sassafras and the captain.
By Sarah Elisabeth Brown
WINNER: OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF 2022 FRUTIE AWARD
WINNER:OUSTANDING LEAD IN A COMEDY OF 2022- CLARA TRISTAN FRUTIE AWARD
“Sassafras and the Captain '' is a queer femme farce- a force of play, exploration, and sexuality- that provides a rare glimpse into LGBTQ+ history. It isn’t often that we get to see queerness celebrated with such exuberance. This is a script I have been with since 2019 when I directed a staged reading of a scene from the script. In 2020, I held a development workshop alongside the playwright and a public reading. While I couldn’t direct the NYC production, I was dedicated to bringing this story to life as lead producer because I believe it deserves to be seen and performed.
Development History
2019
"Mistress Chelsea"
Michigan New Playwright's Festival: An Evening of 10 Minute Plays, Theatre Nova (Ann Arbor, MI)
Director: Shelby R. Seeley
I served as the in-house director for readings/development for the Nova Playwriting Lab, culminating in the creation of a new event for Theatre Nova’s MI New Playwrights Festival that highlighted six original works by the lab.
Captain Lou: Lindsey Brown
Mistress Chelsea: Kasey Donnelly
2020
"Bermuda Triangles: The Non-Monogamy Experiment"
Script development workshop and staged reading, Zoom, (Ypsilanti MI)
Director: Shelby R. Seeley
Sassafras: Rosie Coryell
Captain Lou: Kasey Donnelly
Mistress Chelsea: Sarah Gunter
Mickey Penny: Megan Liepa
Isabelle: Lee Abela
Stage Directions: Celah Convis
Stage Manager: Parker Stephen Nolan
2022
"Sassafras and the Captain"
Fresh Fruit Festival (New York City NY)
Producer: Shelby R. Seeley
WINNER: OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF 2022 FRUTIE AWARD
WINNER: OUSTANDING LEAD IN A COMEDY OF 2022- CLARA TRISTAN FRUTIE AWARD
The production exceeded its fundraising goal, received a grant from the Indie Theatre Fund for 80 free Covid tests, had two on-site certified Covid Compliance Officers, and received 17 hours of donated rehearsal space in the heart of Manhattan.
Reviews: SASSAFRAS AND THE CAPTAIN TO BE REVIVED FOR THE FRESH FRUIT FESTIVAL, Sassy-Fras.
Director: Kathryn McConnell
Sassafras: Clara Tristan
Captain Lou: Averie Bueller
Micky Penny: Kian J. Johnson
Isabelle: Alana Jessica Martin
Mistress Chelsea: Alice Jamal
Stage Manager: Athos Cakiades
Assistant Director/Covid Compliance Officer: Fionn Pulsifer
Costume Designer: David Quinn
Set and Props Designer: Meghan Chou
Sound Designer: Olivia Fairless
Social Media Manager and Indiegogo Coordinator: Alice Hakvaag
Photos by Claragh Kean.