Hey

by Vince Gatton

[SHORT] A boy's quest for a safe harbor leads him unexpectedly into the most terrifying danger of his young life. A comedy (sort of?) about shopping for underwear.

[SHORT] A boy's quest for a safe harbor leads him unexpectedly into the most terrifying danger of his young life. A comedy (sort of?) about shopping for underwear.

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Hey

Recommended by

  • Greg Mandryk: Hey by Vince Gatton
    “

    Something as mundane as underwear shopping becomes so much more through the lens of Vince Gatton. As touching as it is comedic.

    Something as mundane as underwear shopping becomes so much more through the lens of Vince Gatton. As touching as it is comedic.

    ”
  • Sam Heyman: Hey by Vince Gatton
    “

    The natural, effortless tension of this play! In Vince Gatton’s “Hey”, Wade is pulled in multiple directions, by his fears, desires and an underwear model of few words but a variety of evocative inflections. A delicate balancing act for the actors and writer himself, “Hey” demonstrates Gatton’s skill for writing rich, concise narratives with great power and humor.

    The natural, effortless tension of this play! In Vince Gatton’s “Hey”, Wade is pulled in multiple directions, by his fears, desires and an underwear model of few words but a variety of evocative inflections. A delicate balancing act for the actors and writer himself, “Hey” demonstrates Gatton’s skill for writing rich, concise narratives with great power and humor.

    ”
  • Jeffrey James Keyes: Hey by Vince Gatton
    “

    I love Gatton’s plays and this glimpse of the equally awkward and exciting “coming of age” process for so many of us little gay boys beautifully captures the good, the bad, and the ugly. I love the device he sets up with Calvin and how only Wade can see him. Thank you for this wonderful short!

    I love Gatton’s plays and this glimpse of the equally awkward and exciting “coming of age” process for so many of us little gay boys beautifully captures the good, the bad, and the ugly. I love the device he sets up with Calvin and how only Wade can see him. Thank you for this wonderful short!

    ”
View all 23 recommendations

Character Information

Cheryl and Wade can be played as a white family or a black family, but they probably shouldn’t be played as a mixed-race family. Ideally Calvin would evoke Tom Hintnaus, the Brazilian-born American pole vaulter of Czech descent who was the model in the iconic 1982 Calvin Klein underwear ad -- but an intimidatingly beautiful male actor of any ethnicity will do.
  • Calvin
    A box of Calvin Klein underwear, played by an impossibly beautiful young man wearing nothing but impossibly small briefs. He understands and responds to one thing: attention.
    20s - 30s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Cheryl
    A rural blue-collar single mom. Kinda tough and of substantial build. It may be 1982, but she looks more late-70s in the style of her hair, her tinted glasses, and her bowling shirt: 80’s fashion has not reached these parts yet.
    30s - 40s
    white or black
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Wade
    Cheryl’s son, 13 to 14 years old. As yet unformed, but trying -- and whose desperation to get out of this nightmare scenario is hilarious right up until it isn't. A great part for a young actor with energy, timing, and emotional depth.
    13 or 14
    white or black
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Reading, Cherry Picking, 2019

Awards

  • National Award for Short Playwriting
    City Theatre
    Finalist
    2020