About the Show

Theater Breaking Through Barriers presents an evening of short plays exploring the themes of race, religion, sexual identity, and social otherness. Playwrights include Neil LaBute and Bekah Brunstetter ('This is Us').

As a band of artists who live and represent disability—the only Otherness that knows no race, religion, gender, age, country, or political affiliation—TBTB's goal is to unite all Others on a common ground to learn, share, and grow together as one.

In Bekah Brunstetter's 'GIRL #2' an audition raises issues of diversity in casting for a group of actresses. Directed by Gwynn MacDonald.

When a black girl asks her white co-worker to go with her to an office party, the answer is anything but black and white in Neil LaBute's 'No Hard Feelings.' Directed by David Rosar Stearns.

A misogynist Haitian custom threatens a marriage proposal in Dennis A. Allen II's 'Traditional.' Directed by Christopher Burris.

In 'A Difference of Beauty' by Tatiana G. Rivera, a compliment from a stranger elicits an unusual reaction. Directed by Pamela Sabaugh.

Set in a bombed out house in Aleppo, Lameece Issaq's 'Noor and Ahmad Go to Hogwarts' shows two Muslim kids trying to escape the horrors of war through the world of 'Harry Potter.' Directed by Ann Marie Morelli.

Critic Reviews (3)

"The evening is well curated, though a few plays stick out because of their clunkiness and underdeveloped scripts. One in particular was a little bit of a train wreck, which I’ll attribute to nerves. But such problems are easily forgotten as soon as the next piece begins...Overall, this evening of theater is a moment to reevaluate and retire tropes of people living with disabilities as anything but independent and full of verve."
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"As often happens with an anthology performance, some of the vignettes are brought to life more capably than others. One technical flaw that seems to connect all of the individual pieces is a too-long fade to black, leaving the audience consistently unsure as to whether a piece is truly over. Overall, however, this production is touching, humane, and attainably confrontational. It is well worth a visit."
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"The caliber of the evening continued improving and morphing into something quite special...It was a collection of shorts that is very much speaking to the call of right now. As we’re struggling to define ourselves and we worriedly fear losing funding or being allowed to happily celebrate our differences, 'The Other Plays' grandly lets their voices be heard – and what a fun, wonderful voice it is."
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Trailer

Creative team

Theater Breaking Through Barriers