November 19th, 2021
Greater Illinois by Steven Strafford
Multiple timelines, a woman standing her ground, a gay man terrified for his life, the ghosts that haunt them, and what lengths we’ll go to seek justice. Greater Illinois tells two stories interwoven with each other and examines the intersections of fear, race, homophobia, and a government agency insistent on “making a brighter tomorrow today,” no matter the human cost. Greater Illinois is the story of who chooses fight, flight, or freeze and what happens when they choose.
Directed by E.B. Smith, Stage Managed by Olivia Tymon, and featuring a cast comprised of Shelley DeLaney, Linda Kuriloff, Tom Morin, Kihresha Redmond, Rudolph Searles III, Jayson Speters, Tyler Tanner, and Stage Directions by Lisa Bol. Greater Illinois was produced virtually as a fundraiser for Brave Space Alliance.
September 23rd, 2021
Murder, We Spoke by Rachel Bykowski
Murder, We Spoke follows three women as they attempt to become podcasting legends with their own true crime podcast. The women cover everything from unsolved murders to iconic serial killers. But as they chase their dreams of becoming the number 1 podcast in the nation, they slowly start to embrace their serial killer subjects’ lifestyles. We live in a time that is reminiscent of the Yellow Journalism age of the early 20th century. In order to generate sales and achieve success, your story must become more and more sensational, at any cost. Murder, We Spoke explores the question, “How far would you go for fame?” For this reading we shared episodes 6 & 7 of the series.
Directed by Lila Rachel Becker, Stage Managed by Olivia Tymon, Sound Designed by Nina Field, and featuring a cast of Carter Caldwell, Maria Fernanda Diez, Mary Glen Fredrick, Laakan McHardy, Luli Gomez Teruel, and Jenna Zhu. Murder, We Spoke was produced virtually as a fundraiser for The Southwest Collective.
June 18th, 2021
Evelyn & His Brothers by Ivan Mosley
One year after a devastating loss, brothers Lesley, Evelyn, and Alva Rhodes are facing the forfeiture of their childhood home. But long-standing resentments among the trio threaten to derail any chance they have of keeping it from being lost. Can they overcome their differences to unite to save the legacy their father worked so hard to build or is the strain of their past relationships too much of a burden?
Directed by Jasmine Rush, Stage Managed by Demarco Lumpkin, Dramaturged by Janai Lashon, and featuring a cast of Alaina Kai Chester, DeVanté Malone, KeShawn Mellon, Shon Middlebrooks, and Avery LaMar Pope. Evelyn & His Brothers was produced virtually as a fundraiser for The Audre Lorde Project.
April 21st, 2021
Murder, We Spoke by Rachel Bykowski
Murder, We Spoke follows three women as they attempt to become podcasting legends with their own true crime podcast. The women cover everything from unsolved murders to iconic serial killers. But as they chase their dreams of becoming the #1 podcast in the nation, they slowly start to embrace their serial killer subjects’ lifestyles. We live in a time that is reminiscent of the Yellow Journalism age of the early 20th century. In order to generate sales and achieve success, your story must become more and more sensational, at any cost. Murder, We Spoke explores the question, “How far would you go for fame?” For this reading, we shared the first two episodes and will workshop the second half of the season in August of 2021.
Directed by Lila Rachel Becker, Stage Managed by Olivia Tymon, Sound Designed by Nina Field, and featuring a cast of Carter Caldwell, Maria Fernanda Diez, Mary Glen Fredrick, Laakan McHardy, Alice Wu, and Jenna Zhu. Murder, We Spoke was produced virtually as a fundraiser for The Southwest Collective.
February 26th, 2021
En Las Sombras by Jordan Ramirez Puckett
En Las Sombras is the mythical tale of Xenia and Luz, two children traveling with their mother to God’s Gate, beyond which is the promise of safety and a life free from hunger and suffering. When Xenia and Luz are separated from their mother, it becomes clear that the gods may not be quite so ready to share the riches that lie beyond. This myth asks us to consider why we’ve allowed our gods to become so powerful and what we can do to stop them.
Directed by Santiago Iacinti, Stage Managed by Thomas Daniels, Sound and Lighting Design by C.J. Whitaker, and featuring a cast of Abraham McNeil Adams, Lisa Bol, Maria Fernanda Diez, Andy Figueroa, Richard Jessie Johnson, and Carla Navarro. En Las Sombras was produced virtually as fundraiser for RAICES.
October 25th, 2020
Mars, Ohio
By Jeremy Sony
In the year 2050, fifty-two regular Americans — one from every state — will be selected to join the first city-settlement on Mars through the most rigorous selection process known to human-kind: reality TV. The play follows Gemma as a surprise contestant on this Big Brother meets NASA TV show, and what these people are willing to do to represent Ohio in one of Mars’ first cities. Things don’t go as planned as what’s real and what scripted begin to blur, and Gemma is forced to decide between living her dream and becoming a streaming puppet for a manipulative host and producer.
December 3rd, 2019
We presented At The Rivers End by Bianca Sams.
There is nothing worse than death except coming back to life to find your
whole world is a mess. At the River’s End is a dark ride through the mind of Captain Brielle Davenport, a war hero back from the dead, trying to reconcile her past and her present to decide whether she has the ability to survive her future.
Our incredible cast included Inés del Castillo, Steven Etienne*, Rudolph Searles III*, and Kamaria Williams. Direction provided by Jasmine Rush. Stage management and stage directions by Thomas Daniels.
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September 19th, 2019
We presented Conflict Resolution by Jeffry Chastang.
In 1984 Chicago, two grade school teachers, one, an African-American nearing retirement, the other, a Canadian transplant twenty years her junior, clash over the direction of a rally for students after two sixth graders shoot each other.
Our incredible cast included Abraham McNeil Adams*, Alycia Kunkle*, Linda Kurlioff*, and Tomike Ogugua*. Direction provided by Christopher Berry. Stage management and stage directions by Thomas Daniels.
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May 31st, 2019
We presented The Brothers’ Chapel by Tyler J.C. Whidden.
A stand-up comic looking for a hideout and redemption, finds himself helping his preacher brother save his ministry. Anti-religion, but great at public speaking, the comedian uses his skills to draw a crowd. Is there much of a difference between comedy clubs and churches?
Our incredible cast included Lisa Bol, Thomas Daniels, Alaina Kai, and Tom Morin. Direction provided by Shelley Delaney. Stage Managed by Heather Olmstead. Stage Directions read by Glenna Brucken*.
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February 22nd, 2019
We presented a double billing that featured the full versions of two excerpts you may remember from our October and December Bobsnacks events. First, was the full pilot of Poison Ivy League by Cristina Luzarraga and then the full version of Rachel Bykowski‘s play 25 Light Years From Now.
Our incredible casts included Veronica Cruz*, Ryan Czerwonko*, DeLeon Dallas, Greg Hansen, Esaú C. Mora*, Stephanie Salgado, Margo Tillstrom, Jenna Zhu. With direction from Emily Penick and Lisa Bol and Stage Management by Paige Barnes.
*indicates member of Actors Equity
Tantrum East 