Articulating the Arts: The Art of Protest
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THE PLAYS
Below you will find information about the plays selected for Articulating the Arts: The Art of Protest. Though we selected ten plays, we started off with over 100 submissions. Those plays began as inspiration taken from protest art - images created to protest and call for change in countries around the world, and over decades of struggle. (You can see those images here).
Playwrights from around the world created new plays and sent them to us. Our reading committee spent hours reading each of them, and selecting plays that best fit the mission of Articulating the Arts. From more than 100 submissions, we selected the ones below for you to enjoy. You can learn more about the individual artists by clicking on their names. The images beside them represent the protest art that inspired the new plays.
Playwrights from around the world created new plays and sent them to us. Our reading committee spent hours reading each of them, and selecting plays that best fit the mission of Articulating the Arts. From more than 100 submissions, we selected the ones below for you to enjoy. You can learn more about the individual artists by clicking on their names. The images beside them represent the protest art that inspired the new plays.
For details about the artists behind the images, please visit our "The Images" page.
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(A) - Articulate Member, * - Actor's Equity Member

Before Yesterday, by Robin Rice (A)
Directed by Michael Hagins
Sammi's friend is in trouble with the law, and her grandfather suspects she's covering for him. Who shoulders the burden of blame when things go from gun to worse?
Featuring: Kylie Kelder (A) & Michael Gnat* (A)

Consequences, by Judd Lear Silverman
Directed by Catherine Vargas (A)
Inspired by the spirit of revolt and stories of educational intimidation—specifically, the cutting of student Andrew Johnson’s dreadlocks at a NJ wrestling tournament—students at a private school stage a protest following Colin Kaepernick’s example, resulting in stern repercussions and a friendship threatened.
Featuring: Sarah Babb* & Valerie David*

Eenie Meenie Miney NO by Jaisey Bates
Directed by Katrin Hilbe (A)
An ensemble, spoken-word-poem-play about school shootings, inspired by Pia Guerra’s political cartoon “The Kids Are Alright” on as seen on The Nib. The Grim Reaper comes to choose his next victim. It doesn’t go as planned.
Featuring: Denise Pence* (A), Kylie Kelder (A), Briana Sakamoto* &
Darius Baker.

#Bastille, by Scott C. Sickles (A)
Directed by Janet Bentley
Flynn has been fighting the power with words, words, words, but Rory has decided to take action! However, it turns out there's a right way and a wrong way to use social media in the name of revolution.
Featuring: Arianna Ennis (A) & Eric Percival* (A)

Hashtag Jones, by Liv Matthews
Directed by Sheila Simmons
Jamal Jones is ready for his time in the limelight as the next big hashtag trending the online world. To his dismay, he finds he has little control over his journey, as everyone with a keyboard and a viewpoint try to make him fit their mold.
Featuring: Ayodele Campbell, Joris Stuyck*, Darius Baker
Directed by Sheila Simmons
Jamal Jones is ready for his time in the limelight as the next big hashtag trending the online world. To his dismay, he finds he has little control over his journey, as everyone with a keyboard and a viewpoint try to make him fit their mold.
Featuring: Ayodele Campbell, Joris Stuyck*, Darius Baker

Melting the ICE, by J.B. Alexander
Directed by Brock H. Hill
Mark is determined to help his client reunite with her son, who was separated from her at the border. Finding he has a special relationship with the ICE agent in charge gives him hope. But loyalties are challenged in the face of red tape and bureaucracies.
Featuring: J. Dolan Byrnes* (A) & Mireya Rios
Directed by Brock H. Hill
Mark is determined to help his client reunite with her son, who was separated from her at the border. Finding he has a special relationship with the ICE agent in charge gives him hope. But loyalties are challenged in the face of red tape and bureaucracies.
Featuring: J. Dolan Byrnes* (A) & Mireya Rios

Perversity, by Elizabeth Gordon
Directed by Tekla Gaughan
Vietnam is raging, but the 'consortium' of activists at Columbia University are determined to have their say and commission a war-weary artist to create art to lead them. When his work isn't what they had anticipated, will they understand its value? This is the true story of immigrant artist Tomi Ungerer, whose anti-war posters were so disturbing they almost didn’t see the light of day.
Featuring: Arianna Ennis (A), Laurence Cantor*, Tara Reuter*, William Franke*
Directed by Tekla Gaughan
Vietnam is raging, but the 'consortium' of activists at Columbia University are determined to have their say and commission a war-weary artist to create art to lead them. When his work isn't what they had anticipated, will they understand its value? This is the true story of immigrant artist Tomi Ungerer, whose anti-war posters were so disturbing they almost didn’t see the light of day.
Featuring: Arianna Ennis (A), Laurence Cantor*, Tara Reuter*, William Franke*

This Is Bull, by Jeff Dunne
Directed by Cat Parker
If you've got the skills, you've got the job, right? Well, maybe not, if you don't fit the corporate "type." Applying for this job will have you dodging balls and bullshit in a myriad of forms!
Featuring: David Palmer Brown*(A), Sharon Talbot* (A), Grant Bowen* (A), Kylie Kelder (A),, Denise Pence* (A),, William Franke*
Directed by Cat Parker
If you've got the skills, you've got the job, right? Well, maybe not, if you don't fit the corporate "type." Applying for this job will have you dodging balls and bullshit in a myriad of forms!
Featuring: David Palmer Brown*(A), Sharon Talbot* (A), Grant Bowen* (A), Kylie Kelder (A),, Denise Pence* (A),, William Franke*

Triggered, by Thomas C. Dunn
Directed by Joan Kane
Two people trapped in chalk-drawn circles. Two other people with guns. What do they want? What have they done? Who really has the power to make change in our society?
Featuring: Brittney Venable (A), Denise Pence*(A), Brad Fryman*,
& David Lamberton*
Directed by Joan Kane
Two people trapped in chalk-drawn circles. Two other people with guns. What do they want? What have they done? Who really has the power to make change in our society?
Featuring: Brittney Venable (A), Denise Pence*(A), Brad Fryman*,
& David Lamberton*

Yearning for Peace, by Bara Swain (A)
Directed by Brian Gillespie
Abby and John are anticipating the birth of their first child. Pandemonium breaks loose as the baby's name is determined.
Featuring: Grant Bowen* (A) & Sarah Okada (A)