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

Videographer

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