SWAY

About the Performance:
Madison, an influencer with over 15 million followers, suffers in silence after her father’s death until she finds comfort from the profile of Shay, an unknown office worker, who posts dead dad content. Moved by Shay’s honesty and their private conversations, Madison drops everything and moves into Shay’s studio apartment in Brooklyn. As their connection turns from parasocial to genuine, Teegan (Madison’s collaborator and Shay's OnlyFans crush) and Paige (Madison’s former friend and an online crush of Shay) are invited to join them. As the days stack up, Madison does everything she can to entrench herself in their lives: paying for Shay’s apartment, leaning on Teegan’s blind loyalty and friendship, and taking over Paige’s revenue streams. Shay must fight her temptation to let these influencers pull her into the fantasy world, while Madison must deal with the fact that not everything that Shay has been posting is what it seems. SWAY is a queer thriller comedy that explores the exploitation of the need for human connection on social media.

About the Lead Artists:
SMJ (they/them - Playwright) is a mixed-Latiné, non-binary, and NYC-based playwright, theatermaker, and educator originally from Mount Vernon, OH. They are proud to be the Executive Director of Andy’s Summer Playhouse in Wilton, NH. They were a 2022-2023 Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellow. As a writer, their work has been seen in various forms with Ars Nova, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, New York Stage and Film, New York Comedy Festival, Latinx Playwrights Circle, The Orchard Project, Columbus Children’s Theatre, Carnegie Mellon University, New York University, and more. They are a member of the Dramatists Guild and Ring of Keys. smjwrites.com

Mackenna Goodrich (she/they - Director) loves Big Girl Explosion Fests and plays of and about the body. Selected directing credits: America’s Next Top Ultimate Supreme Goddess by Paige Esterly (Pocket Theatre Company), Fated by Natalie Myrick (Andy’s Summer Playhouse), small town icons by SMJ (Off the Lane), The Station by Maggie Cregan (SheNYC), Cockroaches by Emma Schillage (The Cell), Straight Icons by SMJ and Anne-Marie Pietersma (Ars Nova/Second City NYC), American Girl Doll Horror Play by Jasmine Sharma (The Brick), An Axemas Story (The Players Theatre/54 Below), WO[MAN] by Alyssa Haddad-Chin (The Brick), Radio Man by Sarah Groustra (SheNYC), Bogeyman by Allison Merkel (The Road Theatre Company). Mackenna is also a producer for SciShow. BA: Kenyon College // mackennagoodrich.com

About the CWP Launchpad Reading Series
The CWP Launchpad Reading Series is produced as part of The Center at West Park's Center for New Work Development. CWP is excited to present this special, 10-work edition of the series as part of the 2026 CWP Evolution Festival. Launchpad works with playwrights and directors to curate a series of pay-what-you-can developmental readings of new work with access to rehearsal and presentation space, marketing and promotional support, technical and administrative assistance, and a curatorial stipend provided by CWP. Through the Launchpad Reading Series, CWP uplifts artists in all stages of their careers by creating accessible and inclusive performance opportunities showcasing diverse talents.