News Release: 5/13/2025

• Photo attached: Alley Stage 2024
• Photo attached: Phil Darg 

MINERAL POINT, Wis.—Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts will kick off the fifth year of the Alley Stage Reading Series on Sunday, June 8. This season’s playwrights include Phil Darg of Maple Grove, MN, Richard Conlon of Wheaton, IL  and Robert Lynn of  Dubuque, IA.

Under the artistic direction of playwright Marcia Jablonski, the Alley Stage Reading Series highlights the voices of Midwestern writers, focusing on the creative ecosystem of the Driftless Area, and provides a unique opportunity for playwrights to share their works-in-progress and receive valuable feedback with a staged reading and talkback session at the intimate outdoor theater Alley Stage. Besides being fun to watch, a staged reading is an important way a playwright can get important feedback from an audience and determine what their next steps are with the script. This helps Shake Rag Alley fulfill a key part of its mission: cultivating the creativity that thrives in our rural community.

Each of the staged readings will take place at 4pm on Sundays, followed by a talkback and reception at the Art Cafe. Rain space is the Sardeson Studio (220 Commerce St.)  More information and tickets available at https://shakeragalley.org/alley-stage/

June 8: AI Gore Rhythm by Phil Darg

In the future, AI will do everything for us . . . except make us happy. Al Gore Rhythm explores the current trajectory of humanity’s relationship with technology—specifically, the deeper integration of computer tech into daily life, the explosion of AI-generated content, and the ever more sophisticated software algorithms that increasingly affect the many aspects of human existence.

Phil Darg is the author of many plays and musicals including: Sasquatched! The Musical (NYMF 2013 Next Link); The Pound: A Musical for the Dogs (2017 Theatre Now New York Sound Bites); The ABC’s of LGBT at the Rainbow Valley B ‘n’ B (winner, 2020 Robert J. Pickering Award); The Diary of Anya Drozdova(O’Neill semi-finalist, 2023; Judith Royer Excellence in Playwriting Award, finalist); Evolution (winner, 2018 William Faulkner Literary Competition); Hyard Ed(finalist, B Street Theatre, 2019); Thespis (finalist, 2020 Tennessee Williams One-Act Play Contest; Hero (Alternative Theater, New York); Facility (2017 William Inge); ‘Til Death (Darkhorse Dramatists). 

August 17: One Time by Richard Conlon

Sometimes it takes a lifetime of stories to tell the story of a lifetime. Unrequited love, religious epiphanies, posing in the nude, an abusive marriage, and the secret powers of nuns … these are just some of the stories Sonia and Mason tell each other from their individual lives. Now, can they complete the story of a common past they once shared more than three decades earlier?

Richard Conlon is a proud Lifetime Member of the Dramatists Guild and Resident Playwright Alum at Chicago Dramatists where his social satire, 7 Minutes to Live, received an extended-run world premiere last August. Kerry Reid of the Chicago Reader called it: “Highly entertaining, funny, sexy, action-packed” with “whip-smart dialogue” and “the edgy, high-talent ingredients Chicago storefront theatre is famous for.” He is an O’Neill Semi-Finalist, and was selected as a 2020 Kennedy Center Playwright. Richard’s work has won several awards and been published by Next Stage Press, Eldridge Publishing, Smith & Kraus, and Flowersong Press. His sci-fi play Memory, Speak was produced in April in Otherworld Theatre’s Paragon Festival in Chicago. Earlier this year, he was selected to create a new play as part of “Uncovered Scenes from Ukraine”. The play, A Harvest Truth, was awarded The Vinnytsia Citation by the Festival Producer and Ukrainian Jurors.

September 7: Stop the Monsanity! by Robert Lynn

Written to be performed by one man and one woman, this political comedy can be performed by up to seven actors. Elise has been promoted to spokesperson for the largest social justice non-profit in the country. Her husband Michael has just learned that his job as publicist will now be limited to only one client—Monsanto. This puts the couple at odds as they try to negotiate their new lives, complicated by divorced next door neighbor Kyle, who has his eyes on Elise, Michael’s clueless assistant Darcy, Michael’s unforgiving boss, Joan, Elise’s steadfast boss Sage, and a mysterious corporate insider who taunts Michael.

Robert Lynn’s Christmas-themed comedy, The ReGifters won the New American Comedy Festival and is published by Heuer Publishing, as is his comedy With Friends Like These. His play, The Stupid Economy, was performed at the United Solo Artists Festival at Theatre Row (NYC) in 2013. Mother’s Wishes was the winner of the Aloha Performing Arts Center’s 24th Original Play Festival (Kealakekua, HI) and a finalist in the Reva Shiner Comedy Award. His play, The Back Porch Test, was voted audience favorite in the Lakeside Players Theatre 10-minute Play Festival (White Bear Lake, MN) in June, 2017, The Coriolis Effect was performed in 2018, and Like Crazy was voted audience favorite in 2019. He was twice named a finalist for the Midwest Dramatists Conference. He is a member of the Dramatists’ Guild of America, Inc.

Upcoming Events & Workshops at Shake Rag Alley

Kao Kalia Yang Book Reading | May 16 | Lind Pavilion
Kick off the 9th Annual Mining Your Stories Writing Retreat with a visit from Kao Kalia Yang reading from her NEA Big Read The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir. Yang's visit is part of our Big Read programming. Join us at the Lind Pavilion (411 Commerce St.) at 6pm. Free & Open to the public.

Faculty Reading & Open Mic | May 17 | Republic of Letters Books
Join faculty from the Mining Your Stories Writing Retreat, including Rebecca Jamieson, Sheree L. Greer, Raki Kopernik, and C. Kubasta, for a night of sharing at Republic of Letters Books (151 High St.) at 7pm. Free & Open to the public.

Makers & Shakers Art Party: Pink Eraser Block Printing | May 21 | Lind Pavilion
Join us for a night of making art using pink erasers! You’ll learn how to sketch and carve your designs into erasers, then ink and stamp them onto paper. Your carved designs can be used to make tiny art prints, greeting cards, gift tags, for art journaling, and more. Bring carving tools if you have them; we will have some available for use. All other materials are provided. Project Fee: $5

Tour of Fairy Homes | June 7 | Shake Rag Alley
Stroll the magical grounds at Shake Rag Alley to see original fairy homes (think small, really small!), & all sort of fairy fun! In addition to our special fairy homes hidden about campus, we'll have fairy house and cookie workshops, and more surprises in store! $5 admission for guests 12 & over. 11 & under FREE! Join us for this fun family-friendly event and fundraiser! 10 AM–4 PM

For more information and updates throughout the year, see www.ShakeRagAlley.org, call (608) 987-3292, subscribe to twice-monthly e-newsletters and follow Shake Rag Alley on Facebook and Instagram.

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About Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts

A nonprofit school of arts and crafts founded in 2004 by local artists and community members, Shake Rag Alley’s 2.5-acre campus at 18 Shake Rag St. in Mineral Point (population 2,500) is a national destination for participants of adult workshops, a robust summer youth program and a host of annual special events. In addition, Shake Rag offers on-site lodging and custom facility rentals for meetings, events and celebrations. For additional information about Shake Rag Alley’s workshops and events, or to request a catalog and information about facility rentals and volunteer opportunities, see www.ShakeRagAlley.org or call (608) 987-3292.