Plan-B Theatre Unveils Season 34: A Deep Dive into the Power

Plan-B Theatre, known for its commitment to original and thought-provoking works, has announced its 34th season, featuring three world premieres that challenge audiences to explore the delicate balance between speaking out and listening. The 2024/25 Subscription Series, which will unfold across two iconic Salt Lake City venues, promises to be a compelling journey through diverse narratives, each shedding light on critical themes of identity, history, and personal power.

The season kicks off with FULL COLOR, a groundbreaking production that brings together the voices of eight Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) playwrights. Following this, the focus shifts to the world of sports history and cultural legacy with KILO-WAT, a tribute to the pioneering Japanese-American basketball player Wat Misaka. Finally, audiences will be treated to THE BEATRIX POTTER DEFENSE SOCIETY, a deep dive into the hidden facets of the beloved author Beatrix Potter’s life. Complementing these productions is the 12th annual Free Elementary School Tour, which will premiere EllaMental, a play designed to engage young students in a conversation about mental health in the post-pandemic era.

FULL COLOR: Amplifying BIPOC Voices

Opening the season from October 24 to November 10, 2024, at the Studio Theatre in the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, FULL COLOR promises to be both a bold and intimate exploration of BIPOC experiences in Utah. This production brings together the talents of eight BIPOC playwrights—Tatiana Christian, Chris Curlett, Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin, Courtney Dilmore, Bijan J. Hosseini, Tito Livas, Iris Salazar, and Darryl Stamp— each contributing a unique monologue that reflects their personal journey.

Through these stories, the playwrights dismantle stereotypes and showcase the diverse realities of BIPOC life. From the heartwarming to the discomforting, each monologue is designed to evoke strong emotions and invite the audience to engage in deep reflection. As the third installment in Plan-B’s Color Series, following ...OF COLOR (2019) and LOCAL COLOR (2021), FULL COLOR moves beyond fictional narratives to present raw, first-person accounts, blending storytelling with lived experiences.

Directed by Jerry Rapier, the production features a talented cast, including Estephani Cerros, Pedro Flores, Talia Heiss, Terence Johnson, Alec Kalled, Yolanda Stange, Abyanna Wood, and one yet-to-be-announced actor. The creative team includes Emilio Casillas on lighting design, Janice Chan on scenic design, and Cheryl Ann Cluff on sound design. Together, they aim to create an immersive experience that challenges the audience to see and hear differently.

KILO-WAT: A Sports Legend Reimagined

Running from February 14 to 16, 2025, in a co-production with UtahPresents at Kingsbury Hall, KILO-WAT by Aaron Asano Swenson delves into the life of Wat Misaka, a Japanese-American basketball player who broke racial barriers in the 1940s. Misaka’s story is not just one of athletic triumph but also a poignant exploration of identity, resilience, and the complexities of being a trailblazer in a time of war and racial prejudice.

Misaka led the University of Utah’s basketball team to victory in the 1944 NCAA Championship during World War II, a time when Japanese-Americans on the West Coast were facing internment. After serving in the U.S. Army, Misaka returned to lead his team to another championship and made history as the first non-white player drafted by the New York Knicks.

Swenson’s play brings this remarkable story to life, with Bryan Kido in the lead role. Directed by Jerry Rapier, the production will feature innovative projections designed by Swenson himself, alongside scenic design by Janice Chan and sound design by Cheryl Ann Cluff. KILO-WAT not only celebrates Misaka’s achievements but also invites the audience to reflect on the broader historical and cultural context of his legacy.

THE BEATRIX POTTER DEFENSE SOCIETY: Unveiling Hidden Histories

Closing the subscription series from March 27 to April 13, 2025, THE BEATRIX POTTER DEFENSE SOCIETY by Janine Sobeck Knighton offers a fresh perspective on the beloved author known for Peter Rabbit. This play, set in the intimate Studio Theatre at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, explores the lesser-known aspects of Potter’s life, particularly her subversive role in challenging Victorian gender norms.

The narrative delves into the coded text and hidden meanings within Potter’s famous journals, suggesting that her relationship with Edith Rawnsley, wife of the vicar Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley, may have been more significant than previously recognized. The play raises questions about historical erasure and the ways in which women’s contributions are often overlooked or diminished.

Directed by Cheryl Ann Cluff, with costume design by Victoria Bird and projections by Daniel Charon, THE BEATRIX POTTER DEFENSE SOCIETY promises to be a visually and intellectually stimulating production that reexamines Potter’s legacy through a contemporary lens.

EllaMental: Engaging Young Minds

In addition to the subscription series, Plan-B’s 12th annual Free Elementary School Tour will premiere EllaMental, a new play by Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin, aimed at students in grades 4-6. This production addresses the emotional challenges faced by children in the wake of the pandemic, offering a narrative that is both relatable and comforting. The tour will reach 100 Utah schools in person, with an additional 100 schools participating virtually.

Directed by Jerry Rapier and designed by Arika Schockmel, EllaMental is a vital addition to Plan-B’s educational outreach, providing young audiences with tools to navigate their feelings in a rapidly changing world.

Looking Ahead

With a season rich in new voices and diverse perspectives, Plan-B Theatre continues to push boundaries and spark conversations. Subscriptions for the 2024/25 season are available now at a discounted rate, with single tickets going on sale starting July 1, 2024. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Plan-B Theatre website or contact their office directly.

Plan-B’s 34th season is more than just a collection of plays; it’s a call to action, inviting audiences to reflect on when to speak up and when to listen—a theme that resonates now more than ever.

More information at planbtheatre.org