/genius by
What is genius and who is granted permission to wield it? /genius uses the intersection of three
world-famous musical minds—Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn—to interrogate the meaning of genius,
the gendered history of the word, and the fetishizing of “great intellects”. The play begins with the
legendary meeting of Mozart and Beethoven in Vienna and unfolds as they explore relationships of...
world-famous musical minds—Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn—to interrogate the meaning of genius,
the gendered history of the word, and the fetishizing of “great intellects”. The play begins with the
legendary meeting of Mozart and Beethoven in Vienna and unfolds as they explore relationships of...
What is genius and who is granted permission to wield it? /genius uses the intersection of three
world-famous musical minds—Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn—to interrogate the meaning of genius,
the gendered history of the word, and the fetishizing of “great intellects”. The play begins with the
legendary meeting of Mozart and Beethoven in Vienna and unfolds as they explore relationships of love,
labor, God, and meaning. The structure of the play operates like a metronome with scenes leaping in the
future and back again, keeping time to the tune of the composers’ greatest hits we know and love. The
actors performing these roles are not solely “gender-swapped” but purposefully meant to disrupt the
status-quo perception of male genius. Male roles are to be performed by anyone but cis-gendered men,
women roles by anyone but cis-gendered women. This means queerness is welcomed and encouraged
in any role and actors of color in any role as well.
world-famous musical minds—Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn—to interrogate the meaning of genius,
the gendered history of the word, and the fetishizing of “great intellects”. The play begins with the
legendary meeting of Mozart and Beethoven in Vienna and unfolds as they explore relationships of love,
labor, God, and meaning. The structure of the play operates like a metronome with scenes leaping in the
future and back again, keeping time to the tune of the composers’ greatest hits we know and love. The
actors performing these roles are not solely “gender-swapped” but purposefully meant to disrupt the
status-quo perception of male genius. Male roles are to be performed by anyone but cis-gendered men,
women roles by anyone but cis-gendered women. This means queerness is welcomed and encouraged
in any role and actors of color in any role as well.