Freedom Conference

by Min Kahng

In 2006, a large group of Christians gathers in the Midwest for a conference: keynotes, breakout sessions, lanyards and all. Only at this conference, all of the attendees are hoping to overcome their same-sex attractions. Based loosely on the playwright’s own experience before coming out, FREEDOM CONFERENCE is a play with songs that explores the complexity of the “ex-gay” universe by examining the human...

In 2006, a large group of Christians gathers in the Midwest for a conference: keynotes, breakout sessions, lanyards and all. Only at this conference, all of the attendees are hoping to overcome their same-sex attractions. Based loosely on the playwright’s own experience before coming out, FREEDOM CONFERENCE is a play with songs that explores the complexity of the “ex-gay” universe by examining the human connections found within it.

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Freedom Conference

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation: Freedom Conference

    The community of national & local readers for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival in 2022 enthusiastically recommends FREEDOM CONFERENCE as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were deeply moved by this play's investigation of Christianity and Queerness and the lengths at which we go to save ourselves and the nuances of what that means. We were compelled by this play's promise by the balance of the real and the fantastic, and a reverence to a world we don't often get to see up close. We hope this play is widely read, finds dedicated collaborators, and moves swiftly towards production....

    The community of national & local readers for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival in 2022 enthusiastically recommends FREEDOM CONFERENCE as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were deeply moved by this play's investigation of Christianity and Queerness and the lengths at which we go to save ourselves and the nuances of what that means. We were compelled by this play's promise by the balance of the real and the fantastic, and a reverence to a world we don't often get to see up close. We hope this play is widely read, finds dedicated collaborators, and moves swiftly towards production. #BAPF2022

  • Amanda L. Andrei: Freedom Conference

    A young Korean American man attends a Christian conference with the intent to purge himself of homosexuality. Kahng thoughtfully, compassionately builds and explores the nuances of faith and Christian cultures with characters who you fall in love with and feel for deeply. #BAPF2022

    A young Korean American man attends a Christian conference with the intent to purge himself of homosexuality. Kahng thoughtfully, compassionately builds and explores the nuances of faith and Christian cultures with characters who you fall in love with and feel for deeply. #BAPF2022

  • Playwrights Foundation: Freedom Conference

    Playwrights Foundation congratulates FREEDOM CONFERENCE as a Finalist for BAPF 2020. This play rose to the top 35 out of 735 plays submitted, and was discussed at length by our Bay Area Literary Council for consideration in our season. We loved how this play uses the language of theater to illuminate challenging perspectives and compelling intersectional questions. This play ultimately moved & inspired us and spoke to the core mission of PF. We hope that once we’re allowed to return to our theaters again, it will be considered for production to reach new audiences.

    Playwrights Foundation congratulates FREEDOM CONFERENCE as a Finalist for BAPF 2020. This play rose to the top 35 out of 735 plays submitted, and was discussed at length by our Bay Area Literary Council for consideration in our season. We loved how this play uses the language of theater to illuminate challenging perspectives and compelling intersectional questions. This play ultimately moved & inspired us and spoke to the core mission of PF. We hope that once we’re allowed to return to our theaters again, it will be considered for production to reach new audiences.

Development History

  • Type Residency, Organization Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Year 2019
  • Type Reading, Organization Just Theater New Play Lab, Year 2019
  • Type Residency, Organization Just Theater New Play Lab, Year 2018

Awards