Even Flowers Bloom in Hell, Sometimes
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David Beardsley:
19 Oct. 2021
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Franky Gonzalez doesn't just write plays. He writes experiences. The theatrical and immersive nature of this show pulls you in, and once he's got you, Gonzalez doesn't let you go. From the pre-show moments collecting your "visitor pass" and watching guards subdue an "escaping prisoner" to the time-bending transitions between scenes, the theatricality of Even Flowers Bloom in Hell, Sometimes amplifies the power of this unflinching examination of the U.S. Injustice System and the dehumanizing effects of incarceration. As with so many of his plays, the complexity of family relationships fuel the moments of deepest pain and greatest hope. ”
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Daniela Gonzalez y Perez:
8 Oct. 2021
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Compelling. An experience that begins before you get into your seat and continues when you leave it. An observation and exploration of the oppressive systems put in place, that are presented to us as rehabilitation, but are a disguise for our demise. Franky Gonzalez's "Even Flowers Bloom in Hell, Sometimes" is a beautifully written play with heart, strength, wonder, discovery, and heartbreak, as it takes us on this journey that many lives have gone through, still go through, and that some don't want us to see. A piece that not only motivates change within the system, but within ourselves. ”
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Allyson Dwyer:
12 Aug. 2021
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You will feel this play, and feel it again, and again later, when you remember moments, or characters, or phrases. Franky has such a command of theatricality, the play begins to feel almost cinematic in its grasp of the characters and the soft, subtle windows into their worlds and the way he isn't afraid to break from patterns or form. His writing is deeply emotional, visceral, pulpy and pulsing with life, to the point that you feel as trapped and confined as Prisoner. I cannot recommend this play enough. ”
Development History
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, Ojai Playwrights Conference
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, Illinois State University School of Theatre and Dance
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, LAByrinth Theater Company
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, Great Plains Theatre Conference
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Awards
, Judith Royer Award for Excellence in Playwriting
, Association for Theatre in Higher Education
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, The Crossroads Project: Diverse Voices Playwriting Initiative Award
, Illinois State University
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, Sin Muros Latinx Theatre Festival
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, Blue Ink Playwriting Award
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, Summer Playwrights Festival
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, , Ojai Playwrights Conference
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, Bay Area Playwrights Festival
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, Ashland New Play Festival
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, Script Competition Second Rounder
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, Headwaters New Play Festival
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, Austin Latino New Play Festival
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, Great Plains Theatre Conference
, Metropolitan Community College
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, MetLife Nuestras Voces Playwriting Competition
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, San Diego REP Latinx New Play Festival
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, 87th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition
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, Dennis & Victoria Ross Foundation Playwrights Program
, Dennis & Victoria Ross Foundation (DVRF)
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