The Other Plays: Short Plays About Diversity and Otherness - 2017

Theater Breaking Through Barriers presents an evening of short plays exploring the themes of race, religion, sexual identity, and social otherness. As a band of artists who live and represent disability—the only Otherness that knows no race, religion, gender, age, country, or political affiliation—TBTB's goal is to unite all Others on a common ground to learn, share, and grow together as one. The production featured five brand new plays by: Dennis A. Allen, Bekah Brunstetter, Lameece Isaaq, Neil LaBute, and Tatiana G. Rivera as well as performances by Pamela Sabaugh, Stephen Drabicki, Ryan Haddad, and Russell Barnes.

Check out the images and reviews below from this festival.

3 actors sit looking forward: 1 man 30s, white skin, brown hair, white shirt, arms are extended. 1 woman 60s, white skin and hair, red top, hands on her lap. 1 man 60s, olive skin, white hair, 3 pieces navy suit, arms crossed, cane on his left side.

A DIFFERENCE OF BEAUTY by Tatiana G. Rivera. (L to R): Lawrence Merritt, Melanie Boland, & David Rosar Stearns

2 actors seated on a bench. Man 50s on the left, white skin, brown hair, black suit. Woman 30s on the right, African-American, black curly hair, wears a patterned gray dress. She holds an iPhone and a Starbucks cup.

NO HARD FEELINGS by Neil LaBute. (L to R): Scott Barton & Ito Aghayere

4 women seated. From the right, 1 in her 20s, white skin, long red hair, in a wheelchair. Another 20s, brown skin, black hair in a side ponytail. Next African-American 20s, straight black hair. Last on the left 20s, olive skin, curly black hair.

GIRL #2 by Bekah Brunstetter. (L to R): Sofia Cheyenne, Jaleesa Graham, Dipthi Mehta, & Kiera Allen

2 actors hugging each other. Man 20s on the right, white skin, brown hair, head is wrapped in a bandage covering his right eye. Nonbinary individual 20s, white skin, short brown hair, they are in a wheelchair.

NOOR AND HADI GO TO HOGWARTS by Lameece Isaaq (L to R): Bree Klauser & Ryan Haddad

Reviews

“Thought Provoking Theater” — Neil Genslinger, the New York Times

"A funny, quick-paced and clever evening of extremely short plays that explore the challenges presented by diversity and otherness in many of its forms…” — René Grayre Gallery

"Overall, this evening of theater is a moment to reevaluate and retire tropes of people living with disabilities as anything but independent and full of verve.” — Theatre is Easy

"The caliber of the evening continued improving and morphing into something quite special...It was a collection of shorts that is very much speaking to the call of right now.” — NY Theatre Guide

Back to Full Archive List