A brave embrace of all elements that make theatre special, Death Before Decaf is a fun and wild ride. On the surface is a scathing examination of corporate America, but under its skin lies the question, where did empathy for the human element go in this money making juggernaut? This element is portrayed with care by the staff, with humorous cringe in regards to the customers, and explodes on to the stage with the Icon. Push the boundaries of the stage and warm your heart by producing this piece.

DEATH BEFORE DECAF pulls back the curtain of your favorite coffee chain. Both funny and heartwrenching, the play invites us to take a look at the people behind the coffee, and explores the no man's land between capitalist fueled corporate structure and the incredibly human act of rendering a good or service. Tackling the coffee shop will be a treat for set designers while costumers (or even puppetmakers) will have a field day imagining the Icon.

Coffee is an obsession in our culture and the brands that have dominated the market reign supreme. There is a litany of specific standards they must live up to, but at what cost? If customer satisfaction doesn't reach the proper percent, out go the workers. At the end of the day, it's just coffee and humanity comes first. Or at least this makes the case for that. Well done!