Theresa's Breasts by Amber Palmer

Theresa wants to live one million lifetimes and believes the only way to do so is to leave their husband, but Husband wants to belong to Theresa, even if that means living forever. It's a reimagining the story as old as time, of wars waged over assassinations and the murder of constellations. A genderqueer love story based off of "The Breasts of Tiresias" by Guillaume Apollinaire.
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Theresa's Breasts

Recommended by

  • Leo Rose Rodriguez:
    23 Aug. 2023
    “ The prose is beautiful and evocative. Both main characters offer complexity and give the actors ability to show their range. ”
  • Jeffrey James Keyes:
    21 Dec. 2022
    “ This is a wonderfully imaginative play. I'm really struck by this nuanced and complicated love story. I appreciated Palmer's creativity and carefully drawn dialogue and clever interpretation of a classic. Well done! ”
  • Ky Weeks:
    16 Aug. 2022
    “ Absolutely stunning. The rich beauty of the language draws us in to the love story, the complexities inherent to the characters' identity and desire, and the devastating ways they perceive each other. The contradictions and modes of thinking required in being genderqueer while existing in a binary society are handled with consideration and wisdom, yet still with a poetic sharpness. Palmer uses a classic to show a profound perspective ”
View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

NARRATOR: Nonbinary. Our storyteller. Something between the MC from Cabaret and Kermit the Frog. They should be performed by a member of the creative team.
THERESA: 20s-40s, Genderqueer or nonbinary, assigned female at birth.
HUSBAND/SPOUSE: 20s-40s, Genderqueer or nonbinary, assigned male at birth.

  • Theresa
    20s-40s,
    genderqueer assigned female at birth, nonbinary assigned female at birth
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Non-binary
  • Narrator
    Nonbinary, genderqueer
    The narrator should be played by someone on the creative team. Recommendations for this role are the director, the stage manager or the artistic director.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Non-binary
  • Husband/Spouse
    20s-40s,
    genderqueer assigned male at birth, nonbinary assigned male at birth
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (Region 3)
    ,
    2021
  • Reading
    ,
    The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (National)
    ,
    2021

Awards

Finalist
,
John Cauble One Act Play Regional Finalist
,
Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
,
2021