←Recommendations of Actualism

Identity, belonging, redemption, and faith are boldly navigated against the backdrop of reality television. Deft and graceful, Sievers' work comes strongly recommended.

Sad, tender, and funny. These characters all clamoring for a tier of life that will guarantee happiness and acting with self destructive behaviors in the process, in contrast to the false promises of religion, financial success, and fame were refreshingly human and familiar.

This manages to be a engaging, highly theatrical commentary on wellness, fad, and cult culture while also being a unique exploration of relationships--toxic and nourishing--and the ways we self-sabotage our own actualization as adults. The characters and connections explored here are fascinating and complex and Sievers' eye towards their intersectional identities lends nuance, specificity, and layering to a piece that also digs out some universal truths. There is a lot of interesting ensemble and design work to explore onstage as well! An offbeat and original piece.

More plays ought to be this daring. As high-concept as this play is, ACTUALISM has managed to convince me that a new religion, the bastard child of rainbow capitalism and "spiritual-over-religious," is something not at all far off--or is already here.