Ben Firke

Jane Vazquez, a journalist on assignment for a tech blog, visits the small town of Gunpowder Creek, New Hampshire, to interview Phil, a young conspiracy theorist and YouTuber. In order to figure out how Phil built his following, Jane interviews him about the elaborate "vegetable conspiracy" first outlined by the mysterious (and missing) GooseKing. Jane finds herself further entangled in Phil's bizarre family life as she gets to know his well-meaning and tenacious mother Ella, and moody, ambitious, older sister Steph. As Jane goes deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole of Phil's family, she finds herself torn between journalism and activism, distance and intimacy, and ethics and empathy. The rare play that grows more relevant to its times by the hour, I AM THE GOOSEKING examines the dark world of online radicalization, the loneliness of modern life, how conspiracy theories tear families apart, and how finding the right narrative makes all the difference.

It’s the summer of 2016, and the gig economy has commodified everything in Brooklyn, including intimacy. Brad, a sportswriter struggling with social anxiety, retains the services of Molly, a professional cuddler with a wry bedside manner. As the two form a fragile bond over the course of their sessions, they begin to struggle with their self-imposed boundaries and their preconceived ideas about what a friendship really is. A meditation on loneliness, recovery, and trust, spoons takes a deep dive into the chaos of seeking companionship in our lonely age.

"Vampire Vibe Shift" is a darkly comedic horror play that blends tech dystopia with supernatural elements to create a scathing critique of Silicon Valley's obsession with immortality and exploitation.

The story centers on Calvin Trier, a billionaire tech investor who has created "Project FOMO" (Foundation for Overcoming Mortality) in his high-tech mansion called the "eState." Cal has recruited Mary, a young dancer with student debt (and medical bills for her infant daughter), because her genetic profile makes her the perfect blood donor for his immortality experiments. Initially believing she's participating in a standard medical trial, Mary discovers the horrific truth as the play progresses.

The eState is populated by "Help" – eerily compliant AI robot servants – and haunted by three ghostly entities called Vibes (Victoria, Vanessa, and Veronica) who taunt Mary from within the mansion's digital walls. Also trapped in this technological prison is Becky Ferrari, Cal's (fake) girlfriend and a reclusive pop star struggling to complete her decade-overdue album.

As Cal and his sinister German doctor, Fraudoktor, escalate from simple blood transfusions to modifying Mary's bone marrow and harvesting her organs, the mansion's atmosphere grows increasingly surreal. After a disastrous party where Mary humiliates herself, Cal drops all pretense of treating her humanely. When Fraudoktor surgically alters Mary's bone marrow to produce excessive blood and plans to harvest all her organs, Becky Ferrari stages a dramatic rescue.

The two women form an unlikely alliance to escape, but their attempt to disable the mansion's security system reveals a shocking truth – Becky has a mechanical heart implanted by Cal. When they trigger the electromagnetic pulse that shuts down the house's systems, Becky's heart explodes, leaving Mary alone to confront Cal in a blood-soaked final showdown.

Beyond its supernatural trappings, "Vampire Vibe Shift" offers a biting commentary on class dynamics, the commodification of human bodies, and the cult-like behavior of tech billionaires. The play's title references Cal's belief in a cultural "vibe shift" away from collective values toward technological individualism – an ideology the play ultimately condemns through Mary's violent rebellion against her exploitation. With its blood-drenched climax and sardonic humor, this genre-bending work poses uncomfortable questions about the price of progress and who pays it.

A family's teenage son begins digging a massive hole in the backyard, with no explanation. His sister and parents try to figure out why, and to get him to stop. Mayhem ensues.