Creative Pinellas and American Stage launch free ‘First Mondays’ reading series in Largo

St. Pete’s American Stage Theatre Company is calling on literature lovers with its brand new reading series, “First Mondays.” In partnership with Creative Pinellas, the series will take place each first Monday of the month and will include staged readings of scripts and short stories, performed by actors and artists.

The free series will kick off March 7 and continue monthly at Creative Pinellas’ Gallery, located at 12211 Walsingham Rd. in Largo.
The inaugural Monday of the series will feature the play “witness…” by American Stage’s Producing Artistic Director and resident playwright Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj. Award-winning artist and activist Maharaj’s play follows three immigrant mothers, Zahara, Maria and Famn, as they share stories of sacrifice and survival, also touching on the elusive American Dream.

The reading comes just in time to celebrate Women’s History Month and both the shared and unique experiences of immigrant mothers everywhere.

“This inspirational play about the power of the human spirit to overcome provides a platform and a unique view into the universal struggle and sacrifices that all mothers, particularly BIPOC immigrant mothers, face in providing an opportunity for their children to dream without a ceiling and live their full potential," Maharaj wrote in a release.

The series is free and open to the public. Those interested can reserve a seat for the event and view the events calendar via americanstage.org.

American Stage audiences are expected to follow the theater’s health and safety policies and come wearing a mask and ready to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result.