Turn That Thing Around

Turn That Thing Around by Aaron Harris Woodstein is a play based on true events. Standing at the intersection of queerness and neurodivergence, the story centers on Jack, a young person on the cusp of another fun summer at camp with their best friend Gabe. A narrator of mysterious origins guides the audience through their drive up to camp. The problem? Jack is in the grips of a manic episode and time seems to...

Turn That Thing Around by Aaron Harris Woodstein is a play based on true events. Standing at the intersection of queerness and neurodivergence, the story centers on Jack, a young person on the cusp of another fun summer at camp with their best friend Gabe. A narrator of mysterious origins guides the audience through their drive up to camp. The problem? Jack is in the grips of a manic episode and time seems to flash by them, perplexing, disjointed, and hostile. Jack must rely on Gabe's friendship and concern to make the journey. Reality grows increasingly unreliable until everyone in Jack's life must confront and accept that the journey to camp has become a long and arduous journey to recovery. But with friends like Gabe, and proper treatment, nothing is impossible.

Casting is open to all genders and pronouns can be changed to match that of the performing actor.

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Turn That Thing Around

Jack/Jackie/Jax: 18 year-old bisexual person (Any Gender)
Gabe/Gabby/Gabz: 19 year-old bisexual person (Any Gender)
Narrator / Doctor Gabe: Older, wiser presence approximately 30 years-old (Any Gender)
Possible Character Divisions Below (All of the following characters could be played by the Narrator or fewer Ensemble members in a three to five person version):
Person 1: Various Characters of Various Ages and Genders (Jack’s Mom, Jack’s Father, Doctor Gabe, Gabe’s Father, Clerk)
Person 2: Various Characters of Various Ages and Genders (Carol, Gabe’s Mother, Robert, Acquaintance, Jen, Jack’s Father, Acting Teacher)
Person 3: Various Characters of Various Ages and Genders (Poppie, Clerk, Jack’s Mom, Doctor Gabe, Sibling, Cranky, Sarah)

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Phoenix Rising Productions, Year 2025
  • Type Workshop, Organization Unseen Artists, Year 2023
  • Type Reading, Organization Illinois Wesleyan University, Year 2023
  • Type Workshop, Organization Phoenix Rising Productions, Year 2020
  • Type Reading, Organization Saint Sebastian Players, Year 2019

Production History

  • Type Community Theater, Organization Self Produced at Ignite Theatre / Catalyst Ranch Chicago, Year 2017
  • Type Fringe, Organization Chicago Fringe Festival, Year 2015
  • Type University, Organization Illinois Wesleyan University, Year 2014