Son of Apollo

by Tristan B Willis

Phaethon desperately wants to prove he is not only Apollo's child, but Apollo's son. His mother Clymene fears Phaethon enlists harmful affectations to prove his identity to others.

A ten-minute play exploring a conflicting desire for and fear of "masculinity."

Phaethon desperately wants to prove he is not only Apollo's child, but Apollo's son. His mother Clymene fears Phaethon enlists harmful affectations to prove his identity to others.

A ten-minute play exploring a conflicting desire for and fear of "masculinity."

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Son of Apollo

Recommended by

  • Danielle Wirsansky: Son of Apollo by Tristan B Willis
    “

    Lyrical, tender, and deeply resonant, Son of Apollo reimagines myth through a moving exploration of masculinity, identity, and parental love. Willis gives Phaethon’s longing for recognition real urgency, while grounding the piece in compassion and theatrical beauty.

    Lyrical, tender, and deeply resonant, Son of Apollo reimagines myth through a moving exploration of masculinity, identity, and parental love. Willis gives Phaethon’s longing for recognition real urgency, while grounding the piece in compassion and theatrical beauty.

    ”
  • Sarah Hajkowski: Son of Apollo by Tristan B Willis
    “

    Incredibly lyrical and grounded exploration of how to be someone's child and the questions that so often leaves. To change one's name, to live their truth, to not know what that truth looks like, to need home still to be there when the world is a sunburn--this play dashes like light in snatches to be caught. Desperate to direct it, thoroughly theatrical.

    Incredibly lyrical and grounded exploration of how to be someone's child and the questions that so often leaves. To change one's name, to live their truth, to not know what that truth looks like, to need home still to be there when the world is a sunburn--this play dashes like light in snatches to be caught. Desperate to direct it, thoroughly theatrical.

    ”
  • H. Avery: Son of Apollo by Tristan B Willis
    “

    When your dad is the very well known picture of masculinity, and you’ve discovered that you may have inherited some of this (likely against the wishes of your parents), it takes a lot of courage to introduce your authentic self to the people closest to you. This is Phaethon’s dilemma in SON OF APOLLO, and it’s a narrative that continues to resonate generationally.

    When your dad is the very well known picture of masculinity, and you’ve discovered that you may have inherited some of this (likely against the wishes of your parents), it takes a lot of courage to introduce your authentic self to the people closest to you. This is Phaethon’s dilemma in SON OF APOLLO, and it’s a narrative that continues to resonate generationally.

    ”
View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

  • Phaethon
    Must be played by a transman or trans-masc nonbinary actor, no exceptions
    teens to 20s
    Trans man
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary
  • Clymene
    Phaethon's mother
    30s-50s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary

Development History

Production History

  • Professional, Pomegranate Room, 2021
  • Fringe, DC Queer Theatre Festival, 2018