Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize WYRD by Matt Minnicino as a Semi-Finalist for the 2022 Premiere Play Festival. WYRD rose through a competitive selection process conducted by Premiere staff and a panel of outside theatre professionals to become one of 35 semifinalists out of 655 submissions. The panel was particularly impressed by the immoral v. ephemeral questions posed about what it means to have a legacy and “do good” and the framing of power. Our congratulations and thanks to Matt.

I was in a writers group with Matt as he wrote this play and the way he evokes feeling through detail is stupendous. His characters are both of this world and entirely of a different one in which terrible things still happen but they are described so beautifully, you are convinced they are the true bread of life. As with all Matt's play, this is specific yet grand, granular yet worldly. Do yourself a favor and read it (and produce it!).

A stunning, startling, genre-bending piece that explores power, agency, connection/intimacy, and their intersection with gender and sexuality. This piece is absolutely hilarious at times. It's also beautiful and lyrical and includes some of the most compelling stage images I've been able to envision in a while and some of the most spare yet profound language I've read as well. The destabilizing force that is Jan really propels this piece forward in a fantastic way, and her probing of the sisters' life purpose and agency is moving and thought-provoking. I'd love to see it staged!