The Butterfly

by Jaden Alvaro Gines

The Butterfly spends their days in darkness, high above the ground, singing alone in their cage with nobody to hear them except themself. That is, until The Scientist brings home a panel of potential investors to seek further funding for her research. Forced to play the part of “Caterpillar”, The Butterfly puts on blue jeans, a collared shirt, wipes off their makeup and prepares to be prodded at. But is this lie...

The Butterfly spends their days in darkness, high above the ground, singing alone in their cage with nobody to hear them except themself. That is, until The Scientist brings home a panel of potential investors to seek further funding for her research. Forced to play the part of “Caterpillar”, The Butterfly puts on blue jeans, a collared shirt, wipes off their makeup and prepares to be prodded at. But is this lie worth the reward, or will it only make things worse? “THE BUTTERFLY” explores trans identity and self expression in a world where assimilation gets you further ahead than authenticity, and examines just how much one needs to prove their existence in order to be recognized, both by themself and others.

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The Butterfly

Character Information

While gender as a whole is flexible within the play, it is essential that The Butterfly be played by a non-binary/gender non-conforming performer. The experience of The Butterfly is inherently meant to be androgynous, being able to adapt and change their expression by the minute. The character is meant to be open for both the AMAB and AFAB experiences, so see how the performer's lived experiences might fit and adapt the story you are trying to tell.

The role of the panel members can be incorporated in a number of ways. While there are 6 total panelists, the roles can be split between two performers who alternate between the panelists lines. However, it is important to make each individual line sound a bit different, in order to give the illusion of a larger group of people. The panelists should remain off stage, unseen by the audience.
  • The Butterfly
    A lonely, isolated butterfly with a passion for music. When escaping the belittlement they face on a day to day basis, they find themself singing along to their guitar alone in their room, in hopes of being heard somewhere far away. Performer must be proficient in guitar, as well as having some vocal skill. Performer should identify as non-binary/gender non-conforming.
    16-18
    Any
    Non-binary,
    Gender non-conforming
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • The Scientist
    A buttoned up, stressed out scientist on the verge of receiving a large research grant. Her experiments with "The Butterfly" are what afford her and her specimen to live a comfortable life, one that she is not ready to give up for either of them. While her actions might say otherwise, she truly does love The Butterfly and want what is best for them, even if she has a hard time showing it. Cis-female.
    40-45
    Any
    Cis female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • The Panel
    2-6 disembodied panelists arriving to witness the progress of The Butterfly, whom they have been funding for quite some time. Any age, any ethnicity.
    30's-50's
    Any
    Cis female,
    Cis male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Man

Development History

  • Workshop, Rooted Theater Company, 2025
  • Reading, OpenTheater Kyiv, Ukraine, 2025