The Strides Collective – “bogfriends”
Strides Collective, a non-profit theatre company supporting emerging queer playwrights, is proud to present a one-night-only staged reading of bogfriends by jose sebastian alberdi (he/him). The Collective is excited to support this play before it heads to the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center for further development this summer. The reading will take place on June 13th, 2023 at the MAAS Building Patio & Garden – to celebrate Pride Month, doors will open at 7pm for sober mingling, with the reading starting at 7:30pm.
Starring Liam Mulshine (he/him) and Brennen S. Malone (he/they), the play blends three timelines of couples: Tanner & Archie, museum workers; Finn & Cillian, Americans in Ireland; and Osgar & Irial, who died over four thousand years ago. This is “a play about power-dynamics, sex, and preserving dead things (or trying to) that traverses space, time, and culture”, according to alberdi.
The reading will be directed by the Collective’s Associate Artistic Director, Gauri Mangala (she/her), and is generously supported by Kevin R. Free, Honorary Producer. Tickets are available for reservation at stridescollective.com/tickets. This event is Pay What You Decide, with donations encouraged to support the Collective. For more information, please visit stridescollective.com/whats-next
For more Pride Month programming, the Strides Collective invites you to attend Stop Kiss by Diana Son, presented in collaboration with South Camden Theatre Company, from June 2nd-17th. Performance information is available on SCTC’s website. You can join the Collective on Sunday, June 11th for a talkback with Stop Kiss creatives following the 2pm performance. Tickets available at: southcamdentheatre.org/our-2023-season
Graphic Design by Tanner Richardett
About The Strides Collective
The Strides Collective is a non-profit theatre company established in Philadelphia and operated by member artists living across the greater Philadelphia region. Founded by Artistic Director Jonathan V. Edmondson in early 2020, the Collective produces and develops theatrical work by emerging playwrights that embraces the queer experience through authentic, modern, and innovative storytelling. Our work prioritizes the goal of normalizing the conversation about queer identity, creating a safe haven in which emerging artists can tell their stories and have the ability to express themselves without fear of judgment. The Strides Collective is a proud member of the Queer Theatre Alliance. Learn more at stridescollective.com.
Summary of Play
bogfriends: Tanner & Archie work at a museum. Finn & Cillian are Americans in Ireland. Osgar & Irial died over four thousand years ago. A play about power-dynamics, sex, and preserving dead things (or trying to) that traverses space, time, and culture.
Creatives’ Biographies
jose sebastian alberdi (Playwright) [he/him] is a Mexican-Basque-American playwright (with TV aspirations). Born and raised in California, he now lives in Brooklyn & writes plays to make sense of religion, queerness, faith, power, love, sex, & other things he finds interesting &/or important. He has developed his work with INTAR, the Huntington Theatre Company, SpeakEasy Stage, The Workshop Theatre, Exquisite Corpse Company, Breaking & Entering Theatre Collective, Fresh Ink Theatre, Sparkhaven Theatre, Teatro Chelsea, & Campfire Theatre Festival. Selected plays: bogfriends, The Family Saves A Life, rachel, nv, ¡Mamágua!. MFA: New York University. @milk_jello
Gauri Mangala (Director) [she/her] is a first-generation Indian-American queer woman and a multi-hyphenate theatre artist, with focuses in producing and writing. She is drawn to stories that, even in their various levels of fiction-hood, pull out an openhearted candor about what it means to be human. Previous production credits include: Hedgerow Theatre, the TEAM, Hasan Minhaj: The King’s Jester (tour), Delaware Theatre Company, and the Fisher Center for the Arts. Gauri received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and Anthropology (m. Middle East & Islamic Studies) from Gettysburg College. She is currently the Associate Producer for Broadway & Beyond Theatricals in New York City and is an adjudicator for the 2022-23 Barrymore Awards. @hiimgauri
Liam Mulshine (Archie/Cillian/Irial) [he/him] relishes any opportunity to tell queer stories, especially those that imagine and honor ancestors who otherwise might remain buried and forgotten. Recent credits include Camille and Aesop’s Fables (Quintessence Theatre Group), the US premiers of A Holy Show, Our Few and Evil Days, No Kids, and Leper + Chip (Inis Nua), and Significant Other and Fallen Angels (Mauckingbird Theatre Company). He’s a founding member of Tut’Zanni Theatre Company, breathing new life into the long-dead remains of Commedia dell’Arte since 2011. LiamMulshine.com
Brennen Savon Malone (Tanner/Finn/Osgar) [he/they]: Regional: Charlotte’s Web (Arden Theatre) Originated the role of Juicy in James Ijames’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Fat Ham (Wilma Theater); Rent (New Light Theatre); Spring Awakening (Milton Theatre); Big Fish (Candlelight Theatre); Wine in the Wilderness (EgoPo Classic Theater); Saving Wonderland (Braving the Bard); Citizen: An American Lyric (New Light Theatre). Education: B.A. in Acting (Bates College), Arden Professional Apprentice Class 25. Thanks to Strides, Steven, and to my family, chosen and given for their support! Follow @brennensavon on Instagram for upcoming productions and updates.
