Blanche & Stella: A Sequela
Recommended by
- Riley Elton McCarthy:14 Jul. 2021“ Oh gosh, where to begin? First off, the choice to call this a "sequela", or "an aftereffect of a disease, condition, or injury", or "a secondary result"... just hits every single beat of this play all the way through. This play is not just about chosen sisters, it is a SISTER play to Streetcar down to the fiber of its being while being irrevocably original, unique, and bitingly painful. And that ending! I'm going to be thinking about this play for a while. How badly I want to see it staged... ”
- Shaun Leisher:28 May. 2021“ By exploring the relationship of Stella Kowalski and Blanche DuBois through a modern, queer and disabled lens, Brenner has crafted a piece of theatre that deserves to be studied and produced alongside Streetcar. This play is a cry in support of a theatre that investigates the "classics" and not just keep them protected in wax museum productions. By centering BIPOC, queer and disabled actors, this play makes a case for not just inclusive casting of these older plays but re-writing them entirely. ”
Character Information
- Blanche DuBoisLate 20s,,WhiteCis femaleWhite. A trust-fund baby who lost it all. Mother died when she was very young and was raised by an absent, yet rich, father. Uses charm and attraction to establish her identity, give her life meaning, and mask her deep chasm of internal emptiness. In other words: a shape-shifter.
- Stella KowalskiLate 20s,,WhiteCis femaleLight or white. Blanche's childhood best friend. A deeply closeted Military brat "married" to her job. Hardworking, sweet, empathetic, and repressed. Believes her goal in life is to make others happy—even at the expense of her own health and wellbeing. Secretly loves poetry and dance.
- Arman SultanLate 20s/Early 30s,,Pakistani-AmericanCis malePakistani-American. Student at Georgetown Law. Cerebral, sensitive, but also a bro; very much identifies as a "Nice Guy." From Maryland; parents are from Pakistan.
- The Gentleman CallerLate 20s/Early 30s,,Anytransmasculine, NonbinaryModerately successful novelist and minor celebrity. Cocky, confident, charming, but deeply sensitive underneath. Surrounds himself with beautiful women in order to mask his own internal insecurity.
- Officer IAny Age,,AnyMale
- Officer IIAny Age,,AnyFemale
Development History
- ,Reading,The Lark2021
Production History
- ,University,Columbia University School of the Arts2022
Awards
Finalist
Roundabout@Columbia New Play Reading Series
Roundabout Theatre Company
2021