Dry Swallow

by Lucas Baisch

Sitting within the confines of a shipping container, people are rendered commodity and turf is marked for value. Chula and Pal create competition on a Boyle Heights street corner. Nasir and Porter offer medicinal intake as artistic practice. Sik and Dori turn to drastic measures in order to save their family. Dry Swallow explores surrogacy, consumption, and substance abuse, while provoking the question: who’s...

Sitting within the confines of a shipping container, people are rendered commodity and turf is marked for value. Chula and Pal create competition on a Boyle Heights street corner. Nasir and Porter offer medicinal intake as artistic practice. Sik and Dori turn to drastic measures in order to save their family. Dry Swallow explores surrogacy, consumption, and substance abuse, while provoking the question: who’s allowed a healthy life?

Available for purchase through Methuen Drama, Bloomsbury Press.

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Dry Swallow

Recommended by

  • Gina Femia: Dry Swallow by Lucas Baisch
    “

    This play stopped my heart in its tracks - incredible.

    This play stopped my heart in its tracks - incredible.

    ”
  • Shaun Leisher: Dry Swallow by Lucas Baisch
    “

    Gentrification, opioid addiction and so many other timely issues are explored in this much-needed play. The play is poetic and filled with movement while also feeling real and raw. The choice of having the entire piece take place in a shipping container is inspired and I hope inspires many site-specific productions.

    Gentrification, opioid addiction and so many other timely issues are explored in this much-needed play. The play is poetic and filled with movement while also feeling real and raw. The choice of having the entire piece take place in a shipping container is inspired and I hope inspires many site-specific productions.

    ”
  • lily gonzales: Dry Swallow by Lucas Baisch
    “

    This play threw me through a whirlwind of sensations. The visual imagery is one that will stick with me, that will likely appear in my dreams when I least expect it. Baisch's exploration of worth and privilege in each of the worlds was exciting to read and the form this exploration is encapsulated in is wildly innovative.

    This play threw me through a whirlwind of sensations. The visual imagery is one that will stick with me, that will likely appear in my dreams when I least expect it. Baisch's exploration of worth and privilege in each of the worlds was exciting to read and the form this exploration is encapsulated in is wildly innovative.

    ”
View all 5 recommendations

Development History

  • Residency, ACRE Residency and Exhibitions Project, 2019
  • Reading, Brown University, 2018

Production History

  • University, Brown University, 2019

Awards

  • Chesley/Bumbalo Playwriting Award
    The Robert Chesley/Victor Bumbalo Foundation
    Winner
    2021
  • Princess Grace Award
    Princess Grace Foundation
    Winner
    2021
  • KCACTF Latinx Playwriting Award
    The Kennedy Center
    Winner
    2020