Jeff Bouthiette

Jeff Bouthiette

Jeff is a fat non-binary theatre artist and educator with a focus on comedy, queerness, fatness, and devised work. They are currently adjunct faculty at the Theatre School at DePaul University. For the past decade, they served as Head of the Music Program at the Second City Training Center in Chicago, and currently teach improvisation, comedy writing, and songwriting there. They have directed and performed...
Jeff is a fat non-binary theatre artist and educator with a focus on comedy, queerness, fatness, and devised work. They are currently adjunct faculty at the Theatre School at DePaul University. For the past decade, they served as Head of the Music Program at the Second City Training Center in Chicago, and currently teach improvisation, comedy writing, and songwriting there. They have directed and performed extensively in improvisation and sketch comedy, and they are a founding member of The Improvised Sondheim Project. As a playwright and songwriter, Jeff’s work has been performed in Chicago and nationally, and their solo show, Good Fatty Goes Bad, premiered in summer of 2019 and will be available for touring when we’re allowed to be in a room together once again.

Plays

  • An' Pass By Midnight, the Kimakwa by Jeff Bouthiette
    Recommendations: 2
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    Cast: 
    3
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    Genre: fantasy, horror
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    Keyword: ghosts, creature + 4 more
    Genre: fantasy, horror
    Keyword: ghosts, creature, Cults, gay, LGBTQ, religion
    After the death of her mother, Maria returns to Chicago to find Thomas - the man she married twenty years before in a mysterious cult in the backwoods of Maine, and the person she considers her only living relative. Although surprised to find out that he's gay (and that he sells mattresses for a living!), Maria decides to stay and make her life in the new city. She soon discovers that the past can haunt...
    After the death of her mother, Maria returns to Chicago to find Thomas - the man she married twenty years before in a mysterious cult in the backwoods of Maine, and the person she considers her only living relative. Although surprised to find out that he's gay (and that he sells mattresses for a living!), Maria decides to stay and make her life in the new city. She soon discovers that the past can haunt you long after you've moved on...sometimes literally.
  • Marlowe Unstuck by Jeff Bouthiette
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    8
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    Genre: experimental, movement/physical + 2 more
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    Keyword: Marlowe, Queen Elizabeth + 3 more
    Genre: experimental, movement/physical, period, science fiction
    Keyword: Marlowe, Queen Elizabeth, edward ii, aliens, time travel
    In the distant (or not-so-distant?) future, an alien intelligence has re-animated the brain of Christopher Marlowe, forcing him to relive his last days on Earth as it searches for the truth about his death. Although confused by this strange new circumstance, Kit seizes on the opportunity to cement his legacy as an artist. In the process, he becomes unstuck in time and space, as his position in the world, his...
    In the distant (or not-so-distant?) future, an alien intelligence has re-animated the brain of Christopher Marlowe, forcing him to relive his last days on Earth as it searches for the truth about his death. Although confused by this strange new circumstance, Kit seizes on the opportunity to cement his legacy as an artist. In the process, he becomes unstuck in time and space, as his position in the world, his sexuality, and his treatment of women are brought into stark new light.
  • Planted by Jeff Bouthiette
    Cast: 
    6
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    Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
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    Keyword: LGBTQ, queer + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, musical
    Keyword: LGBTQ, queer, song cycle
    Co-conceived by Jeff Bouthiette and Christopher Pazdernik, music and lyrics by Jeff Bouthiette, with additional lyrics by Rebekah Walendzak. In the tradition of classic hetero-centric works such as Closer Than Ever and Songs for a New World, Planted is a contemporary song-cycle exploring relationships of modern-day queer men. Six men navigate through the minefields of dating, marriage, separation and...
    Co-conceived by Jeff Bouthiette and Christopher Pazdernik, music and lyrics by Jeff Bouthiette, with additional lyrics by Rebekah Walendzak. In the tradition of classic hetero-centric works such as Closer Than Ever and Songs for a New World, Planted is a contemporary song-cycle exploring relationships of modern-day queer men. Six men navigate through the minefields of dating, marriage, separation and independence. Through a multitude of characters and songs, audiences are introduced to stories both heart-breaking and hilarious during this one-act musical collage.

    "Of the three shows I saw, Planted is the most ready to be expanded into a full-fledged production...in terms of confidence and self-assured swagger, Planted is the furthest along in growing up to the next level." - Scott C. Morgan, Windy City Times
  • Wake by Jeff Bouthiette
    Cast: 
    5
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    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: LGBTQ, gay + 4 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: LGBTQ, gay, Depression, mental illness, Schizophrenia, Chicago
    After the suicide of her estranged brother, Nora visits his home city of Chicago to speak at his funeral. Desperate to find meaning in Josh's death, she instead is confronted with the dysfunctional cadre of snarky gay men that were his closest friends, themselves still reeling from his passing. Nora’s search for closure sets in motion a series of realizations and revelations that changes her view of her...
    After the suicide of her estranged brother, Nora visits his home city of Chicago to speak at his funeral. Desperate to find meaning in Josh's death, she instead is confronted with the dysfunctional cadre of snarky gay men that were his closest friends, themselves still reeling from his passing. Nora’s search for closure sets in motion a series of realizations and revelations that changes her view of her brother, herself, and the reverberating effects of mental illness. 
  • Sky Burial by Jeff Bouthiette
    Cast: 
    3
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    Genre: dark comedy, drama
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    Keyword: post-apocalyptic, accepting death + 1 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: post-apocalyptic, accepting death, women
    Shortly after the collapse of society, three sisters have to deal with something they never thought they'd have to: burying their mother. The harsh environment of rural Arizona dictates they find a unique solution to their problem.
  • Birthday by Jeff Bouthiette
    Recommendations: 3
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: comedy, drama
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    Keyword: LGBTQ, gay + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: LGBTQ, gay, Lesbian, adoption, Race, interracial, family
    Ellen and Delia have gone through the long and arduous process of becoming adoptive parents with surprisingly little turmoil. But when the call comes that a baby is available for them to take home, Ellen's reaction throws their entire relationship into question.
  • Book Club by Jeff Bouthiette
    Recommendations: 2
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: comedy
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    Keyword: mother, daughters + 2 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: mother, daughters, divorce, children
    A mother and a daughter accidentally meet in the one place they never thought they'd see each other: a library. They embrace the ridiculousness as they each try to hide the true reason for their presence from the other.