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.

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.

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.

When Boomer decides to propose marriage to Lacey, an unseen observer provides an uncomfortably objective interpretation of their human behavior.

Two teenage girls discover an unconventional way to heal old family wounds, while having a little fun, too.

When a teen's crush is so strong she'll turn to demon summoning, even a devil has trouble figuring out what to do.

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.

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.

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.

Zach interrupts his friend Mirage's wedding to confess his love. It does not go according to plan.

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.