The Collected Works of Paul Michael Thomson So Far,
or “Please God, Let Me Win a MacArthur Someday”
Brittney Brown
Raven Theatre, 2024
Matt Bowdren
Raven Theatre, 2024
Charence Higgins (voice of Ava)
Raven Theatre, 2024
brother sister cyborg space
In the too-close-for-comfort future, an environmental justice organizer named Giselle and her billionaire baby brother Elon are (unsurprisingly) at odds. She believes the earth and her people are worth saving; he thinks a lucky few should peace out and start over somewhere else. Meanwhile, his virtual assistant Ava has some very nuanced opinions of her own. (Who programmed her to talk so much?!) Set against the backdrop of a rapidly-accelerating climate crisis, brother sister cyborg space explores political divisions within families, an expanding definition of humanity, and what we'll do when the clock runs out.
Cast Size: 3
Run-Time: 90 minutes, no intermission
Commissioned by Raven Theatre, as part of their commitment to new work. Development ongoing.
Reading: Raven Theatre, directed by Mikael Burke
Production (!!!): Raven Theatre, directed by Terry Guest
Reviews: “When I had digested how I felt about brother sister cyborg space I realized… George Bernard Shaw also was once an emerging playwright. If that sounds like a large comparison, please let me remind you, placing folks in their artistic lineage is one of the most essential parts of my job. Shaw was castigated and ostracized by critics, and censored and harrassed by police. They despised him for things like being too opinionated about capitalism and exploitation, or for having strong feminist arguments and heroes in his plays, which are also characteristics of Paul Michael Thomson’s writing. Length must be acknowledged here – while some of Shaw’s plays required upwards of three hours to communicate his points, Thomson does it in a tight 95 minutes” -Regina Victor, Rescripted; “The world premiere of Paul Michael Thomson’s complex meditation on humanity’s potential future brother sister cyborg space now on at Raven Theatre is physically gorgeous and intellectually challenging. It takes on a lot: a contemplation of the vastness and beauty of the universe, the collapse of earth’s ecosystem, the ascendance of AI into corporeality, the astounding wealth and power of current tech billionaires, and what do we owe our family– all this in a densely rendered 90 minutes. […] loved this play while simultaneously being terrified by it. I need to see it again” -Angela Allyn, Chicago Stage & Screen
Scotty Fletcher, Talia Hess, and Alec Kalled
Good Company Theatre, Fall 2021
Fremont Junior High Is NOT Doing Oklahoma!
Fourteen-year-old queer boy Chrysanthemum is the endearing know-it-all serving as president of the Drama Club Council and is based on no playwright in particular. His best friend is Vice President Phylicia, a coloratura soprano in every way. (If you’ve ever done musical theatre, you know what I'm talking about!!) They are best best friends, okay? They comment on each other’s posts out of desire, not obligation. But when FJHS announces the spring musical will be Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, our protagonists rift. Shoot! Now one of them is the antagonist. But which one?!
The six members of the Drama Club Council must come to a vote by the end of the week, and right now it’s 50-50. How far will Phylicia and Chrys go to get their ways? Will Chrys resort to blackmailing Zac & Jack, Cutest Couple for three years running? Will Phylicia betray their ten-year friendship for the chance at a role? And where the eff is their teacher?!
Cast Size: 6
Run-Time: 100 minutes, no intermission
Productions: Good Company Theatre, Live Theatre Workshop
Readings: Urbanite Theatre, Good Company Theatre
Reviews: “Hilarious, timely, and thought-provoking” -Deann Armes, Standard Examiner; “A whirlwind of humor & surprising introspection” -Maren Scriven, UTBA; “Essential Pick”, Salt Lake City Weekly; “Don’t feel obliged to go see this show, go see it out of desire” -Elana Quach, Taming of the Review
Brenna DiStasio, Gaby Moldovan, and Ayanna Bria Bakari
The Story Theatre, Spring 2019
Artemis Books & the Well-Meaning Man
Regina (Reggie) runs a femme-centric feminist bookstore in Tucson, AZ. Artemis Books is a safe space for queer people, free expression, and womxn of all kinds. When her boss unexpectedly jumps ship, Reggie is stuck with a new-hire: straight, white, cisgender JJ. Workplace romances, existential anxieties, and some questionable spell casting abound as Reggie tries to reclaim her safe space. Does identity have to influence ideology? Does colonialism ever stop? And what in the actual hell is a “good guy”?
Cast Size: 4
Run Time: 2 hours, one intermission
Readings: Avalanche Theatre, The Story Theatre, 16th Street
Honors: Semi-Finalist, Ashland New Play Festival
World-Premiere: You? (No, really, please do this play. It’s so fun.)
Whitney Pipes, Angelica Herndon, Cat Christmas, me (!), Danyelle Munson, and Alex Jaymes
Theatre L’Acadie, Spring 2022
The G.O.A.T., or Who Is Ximone?
When the Phenomenal Four arrive in Stockholm for the 2020 Summer Olympics, they feel the world is at their feet. After all, they’ve got the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.), Ximone, to lead them to gymnastics glory. But when second-best Dougy starts having visions (of Tonya Harding & Nancy Kerrigan, no less!), the seed of sabotage is planted. Will the team be able to stick the dismount of competition, or will they fall from grace?
Cast Size: 5
Run Time: 2 hours, one intermission
Readings: Theatre L’Acadie, The Story Theatre
Currently Seeking: Good production with incredible cast
Maya Vinice Prentiss
Definition Theatre, Winter 2021
What a Time to Be Alive
(You Say That Every Time)
It’s 2004, and a state senator named Barack Hussein Obama is running to represent Illinois in the United States Senate. On the South Side of Chicago, his field team includes: Dan, a hot, smart white guy (read: definitely racist); Clark, a spritely base coverer; and Porsche, an environmentalist who loves humanity but is meh on humans. When newcomer Aisha joins the team, her candor, quick smile, and comfortability with voters rocket her to the top of the organizing food chain. But how will the other members of her team react to this fast ascent? Can white men cede power when they really, really think they deserve it? And, dear God, will Mr. Obama win his Senate race?!
Cast Size: 4
Run Time: 2 hours, one intermission
Workshops: Definition Theatre, Great Plains Theatre Commons New Play Conference 2023
Reading: Definition Theatre, directed by Tyrone Phillips
Honors: Winner, Amplify Series I
Gaby Moldovan, Ayanna Bria Bakari, Jordan Dell Harris, Sean Gallagher, Chelsea Turner, Sarah Bartley, Randolph Johnson
The Story Theatre, Summer 2018
Leave Me Alone!
Nik Ivanov is broke. His wife is dying. He’s losing his bid for reelection. And he might be gay. But at least he has his looks! Leave Me Alone! is a contemporary, queer adaptation of Anton Chekhov's most unloved play, Ivanov. It’s about labels, identity, advice, Chekhov’s gun, and how none of that matters when you’re depressed…except perhaps the gun.
Cast Size: 10 (!!!)
Run Time: 95 minutes, no intermission
Honors: Favorite “Under the Radar” Shows of 2018, The Heath Foundation
World Premiere: The Story Theatre
Reviews: “Carefully constructed and wonderfully acted, Leave Me Alone! is one of those little gems that deserves to find an audience.” -Karen Topham, Chicago On Stage; “Thomson has done a magnificent job of adapting this story of a man at odds with the world around him. He’s made the play feel fresh and timely, contemporary and smart.” -Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review; “Well-meant, but clumsy and reductive” (Ouch!) -Tony Adler, Chicago Reader