PRIME Voices is our ongoing series dedicated to spotlighting work by women over 50—and stories that boldly place women over 50 at the center.
Over time, PRIME Voices has grown into three vibrant branches: The Reading Series, The Playwright Series, and The Interview Series. All three were created from the same spark: the desire to showcase the extraordinary artistry of women whose voices too often go unheard on our stages.
The Reading Series
Our very first PRIME Voices offering launched in 2019 with staged readings of:
Chasing Manet by Tina Howe
Skin & Bone by Jacqueline Goldfinger
Two Weekends and a Day by Susan Westfall
Due to the success of our first reading series, we were quickly back with a second featuring:
Waiting in the Wings by Noël Coward
The City of Conversation by Anthony Giardina
Three Forks by Staci Swedeen
PRIME was forced to put the reading series on pause during the COVID 19 Pandemic, but as a soon as we could safely do so, we were back with another reading series again featuring:
The Oldest Profession by Paula Vogel
For Peter on Her 70th Birthday by Sarah Ruhl
The Most Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington by James Ijames
We’re proud that plays nurtured through PRIME Voices—like For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday—have gone on to become full productions. This journey from reading to mainstage is at the heart of our mission.
The Interview Series
Launched during the pandemic in 2020, PRIME Voices: The Interview Series gave us the chance to connect with—and celebrate—inspiring mature women across the Twin Cities… Even at 6ft apart.
PRIME was able to sit down and connect with the following leaders in the twin cities, Cheryl Alexander Stearns, Tami Sulistyo, Renay Dossman, Marissa Frankenfield, Eileen Opatz Berger & Joan Berger Bachman, Gulbakhor Makhamova, Piyumi Samaratunga, and Rose McGee.
These interviews offered wisdom, humor, resilience, and a powerful reminder of the brilliance thriving in our community.
The Playwright Series
The Playwright Series focuses on stories in progress—brand new works still finding their voice. These readings give playwrights the invaluable opportunity to hear their words brought to life and refine their scripts through real-time audience feedback.
After each reading, attendees are invited into the artistic process, sharing impressions, questions, and insights. It’s a dialogue that deepens the work and strengthens the connection between artist and audience.
Our first Playwright Series was in Spring 2025 and featured:
PRIME Voices is more than a series—it’s a creative laboratory, a gathering place, and a testament to the vibrant, fearless artistry that flourishes at every stage of life. We champion stories that shift the narrative of life after 50: bold, complex, funny, courageous, and full of possibility.