soden
Joy Whitt
Andrew Pittman
John Seigh
Sarah Foltz
Our fabulous directors include:
Jeremy Woods
John Luker-Coleman
Byron Turner
The Event Details
Most importantly, you need to know when and where to show up!
Dates: August 22 and 23
Time: 7pm
Cost: $12
Location: Shenanigans Comedy Theatre
Address: 2650 Leeman Ferry Road Huntsville
Tickets: Buy your tickets online here or at the door