Charles Gershman

Charles Gershman (he/they) is a queer playwright/TV writer, a Dramatists Guild Foundation Playwriting Fellow, a 2019 Chesley/Bumbalo Playwriting Award winner, and a 2019 Relentless Award Semifinalist. Recent work has been produced or developed with The New Group, The Flea, All For One, 59E59 Theaters, Theatre503, and the American Playwriting Foundation and published by Oberon Books. They are a member of the BMI musical theater workshop and received their MFA from NYU-Tisch in 2018. web: charlesgershman.com

Charles Gershman (he/they) is a queer playwright/TV writer, a Dramatists Guild Foundation Playwriting Fellow, a 2019 Chesley/Bumbalo Playwriting Award winner, and a 2019 Relentless Award Semifinalist. Recent work has been produced or developed with The New Group, The Flea, All For One, 59E59 Theaters, Theatre503, and the American Playwriting Foundation and published by Oberon Books. They are a member of the BMI musical theater workshop and received their MFA from NYU-Tisch in 2018. web: charlesgershman.com

Scripts

Free & Proud

by Charles Gershman

Synopsis

Hakeem is an immigrant from Nigeria, a driven, loyal, righteous guy who’s worked hard to build a career for himself as a scientist. His husband, Jeremy, is white, privileged, American, lazy, unfaithful, unable to grow up, and wracked with guilt. Free & Proud is a new play examining the dynamics of a messy relationship and how sometimes it takes a disaster in order to make sense of the present.

Hakeem is an immigrant from Nigeria, a driven, loyal, righteous guy who’s worked hard to build a career for himself as a scientist. His husband, Jeremy, is white, privileged, American, lazy, unfaithful, unable to grow up, and wracked with guilt. Free & Proud is a new play examining the dynamics of a messy relationship and how sometimes it takes a disaster in order to make sense of the present.

Quik-Mart

by Charles Gershman

Synopsis

Climate refugee Abdullah and his wife and son operate a bodega in New York City in the future. When a refugee from a different land tries to buy out his shop, a strange negotiation erupts as the realities of a changing planet bear down on a new kind of immigrant.

Climate refugee Abdullah and his wife and son operate a bodega in New York City in the future. When a refugee from a different land tries to buy out his shop, a strange negotiation erupts as the realities of a changing planet bear down on a new kind of immigrant.

Happy Birthday Jay, You F*cker. Love, Esau.

by Charles Gershman

Synopsis

In a radio DJ’s queer remix of an ancient parable, Iyla invites her two children over to let them know she’s dying and giving the family business to Esau and not Jay. But Iyla’s wife, Rebecca, has other plans, and helps Jay—who is disabled—obtain a life of possibility. A re-spinning that celebrates the non-normative.

In a radio DJ’s queer remix of an ancient parable, Iyla invites her two children over to let them know she’s dying and giving the family business to Esau and not Jay. But Iyla’s wife, Rebecca, has other plans, and helps Jay—who is disabled—obtain a life of possibility. A re-spinning that celebrates the non-normative.

Decency

by Charles Gershman

Synopsis

Will and Bram take in Devin, a foster teen, at a pivotal moment in his life: as Devin approaches legal adulthood he faces the prospect of adoption and college application season. Or he could stick out the system a few more months, forego adoption, and take charge of his life on his 18th birthday. Will and Bram see an opportunity to change Devin’s life. But Devin forges a surprising bond with JoAnne, Bram’s mom....

Will and Bram take in Devin, a foster teen, at a pivotal moment in his life: as Devin approaches legal adulthood he faces the prospect of adoption and college application season. Or he could stick out the system a few more months, forego adoption, and take charge of his life on his 18th birthday. Will and Bram see an opportunity to change Devin’s life. But Devin forges a surprising bond with JoAnne, Bram’s mom. // Five years later, Devin returns to the house to interview Bram and Will for a cultural anthropology project.

Morning After

by Charles Gershman

Synopsis

Two young men wake up after meeting and hooking up the night before: one is late to brunch with his father, and the other is a Syrian refugee who is hoping to stay a little longer than the one night stand.

Two young men wake up after meeting and hooking up the night before: one is late to brunch with his father, and the other is a Syrian refugee who is hoping to stay a little longer than the one night stand.

Nightclub

by Charles Gershman

Synopsis

O and X meet outside a gay club in Orlando, FL. There's some confusion as to whether they've met before -- X is sure he recognizes O. After a stinging rejection, O decides to confront X inside the club. NIGHTCLUB, a 10-minute play, is a response to the Pulse nightclub shooting that asks: what if things had gone differently?

O and X meet outside a gay club in Orlando, FL. There's some confusion as to whether they've met before -- X is sure he recognizes O. After a stinging rejection, O decides to confront X inside the club. NIGHTCLUB, a 10-minute play, is a response to the Pulse nightclub shooting that asks: what if things had gone differently?

The Waiting Game

by Charles Gershman

Synopsis

Sam overdosed and is in a coma. His husband Paolo is doing everything he can to deflect the pain. But when Geoff shows up and reveals a secret, the line between reality and fantasy blurs. Who is Paolo G-chatting with? And what will it take for him to heal and move forward?

Sam overdosed and is in a coma. His husband Paolo is doing everything he can to deflect the pain. But when Geoff shows up and reveals a secret, the line between reality and fantasy blurs. Who is Paolo G-chatting with? And what will it take for him to heal and move forward?

Harbor on Six

by Charles Gershman

Synopsis

Ben has an unexpected houseguest: Marwan, last night's hookup, a Syrian refugee. Ben has a life to live, but Marwan needs a place to stay. And Ben's roommate Andrea, who's already on the verge of evicting him, has a no-hookup policy. The play asks: can generosity ever be pure?

Ben has an unexpected houseguest: Marwan, last night's hookup, a Syrian refugee. Ben has a life to live, but Marwan needs a place to stay. And Ben's roommate Andrea, who's already on the verge of evicting him, has a no-hookup policy. The play asks: can generosity ever be pure?