Project

05/2023

Mushy

Back in February 2021, I was dating this guy, and we had this thing where whenever we were being overly affectionate, we would say that we were being mushy. For Valentine's Day, our theatre club on campus held a cabaret titled "Love Songs and Soliloquies." Feeling inspired, I decided to write a monologue, just for shits and giggles.

So, I took that ooey-gooey mushy feeling and created Sophie's monologue. Since then, the show has grown exponentially. What started as a 2 minute monologue became a 10 minute play then a full-length 60 minute show.

Original Monolgoue

Through the process of writing this play, I have also changed. After that monologue, I broke up with that guy, began exploring my genderfluid identity and stopped listening to the limitations that people place on me.

Not only does Mushy reflect how I've grown over my college career, but a little piece of me is sprinkled in every single character. Over time, this play has become somewhat of a love letter. I've written it for my past self and anyone else who was afraid to be their awkward selves. I've written it for my present self as a snapshot of all the inside jokes and references I've created these past three years. I've written it for my future self who I believe will look back on this moment in time with pride. I hope that anyone who sees this show finds a little bit a relatability in both the moments that make you laugh and the ones that make you cry.

Anyways, I hope this isn't too mushy. Love, KG

Recording of the 10-minute play version

Poster by Natalie Leah

Photo by Jenna Fisher

Matt Palm of the Orlando Sentinel described Mushy as "down to Earth," and that the show "will appeal to romantics." To read the full review click here.

If you would like an excerpt of the script, please feel free to contact me! E: mushytheplay@gmail.com

To see even more behind the scenes of Mushy or any updates on the future of the show, follow us on social media!

Photos by Jenna Fisher

04/2023

Labeled

The ideas surrounding gender differ widely across various spheres of life. Within academia, binary operations, and how they are present in our construction and view of gender, are often discussed. Within daily life, gender is a controversial subject with trans and gender non-conforming people being attacked for living their authentic experience. Within theatre, there is also a lack of representation of these groups. To help bridge the gap between theory, praxis, and theatre, I created an original performance piece that was put on in a non-traditional theatre space on the FSC campus. The piece follows Gio as they struggle with the different facets of being non-binary on both a personal and theoretical level. I grounded my piece in gender theory by Judith Butler and Michel Foucault and trans theory by Susan Stryker. I was also inspired by feminist and queer theatre. I explored the embodied experience of gender in a way accessible to a broader audience.

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in the script or the full paper.

Photos by Jenna Fisher

12/2022

The ShakesQueer Experience

For my Senior Theatre Capstone, I collected ten of Shakespeare's most popular monologues from ten of his plays and then placed them into a queer context. I adapted each piece to fit a different identity or experience within the LGBTQ+ identity. I strived to create an emotional through line starting with coming out of the closet and ending with experiencing queer joy. I directed this project, primarily coaching each actor one on one.

Below is a video recording of the final performance. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in the script or the full paper.