Over the Bridge Arts will present their new production of First Draft, a platform for creative works-in-progress.

First Draft opens with artists from Echo Theatre, including Kateri Cale, Chad Cline, Lee George and Leslie Patrick, reading opening scenes from selected entries to their “Big Shout Out 3  - International New Play Contest for Women+ Playwrights.” The contest winner will be produced by Echo Theatre in 2022, and the Finalist Honorees will be presented in Echo’s staged reading series, Echo Reads.

For the second half of the program, The Pollinators is an original satirical musical that deals with authoritarian hot head characters who would flaunt science, undermine progress, and commit unlawful acts. It’s under the helm of writer/spoken word artist CJ Critt, who has been creating stage works, audio books, music, and stand-up poetry in Dallas for 30 years.

The Pollinators is a multi-generational creative project with four contributing composers and a diverse cast, including Brian Coleman, Ellen Eberhart, Natalie King, Joshua Kumler, Braden Socia, and Alex Sutherland. With an engaging pop and rock score from area jazz artist Rebecca Cordes, podcast wizard Morgan Clarke, composer John Prestiani, and seasoned tunesmith Barry Young, the script is both hilarious and tender as love triumphs and the bees prevail.