Updated July 16, 2020. The Spotlight Summer Performance Series is a joint effort by Jackson’s co-creators. They want to encourage Mississippi-made theater and provide a platform for LGBTQ+ voices and new plays. Call for script submissions is open to all native and resident Mississippi playwrights. Deadline June 1. The series, which Randy Redd’s JOOKMS professional theatre project produced, was scheduled for July 20-25. Staged readings will begin July 22 and continue through the weekend. Update: Organisers changed the Spotlight Series schedule due to continuing pandemic concerns. Two public livestream events were added — JOOKMS Featured Art Forums — July 23-24. The location was TBA. The series could be presented at The Warehouse Theatre (New Stage Theatre’s alternative theatre in Jackson’s Belhaven Heights), with the hope of being shown. The series is not New Stage Theatre’s production but it does have the potential for partnership and approval from professional theaters. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, theater scheduling was flexible. Below are the latest updates to the original schedule. JOOKMS Artistic director Randy Redd will host a conversation with Jordan Nichols, Jordan Miles (Jackson’s New Stage Theatre), Sharon Miles, Rachel Bay Jones (“Dear Evan Hansen”) and other theater-makers at 6 p.m. on July 23rd. The “Be the Light” event on July 24, at 6 p.m., features provocative discussions with Mississippi-made writers Elizabeth McCain and Topher Payne, Redd, and more. It is led by Taylor Newby, JOOKMS Artistic Associate, about inspiration and motivation. Virtual tickets are $5 (suggested donation) at fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/jookms Mart Crowley’s March 7 death was part of what prompted Drew Stark, education associate at New Stage Theatre, to pursue an event focusing on LGBTQ+ works to honor the Vicksburg-born playwright. Crowley’s 1968 play “The Boys in the Band”, which depicted gay life in a groundbreaking way, won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play in 2019. Stark, originally from Starkville moved to Mississippi a few years back from New York City. Stark says that his dream was to start a theater company, and to provide a voice for LGBT people in Mississippi and the South. This is a place where discrimination persists and the community is often overlooked. Stark states that theater should be accessible to all and should represent all. It also needs to reach new audiences. Spotlight Summer Performance Series is an expression of this goal. Redd says that the LGBT goal allows for “anything to be a character, an event, a story or a theme, as long as it hits this mark in that manner.” We don’t want writers to be restricted. … JOOK accepts submissions of any kind. Redd estimates that JOOKMS has received around a dozen plays and more than twice as many emails and questions since the call was made, which includes on broadwayworld.com. Redd has received a variety of questions from writers, ranging from “Do you have to be gay?” (“No.”), to “Does it matter if I live in Mississippi?” “Absolutely not,” Redd said. Photo by Melanie Thortis Redd. JOOKMS was founded nearly two years ago to bring together Mississippi artists and create theater that is true to its roots. Brookhaven native and actor, as well as TV and film credits, has always wanted to return home to make theater in Mississippi. He says he is excited to have the opportunity to direct or teach in his home state, such as with New Stage’s “Million Dollar Quartet”, and “Sweet Potato Queens” musical. Redd was inspired by Vivian Howard (author/TV host, chef, and author), and he wants to highlight the best aspects of life and work in South Carolina, as well as gather local artistic “ingredients”, and show the state’s heritage, culture, and history. “Devised theatre not only allows artists to explore, learn, and create without limits, but it also serves to be a big mixing pot for the artist’s ideas, talents, and to keep the company alive, vibrant, and on the move.” Other ideas for JOOKMS include a production “Les Miserables” that will be staged during Freedom Summer in Mississippi; a big hill country Blues project; a Tennessee Williams play on-site; a Beth Henley Festival and many more. Six plays selected for the Spotlight series will be presented in two presentations. Playwrights can get feedback, modify and rewrite scripts during this time. The ensemble will be performing in staged readings of works in process in the afternoon, while evenings will rotate between two completed plays by Crowley and Topher Payne, a Kosciusko native who has also been consulted on the series. On weekends, there may be a concert or cabaret. You can choose to purchase tickets for the whole festival or just a few. Redd states that submissions are being received and hopes to continue collecting new works for future reading series. Stark states that while LGBTQ+ is a theme for the inaugural Spotlight series of Spotlight, the audience is wide. “For all Mississippians, Jacksonians to come, watch great theatre and still have these voices heard,” Stark said. This broad reach is also true for the submissions push and the hope to have a variety of writers. These voices must be heard, recognized, and humanized. These discussions are needed where there is discrimination, bias, and closed-mindedness. The theater is a catalyst. Stark states that you can go to the theatre to entertain, learn, and have that sense community. Stark says that actors and audiences share that energy. Theater is a unique art form. It opens up the discussion.” Redd and Stark remain committed and optimistic as they plan and organize for COVID-19’s pandemic-related adjustments. Redd states, “We will stick to these dates for as long as possible.” Stark states, “I am passionate about this project.” “This was a dream of mine in Mississippi to create.” Photo by Sherry. They hope that writers will use the extra time at home to explore, create and work towards this goal. Redd states, “I want to see more artists, writers, and creative types come up with innovative ideas that give us something positive to look forward too.” Redd admitted that he had found himself getting bogged down in the now, focusing on lockdown and limitations rather than working towards what’s next. “I said to myself, “No.” I am going to work as if it were any other day. I will keep moving forward and pretend that I’m in preproduction for something else at a later date. JOOKMS and Spotlight Series crew chose four plays from more than a dozen LGBTQ+ plays to be read and given feedback. Although the sessions won’t be broadcast publicly, there is hope to produce at most one of these plays within the next year. To fellow theater folks, he advises, “So get busy, sit down, and start working on another play.” “I know a lot people are trying lots new things now.” Send new work to JOOKMS. You can also find guidelines and details about the series here. New work can also be emailed to spotlightsummerseries@gmail.com. No submission fee is required. There is no submission fee.