It is not often that a theater company has the opportunity to be part of a play from inception to production, but that’s just one of the things that makes the Athena Project such an important part of the metro art scene — it works to give new playwrights a chance to showcase their work.

Such is the case with Athena’s production of “Honor Killing,” written by Sarah Bierstock and developed during the 2017 Plays In Progress Series. Directed by Angela Astle, the show will make its premiere at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Elaine Wolfe Theatre at the JCC Denver, 350 S. Dahlia St. in Denver. The show will then run through the 30th with shows at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The show follows New York Times reporter Allisyn Davis as she investigates the honor killing of a young Pakistani woman at the hands of family. Allisyn is denied entrance to Pakistan, but armed with the most current technology she conducts her investigation remotely from Dubai.

“The show addresses brutality against women in both western and eastern cultures,” Astle said. “It also asks great questions about the responsibilities of journalists when they’re reporting on a culture that isn’t their own and may not fully understand.”

During the Athena Project’s annual festival “Honor Killing” was selected as one of 250 plays submitted to Plays in Progress, which accepts scripts of women playwrights and develops them through workshops, staged readings and table readings. Astle was a part of that early process and said she’s thrilled to bring it to a Colorado audience after its world premiere at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, Florida.

With all the recent focus on journalistic integrity and importance of the free press, Astle said the show will send the audience home with plenty to discuss.

“When you’re reading an article, you can’t just take it face value. You need to look at who is writing the piece and why,” she said “It asks us to consider how we tell our stories.”

For tickets and more information, go to www.AthenaProjectArts.org.

​Where the wild food trucks are

Over the last decade or so food trucks have emerged as purveyors of some of the tastiest and most interesting dining experiences one can have around town. But keeping track of which truck is going to be where can sometimes be a tricky job.

Thankfully, there’s a rally for that.

Hosted from 1-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1, at 31st through Downing on Larimer, the Truck Stop Food Truck Rally will gather more than a dozen food trucks, local craft vendors and live music. Entry to the event is free, and attendees simply pay for the food and drinks they want.

There are bound to be numerous delicious options for every palette, plus the rally is a great way to mark Labor Day weekend.

Head over to www.truckstoprally.com for all the pertinents.

The film is Bond. James Bond

It is difficult to imagine a young man who didn’t watch his first James Bond movie and walk away hoping they could be half as cool as Britain’s best spy someday. Something about his effortless style and swagger makes him a character multiple generations return to.

Le Méridien Denver Downtown, 1475 California St., offers the chance for fans to check out some quintessential 007 flicks at its Classic Bond Movie Night beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 3.

In addition to the movie, attendees will get complimentary popcorn and a classic cocktail menu to order from.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/lemeridiendenverdowntown/ and click the events button.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week - Gary Clark Jr. at Red Rocks

People don’t really talk about guitarists the way they used to in the 1960’s and 70’s. When rock was the most important music genre in the world there were passionate debates about who was the true guitar god. That doesn’t happen all that often anymore.

If that debate was still going on, one of the top contenders for the title would be Austin’s Gary Clark Jr. A fervent believer in the transformative power of the blues and a guitarist in the style of Hendrix, Clark is one of the unequivocal modern masters of the guitar. He’s released two solid studio albums, but it’s in his pair of live albums where his skills really shine though. His version of “Catfish Blues” is one of the best live recordings of the decade.

To experience the real thing, you don’t want to miss Gary Clark Jr. at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison.

If witnessing Clark’s magic isn’t enough to tempt you, soul-singer Valerie June will be the opener for the evening. The owner of one of the richest voices in the genre, June is worth the price of admission alone.

To get your tickets, visit www.redrocksonline.com/events/detail/gary-clark-jr.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com .