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.
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Theresa's Breasts

Recommended by

  • 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 ”
  • Emma Goldman-Sherman:
    6 Jan. 2021
    “ The most wonderful play! I'm blown away by Palmer's use of language & her abstractions that work to bring us closer to the piece, to defamiliarize it and make us lean in. I love the story! I identify w/ Theresa in so many ways I feel as if Palmer has put me onstage in a very naked state. She exposes how trapped we are in our histories and learned binary thinking and bodies! The attempts the characters make to free themselves sing to me of possibility and hope! Thank you forever for writing this play! ”
  • Mario (Mars) Wolfe:
    5 Jan. 2021
    “ THERESA’S BREASTS speaks directly to the spirits of non-binary/gender variant folx. The vivid imagery and accessible metaphors elevate the original source material, Guillaume Apollinaire’s THE BREASTS OF TIRESIAS, and it dissects the Gender Binary in a fantastical fashion (which I live for!). I love Amber’s consistent ability to authentically voice the frustrations, insecurities, and escapist tendencies of queer souls. Amber’s work gives TLGB+ narratives the same attention to detail, importance, and heart as the heteronormative classics in the literary canon and it’s what this queer kid needs. ”

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