Tales in Living Color

In collaboration with RutaTeatra Miami, and as a part of our “Freshly Rooted” series, this project is slated to amplify the voices of new and seasoned LGBTQAI+ playwrights and actors in the community by showcasing new works in a workshop production for World Theatre Day.  Sponsored in part by The OurFund Foundation and Florida Arts & Culture. 

Can We Talk
Two men, Shannon and Mark, partners for ten years, struggle with Shannon wanting to be “out” with their relationship. He shuns holding hands or hugging in public. Mark is not out to his mother about their relationship. The play highlights the issue of being out and showing affection to each other and acceptance of each other as partners in life.

Florida Don’t Say Gay
Javion a 3rd grader of color confronts his white teacher who is in a lesbian relationship about the new “Don’t Say Gay Law” in Florida. The play is a discussion within the class about the law and how it affects what they can talk about. The play ends with Megan tearfully asking, does the law mean she can’t talk about her two fathers in class anymore. Black & LGBT Dave and David are in a relationship. There is a pizza party planned at Dave’s job and he is not “out” at work. What is most surprising is his co-workers don’t know he’s Black because he wears a uniform that completely covers his body including a helmet with a face protector and gloves. He also reveals to David that he doesn’t work for who David thinks he works.

Untitled
A monologue where the speaker poses the question, “What came first, the chicken or the egg.” He’s both Black and gay. The question is in the question, “What is more important and what do people respond to negatively, his skin color or his sexual preference.”

Mental Emotional Wellness
This is a story told mainly through the actions of the actor. There are few words in this piece. He is dealing with the mental told of being gay and his dealing with the idea of suicide as a
cure for the emotional pain of his existence, a problem with which many gay men struggle.

This Shit Ain’t Funny, It’s Real Life.
This piece is set in the 80s in the world of e-up comedy. Tizzy a Black effeminate comedian whose sexuality is in question, shares the comedy world with Raul, a comedian who has come out as gay, Colette, a white free-spirited comedian who is focused on the marginalization of women as opposed to race and sexual identity. She sexually teases, and in the process confronts both Tizzy and Raul.

HIV/AIDS
A therapist, Dr. H, with his patient, Derek

Latinx & BIPOC
An employer interviewing a candidate brings up is ethnic identity and sexual identity during a job interview. The issue of racial identity is explored as they each reveal lineage and race within the Latinx community.

THE TEA PARTY
A family composed of a Black father, a white mother, their transgender biracial daughter, her mentor (a 50ish Black transgender female) and the daughter’s Haitian boyfriend who proposes to her at a party to celebrate her mentor’s survival of being shot at a LGBTQ rally in Miami.