WED June 12

A DISEASED FEELING

written by Tenaj Smith

directed by Marie Iachetta

A coming of age story. Do you remember those moments, at the end of  adolescence? I mean, we were never taught how to be men, to be good sons, good lovers; It’s just expected of us. So maybe we become sick through the searching, through the worry, through this diseased feeling.

COLLECTIVE EMPATHY FORMATION FROM 1968 AND 2018

written by Calley N. Anderson

directed by Nigel Semaj

Five research study participants gather in a conference room. Their task appears simple and straight-forward: select 10 events from the year 1968 that they feel impacted the nation’s conscious and view of empathy. What transpires is a reflection of what is seen, heard, and missed when history, memory, and living bodies must merge in unflinching ways.

WED June 19

LANGSTON USED

written by Alano P. Baez

directed by Omar Villegas

Langston Used is an allegorical Hip Hop battle rhyme between good and evil, right and wrong, corporations and culture and man versus the machine.

RECORD

written and directed by Eduardo Pavez Goye 

Valerie and Eric are a young political power couple whose day is derailed when a stranger picks up their son from school. When the stranger returns the son to their home, the three spend a tense and at times surreal evening together, where the truth about their history is revealed.

WED June 26

EXTRAJUDICIAL

written by Sheila Duane

directed by Renee´ Flemings

There’s a world that fate plans for us. Then there’s the real world: stained, twisted, and broken by hate.

ON/OFF

written by Elizabeth Shannon 

directed by Katie Michelle Stahl

Delilah is a lesbian, and Claire is confused. She could never say that, though. What started off as a friendship everyone secretly believed would lead to Claire’s coming out is majorly disrupted when Claire gets a boyfriend,.

FRI June 28

SELF TAPE

written by Daniel Duren

directed by Marc David Wright

Anna gets more than she bargained for as her coaching session with renowned actor, Robert Keusch, comes to an end. In her desperation to get the perfect take, she pleads with him to extend the session. What begins as a heated discourse spirals into deeper conversations about Robert’s checkered past.

THURS June 13

TRITE AND TRUE

written by Jane M. Lee

directed by Jenn Susi

Two strangers.  One subway station.  Not just another New York City cliché.

SEARCHING FOR ABUELO

written by Gretchen Suárez-Peña

directed by Magaly Colimon-Christopher

A heartwarming, comedic, and powerful production that has garnered numerous awards for its poignant storytelling and exceptional performance. Dubbed a Ted Talk overtaken by the ancestors, this one-woman show about identity is framed in the Puerto Rican musical style of Bomba.

THURS June 20

FINAL STRAW

written by Alan Stolzer

directed by Gha'il Benjamin

The Faithfuls, an African-American upper middle class married couple are at odds over their (only) child's violent death at the hands of a police officer. They debate behavior: the mother, Sally, not yet attending the funeral and husband, Rafe, looking to bring her there after seeing to its preparations.

PEOPLE DON'T SHOOT UP SCHOOLS IN 1930.

written by Annie Brown

directed by Jackson Bradshaw

Daily, gun violence takes the lives of 12 American children, many being gun violence in American schools. This piece follows the lockdown journey of Auggie as they seek safety in an empty classroom. We share an hour of numbness, distractions, art, news coverage, and jazz as they ache to be okay.

THURS June 27

JESSIE'S BLUE

written and directed by Brandice Peltier

It's the Harlem Renaissance and Jessie is a lonely jazz singer who has lost her "star power" and is now being haunted by many things, including her depression. When a younger amateur singer steps in to take Jessie's place, Jessie is forced to confront her and her own demons in order to fight and get back to living and not just surviving.

SALT FLATS

written by Juan Ramirez, Jr.

directed by Omar Perez

In Death Valley Desert, salty Luis embodies the angry people in his life who have left behind negative thoughts in his mind, in hopes of ridding them, to find his own voice and yet, when he’s finally able to speak for himself, what will he say?

SAT June 29

ONE WEEK FROM PARADISE

written by Cris Eli Blak

directed by Sabrina Lassegue

Imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, a young man learns he will be released in seven days. He must keep his head down and stay out of trouble, which becomes increasingly difficult as his personal relationships begin changing and he becomes hyper-aware of the effects of the prison system.

FRI/SAT June 14/15

TIERS

written and directed by reg e gaines

Set in 1972 Jersey City, Tiers follows the friendship of four young black men: Angelo, Earl, ‘Heads’ and ‘Ice.’ What starts out as a simple night of cards, drinks and jokes among close friends, quickly turns.

FRI June 21

SWEET LORRAINE

written and directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

Sweet Lorraine is a play inspired by the enduring friendship of Lorraine Hansberry and James Baldwin.

SAT June 22

SHAKE THE DISEASE

written by Leif Larson

directed by Matthew Pezzulich

River, a server at a resort, opens a vortex of Queer power and rage after subverting a gay bashing.