Plan-B’s ERIC(A) Questions Gender Identity
Are masculine or feminine characteristics determined by biology, culture, or environment? And what or who defines masculine versus feminine traits? Continue reading
Tag Archives: Jerry Rapier
A Comedy of Shakespearean Proportions
What do you get when you take selections and characters from the works of William Shakepeare, 8 talented actors, the events of recent years (which, honestly, were fairly Shakespearean when you think about it), and a theatre company whose mission is to create unique and socially conscious theatre? You get Plan-B’s Lady Macbeth. Continue reading
Review: Borderlands
Ex-Mormon and used car salesman Dave has some issues with honesty; namely, that he can’t stop employing it since he met nigh-divorcée Gail.
Directed by Jerry Rapier, Plan-B Theatre Company’s world premiere of BORDERLANDS boldly tackles the issue of stepping forward into unexpected honesty in a culture that can often, much to its detriment, subdue questions and doubts. Playwright Eric Samuelsen was inspired by “Braving the Borderlands”, a series of articles in Sunstone magazine. Authored by Jeff Burton, the articles open the floor to Mormons and their individual spirituality, addressing issues that are often ignored or swept under the rug in LDS culture. Continue reading
She Was My Brother
Julie Jensen’s She Was My Brother is the story of two 19th century American anthropologists’ encounter with a Zuni man who dressed, worked, and behaved as a woman. Based on real events and people, it presents an alternative viewpoint of transgendered people and relationships; revealing to us perhaps the most enlightened viewpoint by a people the white civilization considered at the time as heathen and backward. I felt privileged to see this amazing story brought to life on stage, and thank Ms. Jensen and Director Jerry Rapier for their efforts in creating it. Continue reading
Plan-B Theatre Company: Amerigo
Plan-B’s latest production is a fascinating argument between Christopher Columbus (played by Mark Fossen) and Amerigo Vespucci (played by Matthew Ivan Bennett), about who deserves to be called the true “discoverer of America”. An argument that is causing an uproar in Purgatory, and forces the issue to be moderated by Niccolo Machiavelli (played by Kirt Bateman), and judged by Mexican poet Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (played by Deena Marie Manzanares). The argument, funny at times, poignant in its modern relevancy at others, is both thought provoking and engaging, and well worth experiencing for yourself. Continue reading
Plan-B Theatre Company: “Wallace”
Wallace is comprised of the solo plays Fire, based on the writings of Wallace Thurman adapted by Jenifer Nii, and Where I Come From, based on the writings of Wallace Stegner, adapted by Debora Threedy. Continue reading
