BWPG Member Joy Hunter Carroll tells the story of a woman carefully backing away from the edge.

Our monthly meetings are the core of our group. At these meetings we read and give constructive criticism of the members’ work and disseminate information about playwriting opportunities. Once a work is nearing a draft that is ready for public reading, the playwright is assigned a mini-meeting. Mini-meetings are mid-week dinner meetings to which respected theater professionals are invited. Our next level of activity is the annual reading. This is a professional showcase of the most exciting work by our members. The event is held at Studio Theatre, which has been our home for the past seventeen years.

BWPG Member Pat Crews laughs as she listens to BWPG Members Lois Wiley and Debbie Minter Jackson read how Lois’ character, Miss Gertie Mae Watkins, lives on the edge.

• Pat Crews

  There ain't no buffer on my ledge nor any territory that I won't tread because I am living on the edge.
  
  

• Debra Rose

  Mother continued to tell me, live, live on the edge, go right to the edge and step over. By the time I was 84, I was scandalous, and better yet, I didn't care. I quit hiding what I was doing, when I was doing, where I was doing, and who I was doing.
  
  

• Irelene Ricks

  NATTY
  I'm going to save him. And then I'm going to save myself and leave you - for good this time, Jerri.
  JERRI
  Good luck with that. Momma and Daddy said we'd never be farther apart than spit from gum.
  
  

• By Mary Stone Hanley

  TOOTHPICK
  See that, it shows. She knows I love you from your head to toes, inside and outside, upside and down side. (embraces and caresses her) You to ride me, baby?
  GINNIE
  (pushing him away and smiles) When I'm a bride, then maybe.
  TOOTHPICK
  What about you? Do you like my promise?
  GINNIE
  I think you're wondrous. I trust your word
  TOOTHPICK
  Like a Phoenix bird...
  GINNIE
  You heard?
  TOOTHPICK
  ...we gonna to climb outta this place together!
  GINNIE
  No matter the weather. I'ma hold you to that oath.
  TOOTHPICK
  Both love and growth at the edge of tomorrow; I swear by my daddy, wherever he is, the rolling stone, the unknown ain't scary, 'cause I'm not alone.
  GINNIE
  I am your home, you always got me.
  TOOTHPICK
  It's true. So much is possible in love witchew.
  
  

• Debbie Minter Jackson

  My fingers can't fly over my beloved violin anymore. This here's my magic now. Doesn't look like much, I know. A triangle. Just like in kindergarten. I had to get used to it too, the cold steel. But...the sound when you hit the edge just right, stays in the air, and vibrates my hand and my arm and my whole body. Gives me a different kind of warmth from the inside out, all the way through.
  

BWPG Member Betty Buttram reads from her work.


(left to right) BWPG Board Member Eugenie Anderson, Rick Mims, and BWPG Member Debra Mims


BWPG Member Pat Crews listens as BWPG Member Debbie Minter Jackson reads.