←Recommendations of Buzz

This one is especially my jam in terms of theme, so perhaps a bit biased, but... Well-rounded scientist women characters? An entomologist who gets metaphysical when she sleeps? A fight sequence between insects? It's buzz-tacular! Its magical realism is cleverly and creatively crafted. This play is such an effective vehicle for varying personalities and different generations trying to find a way to communicate with each other, survive, and fight against patriarchy. I especially admire the ways in which its fully formed characters challenge and rewrite stereotypes about women in science. I want to see this produced! #SparkFest24

BUZZ is filled with magic in every crevice, whether it is a scene that (masterfully) uses magical realism or not. How VILLANUEVA writes about institutional misogyny, ageism, and ecological disaster, and yet keeps a strong undercurrent of softness, heart, and friendship flowing throughout is a true marvel. The characters, the theatricality, the story, the themes - everything comes together to create a truly exciting, tantalizing, and thoughtful show that artists would be lucky to be a part of.

If you think Nature is brutal, try being a woman in Science, where sexism and ageism is not entirely dissimilar to what hornets do to bees. Of course, with hornets, it’s instinct and with people, it’s a choice - one necessitating equally brutal decisions like the ones Alicia makes for herself. Her mission: save American bees from an invasion of hornets. It’s good for the bees, the environment, and her career – an enlightened self interest.

Villanueva gives us three vividly complex women, a terrifying manifestation of evil, and eye-popping theatricality. A dream for actors and especially designers!

How do women define ourselves? What makes us fulfilled? Or valuable? And how does a sexist culture force us to compare ourselves and compete for those precious few spots at the table?

BUZZ’a beautifully written characters offer fantastic opportunities for actresses—from prickly, determined Alicia, to patient peacemaker Eden to Lizzie, the open-hearted idealist. Their shared quest to save the bees from invasive murder hornets (remember those?) creates parallels between environmental crises and existential ones. The theatrical device of the adorable bees and the terrifying hornet (anxiety made manifest) would be a delight to stage.

This play had me buzzing from the tension Villanueva builds seamlessly with these three women while they navigate a mountain and climb the cutthroat world for professional women. In addition to these high-conflict relationships, Villanueva is able to blend humor and magic into her play through her own sharp wit and the human-sized murder hornet ballet that may or might not take place in Alicia's mind. A science play that is human at heart!