Week 1:
Prophesy – by Karl Hinze
(85) World Premiere
At the fraught intersection of religion and sexuality, the poetic language of the religious mystics is juxtaposed with the vernacular of horny teenage boys. The audience includes anyone who ever had a crush on a teacher, who has questioned the existence of God, or who survived a Catholic high school.
The Song of Bernadette – by Maura Campbell
(95) Regional Premiere
In this Award-winning story, a supernatural experiment yields the true meaning of forgiveness, and a lesson: love is more powerful and enduring than death. Queer identity, the grieving process, and magical realism, all figure in this tale of ultimate salvation.
All My Love, Kate – by Joe Breen
(95) World Premiere
“I’ll Be Seeing You” (in all the old familiar places) was not just the resonant anthem for heterosexual couples in WW II, but resonated as well with Gay and Lesbian Americans left behind who often had no emotional support system in place. Who defines what patriotism really means? How do couples separated by half a world keep body and soul together when one becomes a POW?
An UnCommon Core – Abigail Swetz, Author & Performer
(60) Regional Premiere
Meet Abigail Swetz, bringing her 8th grade students safely through a heartbreaking year. Campus assaults, police brutality, homophobic violence, are defeated by the magic and power in her students’ own poetic words – words by students who bring hope for the future.
Half Me, Half You – by Liane Grant
(90) World Premiere
In 2017 America changed, and we all share the burden of inequality and injustice. What will this America look like in 2033? In this play of ideas, IVF becomes a platform for a broader discussion about womanhood and whether it is defined by parenthood or not.
Peace Camp Org – by Mariam Bazeed
(75)
In this true story from the Middle East, live music, puppetry, and satire are used to underscore the sometimes brutal, often humorous experiences which polarized campers – and audience – may share. The politics of normalization are brought under a critical yet enlightening lens in this rarely seen glimpse of Middle Eastern childhood. In English and Arabic.
Week 2:
Awful People Pray – by Leila Teitelman
(90) Regional Premiere
The life of a trans woman camp counselor poses an exploration: Why we makes rules, and who these rules are protecting, and why we made God and who God is protecting.
Helps to Hate You a Little: a Lovestory – by Ella Boureau
(90) Regional Premiere
A re-imagining of the Persephone myth in the Internet age, Queer culture brushes with homophobia resulting in a parable bridging more than two worlds.
The Ugly Kids – by Anna Michael
(60) World Premiere Musical
In normalizing ugliness, collegiate women put a new spin on beauty. But is the defeat of unrealistic standards enough to cure an eating disorder? A jazzy piano underscores this truthful yet joyful telling of the experience of an eating disorder, told with interspersed spoken-word poetry.
Where You Eat – by Dennis Bush
(118) World Premiere
Does our sexuality define us? Does it enhance us? Is our sexual expression limited by society, the people in our lives, or by us? Eight gay and straight men and women fill this edgy comedy with memorable situations and quotable dialogue, incidentally showing us ourselves, flaws and all, in their antics.
Wilde Life – by Joe Gulla
(45) World Premiere
The life story of Oscar Wilde intersects the lives of straight porn star Adam Wilde and his gay actor buddy. Their unlikely friendship sets this warm comedy.
One-Act Plays
Kalen’s Ellen – by K. J. Dwyer
Wimberley – by Julia Maldonado
Red and the Wolf – by Ingrid Oslund
SHORTS – All our Short Play Contest winners, and then some!