Julia Labusch

Julia Labusch (he/she/they) is a queer, Jewish, and neurodivergent Off-Broadway actor and playwright; born and raised in NYC, and was the recipient of the Joelle Carroll Fiction Writing Award in 2021. They have a BA in acting and writing from Bennington College, where they directed a staged reading of their original play Lightkeeper in April of 2024. They made their NYC playwriting debut with a staged reading their 10-minute play Next of Kin at Afterlife Fest in April of 2026, directed by Evan Chrust. Their work is unapologetically queer, imaginative, and sincere.

Julia Labusch (he/she/they) is a queer, Jewish, and neurodivergent Off-Broadway actor and playwright; born and raised in NYC, and was the recipient of the Joelle Carroll Fiction Writing Award in 2021. They have a BA in acting and writing from Bennington College, where they directed a staged reading of their original play Lightkeeper in April of 2024. They made their NYC playwriting debut with a staged reading their 10-minute play Next of Kin at Afterlife Fest in April of 2026, directed by Evan Chrust. Their work is unapologetically queer, imaginative, and sincere.

Scripts

Next of Kin

by Julia Labusch

Synopsis

After a failed expedition that forced him to do the unthinkable, Cecil has come unannounced to his best friend’s childhood home in order to return his belongings to his sister, Primrose. With little else left to guide them, Cecil and Primrose do what they can to accept what desperation has turned them into, and hold on to what was left behind.

Content Warning: Grief and discussion of sibling loss and...

After a failed expedition that forced him to do the unthinkable, Cecil has come unannounced to his best friend’s childhood home in order to return his belongings to his sister, Primrose. With little else left to guide them, Cecil and Primrose do what they can to accept what desperation has turned them into, and hold on to what was left behind.

Content Warning: Grief and discussion of sibling loss and cannibalism.

Red-Eye

by Julia Labusch

Synopsis

After learning of the death of his father back in Denmark, Laertes once again has to quickly pack his suitcase and fly home to be with his sister — leaving his loyal boyfriend Asa behind. Faced with the fear of losing Laertes to his grief for good, Asa makes one last Hail Mary to hopefully pull the love of his life out of the spiral of toxic masculinity and control.

Content Warning: Parental loss and...

After learning of the death of his father back in Denmark, Laertes once again has to quickly pack his suitcase and fly home to be with his sister — leaving his loyal boyfriend Asa behind. Faced with the fear of losing Laertes to his grief for good, Asa makes one last Hail Mary to hopefully pull the love of his life out of the spiral of toxic masculinity and control.

Content Warning: Parental loss and internalized homophobia

Lightkeeper

by Julia Labusch

Synopsis

Lighthouse keeper Deán Dreck has been all alone for four years. The war has just ended, and the world outside is finally quiet. Faced with the answer to a question he has refused to ask, Deán chooses instead to play a game of pretend. But soon his imagination gets the better of him as faces from his past attempt to guide him toward an impossible decision: to finally leave the lighthouse.

This is a play about...

Lighthouse keeper Deán Dreck has been all alone for four years. The war has just ended, and the world outside is finally quiet. Faced with the answer to a question he has refused to ask, Deán chooses instead to play a game of pretend. But soon his imagination gets the better of him as faces from his past attempt to guide him toward an impossible decision: to finally leave the lighthouse.

This is a play about loneliness. It’s also a play about connection, love, found family, imaginary friends, control, and having no idea what the hell you’re going to do with your life. But more than anything, this is a play about stars.

Content Warning: Discussion of child abuse and religious trauma.