←Recommendations of Billy to His Friends

Highly theatrical and deeply researched, Rose's play prompts difficult questions about the unintended consequences of trying to save someone else's life, from bullets or from the closet. Underneath the headlines and camp lip-syncing, it is at heart the story of why we lie to protect those we love, and how the truth doesn't always set us free in the way we hope it will. Begging to be in production.

A completely arresting look at a true, historical event that absolutely deserves to exist more predominantly in the public consciousness. This play explores how homophobia, internalized shame, politics, and a relentless new cycle contribute to a climate where it's possible for a man's life to be ruined by LITERALLY SAVING THE PRESIDENT FROM AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. It's heartbreaking, compassionate, nuanced, and utilizes space, sound and an ensemble of actors doubling various roles to absolutely gorgeous effect. I very much hope to see this play staged.

A moving and important historical play that brings Billy's story to life brilliantly. Well done.

Rather than a stodgy, straightforward recounting, Billy to His Friends is a wonderfully alive, vibrant, theatrical piece of storytelling. I wasn't familiar with Billy Sipple's story before reading this, but I feel I learned more about him and the unwitting sacrifice he made than I would have reading any book or newspaper article.

This play is terrific. Oliver Sipple (Billy to his friends) became a hero overnight when he reflexively reached out and tackled Sara Jane Moore as she tried to shoot President Ford. Two days later, Harvey Milk outed him as gay, and he lost everything. Told with an ensemble who assemble, dissolve, and reassemble as different characters fluidly throughout the play, it is a fast, engaging dramatization of the story of a man whose life was altered by a single act, and whose suffering has been largely lost to history. I love a good history play, and this one is fantastic.

If you've never heard the story of Oliver "Billy" Sipple, trust you're not alone... which is exactly what playwright Cassandra Rose seeks to rectify with this wonderful, sometimes heartbreaking, often hilarious piece, that special kind of history play that is well-researched without ever feeling the need to prove it by feeding us factoids. I co-led the development of this script through Broken Nose Theatre's Paper Trail new-play series, and I was immediately taken with how Cassandra somehow manages to utilize a wide canvas to tell a story this intimate. Bonus: It's an excellent platform for a stellar ensemble!

Beautiful piece that explores an underrepresented historical event, refracts it through theatrical devices, and discusses it in conversation with contemporary dialogues within the queer community. The use of double/triple/quadruple/etc. casting is genius, as is requiring this story to not simply live in the bodies of cis white gay men. Billy is a fantastic role in general, but it would be a treat to be any part of the incredibly used ensemble. The theatricality of the piece also makes it a glorious challenge for a whole production team--directors, designers, movement coordinators, etc. alike. Funny, moving, sad, important!

Witty. Heartbreaking. Campy. Vital. Historical fiction can often be destroyed in the endless details but not with Billy. The plot flows beautifully. The ensemble is utilized like a dream. Billy could have been any of us. This is an important piece for the here and now. Cassandra brought beautiful life to this relatively unknown, yet vital story. I cannot wait to see where this play goes next!

At turns poignant and campy, this play does a fantastic job of utilizing the bones of history to craft a narrative that is compelling and not bogged down by the details. As someone who isn't always turned on by historical fiction, I found myself very much drawn to these characters and their voices. The emotional life of this play is vivid, and its themes of navigating LGBT identity publicly have a chilling resonance today. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how this play develops!