Festival@First 12: Love is Love
production directed by Stephanie Haddad
About the Show
Continuing in the long tradition of Theatre@First’s summer short play festival, Festival@First 12 includes ten original short plays by local playwrights. Each piece takes a different look at what love means, where it starts, how it develops, and what it looks like. This Festival celebrates not just romantic love, but also love within families, among friends, for oneself, and more. Whether our shows make you laugh or cry, you're sure to love them all!
Content note: Various Festival@First plays contain swearing and adult romantic themes; one sequence of flashing lights in Love & Deviltry; caring for a disabled parent & discussion of emotional trauma in Grammy G; domestic violence in The Prince's Shadow; a discussion of domestic abuse in The Spirit of Goodwill.
Performances
Friday, August 9, 2024 at 8pm
Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 8pm
Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 4pm (matinee)
Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 8pm
Friday, August 16, 2024 at 8pm
Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 4pm (matinee)
Location
Festival@First 12: Love is Love was presented at Unity Somerville, 6 William Street, Somerville.
The performance space is not wheelchair-accessible.
Parking on William St is by permit only. General parking is available on College Ave. Please read signs carefully to avoid ticketing.
Closing Doors
by Jamie Lin
directed by Kelly McCue / assistant directed by Jess Viator
When Darien asks Aisha the Question that will change their relationship forever, Aisha finds herself revisiting all the doors she's left open until now.
Aisha
Darien
Vikram
Lina
Audrey Seraphin
Kelechi Njoku
Alex Gorowara
Rachel Tessler
The Dobler Effect
by John Minigan
directed by Vivian Greenberg
On an early morning at his retirement home, Lionel tries a grand Say Anything gesture to get the attention of attractive new resident Winnie, but Didi brings him back to reality—and a more reasonable chance at love.
Lionel
Didi
Brian Bermack
Julia Novina
The Engagement
by Hortense Gerardo
directed by Jason Rhode
When Boomer decides to propose marriage to Lacey, an unseen observer provides an uncomfortably objective interpretation of their human behavior.
Lacey
Boomer
Voice Over
Pegah Rouhani
Frank Schuth
Alex Gorowara
Grammy G
by Christopher Lockheardt
directed by Violet Villanueva
Two teenage girls discover an unconventional way to heal old family wounds, while having a little fun, too.
Gertrude
Nancy
Jaime
Sasha
Karla Lang
Julia Novina
Kaylyn Gillespie
Natalie Le
Love & Deviltry
by Brian C. Rust
directed by Santiago Rivas
When a teen's crush is so strong she'll turn to demon summoning, even a devil has trouble figuring out what to do.
Faye
Mom
Scratch
Michelle
Katharine Edel
Elizabeth Raible
Theresa Griffin
Emma Joyce
The Prince's Shadow
by Jillian Blevins
directed by Peter Duerst
In the story of Henry V, his dearest friend Poins disappears when Hal leaves his life in London to take the throne; the rest of the disreputable friends of Hal's youth are imprisoned, but Poins himself is never spoken of again.
Prince Hal
Ned Poins
Aaron Lamm
Robert Thorpe II
The Santa Thing
by Greg Lam
directed by Helen Edgar
Taylor is excited to bring her girlfriend home to meet her folks for Christmas. There's just one thing that they need to talk about beforehand. The Santa thing.
Alyssa
Taylor
Jodee Frias
Katie Stratton
Sleeping Brody
by Christian Krenek
directed by Micah Pflaum
Frat bro Brody has fallen unconscious under a nasty curse. In an attempt to break the spell, his best friend Josh struggles to express how he feels in a world that doesn't allow men to show affection.
Josh
Clarissa
Brody
Frank Schuth
Karla Lang
Andy Lebrun
Speak Now
by Amanda Perotti Owens & Steven R. Owens
directed by Emily Osterloh
Zach interrupts his friend Mirage's wedding to confess his love. It does not go according to plan.
Zach
Mirage
Trip
Andy Lebrun
Ruth LaTourelle
Jordan X. Waterworth
The Spirit of Goodwill
by Erin FM
directed by Deidre Purcell
In the aftermath of an emotionally abusive relationship, Perdita digs through a thrift store for the clothes that her ex-partner made her give away. In her desperate hunt, she meets Mabel, who immediately seems to know what Perdita likes and needs.
Perdita
Mabel
Sophia Koevary
Tal Scully
Production Team
Festival Director
Producer
Technical Director
Stage Manager
Asst. Stage Manager
Set Designer
Lead Carpenter
Lighting Designer
Asst. Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Props Designer
Asst. Props Designer
Costume Designer
Asst. Costumer
Make-up & Hair Designer
Make-up Team
House Manager
Asst. House Manager
Publicity Coordinator
Intimacy Coach
Cinematographer
Graphic Designer
Stephanie Haddad
Lauren Kimball
Chloe Trepanier
Xuan Li Leong
Alina Ishizaki
Keisha Warriner
Peter Duerst
Patrick McMichen
Eleni Kinney
Juan Boschetti
Lilian Taylor
Marish Raju
Cat Green
Audra Congress
Jeanne Callinan
Ari Friedmann
Lauren Kimball
Jaelynn Linares
Christian Krenek
Paulina Martz
Peter Duerst
Gilly Rosenthol