“What inspired this play, and what themes do you feel are most important for audiences to connect with?

The play originated from an actual experience I had where I met someone on one of
those dating apps and drove around town getting to know him for five hours in the
middle of the night. I took a lot of artistic liberties from that, but that experience really
shaped and molded the skeleton of the show. In terms of themes, I feel this play speaks
to honest connection and vulnerability. I think the amount of trauma we all go through
can keep us from getting to know someone because we are scared to show our true
self. We all wear masks to hide behind at times, and I think the play challenges the
audience to look at the mask they wear and if they ever feel safe enough to take it off. 

Can you share a glimpse into the story without giving too much away?
What should audiences look forward to?

The play tells the story of two gay men who meet on a hookup app in the middle of the
night as they drive around a small town. It allows the audience to be a “fly on the wall”
and get a glimpse into the character’s reality. I really love how the play is continuous
over the course of those hours, showing the characters in real time. The play is serious
at times and deals with heavy issues such as prostitution, self-harm, suicide, etc. – but it
also has extremely hilarious moments. In my work, I always try to find a balance
between drama and comedy. I think any good play has both and I hope the audience
feels that push and pull. The play also incorporates original music to help tell the story,
which I love.

How did you approach creating the characters? Are there any particular traits or
dynamics that make them stand out?

Both Johnny and Cal are archetypes of men I have known in my life as well as traits I
have had over the years. When I was in my early 20s, I was very much the “Johnny” –
focused on sex and feeling validated by what my body could offer. Now that I’m almost
39, I am much more the “Cal” – protective, aware life is short, and that we have to “go
for what we want”. Cal has had his heart broken many times, but he still remains a
hopeless romantic, which is very similar to who I am now. They are complete opposites
in the beginning of the show but as time goes on, they realize they have more in
common than they think. My goal was to show that no matter how different we are from
one another, we need to listen to that voice in the back of our minds that says
something like “this feels right” or “I want to explore this more”. Sometimes we walk
away from something really great because we’re scared. Cal and Johnny listen to their
instincts, and I think that makes them brave and very relatable.

What has been the most rewarding feedback you’ve received about the play so far?

This play has been in the works for almost three years and is the piece of work I am
most proud of. Friends and family have read it – some connected to it more than others –
but I think having this staged reading is really going to help me understand it better. A
play is just words on a page until a director and actors bring it to life. That’s what is so
magical and addictive about being a writer. You pour your heart and soul into something
and you read and edit it over and over, but you don’t really understand it until you’ve
seen it. I am looking forward to audience feedback, especially from the LGBTQ+
community. However, I think the play is relatable to anyone and everyone – the themes
are universal and pose questions we can all ask ourselves and learn from.

What do you hope audiences will feel or think about as they leave the theater?

I am all for a story that ends “wrapped up in a bow” with a finite ending, but my favorite
shows are those that leave you guessing and asking questions. Without giving too much
away, this play ends with a question mark. I hope audiences will leave the theater full of
hope and joy while continuing to analyze and deconstruct the story and the fate of these
characters. I invite the audience to look at the mask they wear and perhaps, if it feels
right, to take it off every now and then. Shakespeare wrote: “God has given you one
face, and you make yourself another.” I think that quote sums up this play very nicely.