Peggy (& Ben)
A pop-history comedy about the probably treasonous and undoubtedly fabulous Peggy Shippen, wife of the most infamous soldier of the American Revolutionary War, Benedict F***king Arnold.
British-Occupied Philadelphia, 1778. Tensions between British Loyalists and American Patriots are high – though not nearly as high as Neutral socialite Peggy Shippen’s hair. When the English retreat – and her crush, Captain André, along with them – Peggy is in Profound Grief. That is, until she’s swept off her feet by dashing American war hero General Benedict Arnold. When Benedict is insulted by George Washington, Peggy is livid on his behalf. Which is how, less than a month after their wedding, we find her caaaaaasually suggesting a transfer of allegiance. Y’see...she knows a guy on the other side.
Trials, travails, and treason ensue.
In the vein of the Macbeths, Bill & Hillary Clinton, and Sid & Nancy, Peggy and Ben are a dynamic, toxic duo whose coupling resulted in one of the greatest scandals of early America.
Cast of 7; 4-5 f/gnc, 2-3 m/gnc
Hatchetation
HATCHETATION is a new musical with book, music and lyrics by Amy Jo Jackson (they/she). It was developed in 2021 as part of the National Music Theatre Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, as well as with She-Collective, UNTITLED Musical Project, and Fresh Ground Pepper's PAL Program.
In 1900, Kansas is a Dry state – but it looks pretty Wet from where Temperance activist Carry Nation is sitting. Rather than enforce the state’s Prohibition Amendment, government officials are flouting the laws and skimming off the top. Gawd appears one night to show Carry what she needs to do – pick up some friggin’ bricks and break those big bad bottles herself. She gains notoriety, supporters, and a Very Important Hatchet, all of which aid in her fight to bring Temperance to the masses - whether they like it or not.
Cast of 10; all femme, Trans, & gnc
THE BRASS
MENAGERIE
The Brass Menagerie was the recipient of a 2022 Bistro Award and the 2019 Denovan Fellowship in Cabaret.
A campy romp through the women of Tennessee Williams – in SONG! If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to hear Blanche DuBois, Maggie the Cat, or the Wingfield ladies sing through their plays, wonder no longer – whether you are familiar with the words of Tennessee of not, you’ll enjoy this ridiculous lark of a concert.
“IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A COMPLETELY UNIQUE AND UNFORGETTABLE CABARET EXPERIENCE, DEPEND ON THE KINDNESS OF THIS STRANGER’S ADVICE AND SEE THE BRASS MENAGERIE WHEREVER AND WHENEVER IT APPEARS NEXT. IT IS AN UNDENIABLE TRIUMPH FOR AMY JO JACKSON.”
VIOLA
OR: THAT GENDERQUEER
SEQUEL TO TWELFTH NIGHT
FINALIST 2025 Stanley Prize; FINALIST 2023 Ashland New Play Festival
Several years after the events of TWELFTH NIGHT, a discontented Viola arrives at Olivia’s, thinking she’s been invited by her brother Sebastian. In reality, Olivia (Sebastian’s wife) has lured Viola there, having procured from an alchemist an elixir that will transform the gender of the drinker into “what it ought to be,” which Olivia hopes will mean Cesario (Viola’s former alter ego) is coming back. When Viola catches Olivia spiking her tea with the tincture, it sparks Viola to the discovery that she isn’t a woman at all – that their gender exists somewhere...in between. A rollicking (mostly) verse comedy about the beautiful spectrum of identity and the ridiculous spectacles we make of ourselves for love.
Cast of 4; 1f, 2m, 1gnc
GRACE / BLISS
Hoping to go “the full Havisham” in private following a slew of disappointments, Meg retreats to her grandmother’s old house, where she meets an intriguing neighbor and unearths a correspondence between two early 20th Century botanists – wealthy New Englander Grace Sturtevant and deaf engineer A.J. Bliss. The past and the present begin to blend as Meg becomes fixated on their friendship and the legacy they left behind. A witty, free-wheeling comedy about the grief that comes with transformation, the pain of having to be patient with nature (both human and Mother), and the lengths to which we will go to unearth the thing that makes us feel more alive.
Cast of 4; 2f, 1m, 1gnc