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Will is a trans actor seeking purpose and belonging, despite not seeing their story reflected in media or history. In their most desperate hour, they hold a seance to summon one of the oldest and queerest playwrights of the English language — William Shakespeare!  The two are becoming total besties and Will invites you to an impromptu party to celebrate this new friendship. Join Will & Will as they reclaim the Bard’s old plays in all of their original homoerotic, cross-dressing, genderfluid glory. But to meet the guest of honor, we must perform the seance again, together. GENDER PLAY, OR WHAT YOU WILL promises a mystical journey of queer joy, laughter, tarot, and self-discovery through the classics.

Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes
‍Age Recommendation: 14+, accompanied by an adult
‍Content Warning: Production contains references to gender-based violence and discrimination and strong language including improvised language that may differ between performances. This is a non-exhaustive list, as it can be challenging to recognize how elements will affect individuals. Please email boxoffice@actorstheatre.org if you need more information.
Closed Captions: Sunday, June 15 at 2 p.m. and Friday, June 20 at 7 p.m.
ASL Interpretation and Audio Description: Available on request. Email boxoffice@actorstheatre.org to make arrangements.

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From June 17-28, a group of talented high school students and recent grads will collaborate with professional artists from the renowned ensemble UNIVERSES at the New Voices Summer Intensive. They’ll be working behind the scenes to create bold, original pieces. On June 28, catch their final performance—an exciting showcase of fresh voices and imaginative new work.

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UNIVERSES is a national Ensemble Theater Company of multi-disciplined writers and performers of color who fuse theater, poetry, dance, jazz, hip hop, politics, down home blues and Spanish boleros to create moving, challenging and entertaining works for the stage. The group breaks the traditional theatrical bounds to create its own brand of theater. Founded in The Bronx, New York in 1995, the members of UNIVERSES came together in the urban poetry and music scene of the late 1990s, quickly moving through the “downtown” performance scene to build a home for themselves in American ensemble theatre company. In their 24 years, UNIVERSES has performed at venues throughout the United States and toured extensively worldwide.

Step behind the curtain and discover the magic of Actors Theatre of Louisville, a National Historical landmark. Explore our three distinct performance spaces, learn fascinating theatrical history, and glimpse the creative process that brings productions to life. Our guided tours offer an exclusive backstage experience you don't want to miss.

A Life-Long Learning Series Applying Arts-Based Tools For Sustainability, Survival, and Joy

Second Sundays of each month!

Actors Theatre of Louisville and Louisville Tool Library are partnering to offer a monthly series of hands-on community workshops teaching a variety of skills learned from adventures onstage, backstage, and balancing life in the arts that can come in handy in the apocalypse!!

UPCOMING SESSIONS
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Sunday, July 13 - The Sweet Escape
2:30p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Paul Owen Production Studio
1400 S 9th Street
Join Actors Theatre of Louisville's Interim Artistic Director Amelia Acosta-Powell and Development Director Lacey Trautwein for essential survival skills in this month's session. Learn to pack the perfect emergency go-bag and master the art of changing your vehicle's air filter—because when the curtain falls on civilization, you'll want to make a clean getaway. This hands-on workshop blends practical know-how with a dash of theatrical flair, offering useful, real-world skills that anyone can learn. Whether you're a seasoned prepper or just curious about how to take care of yourself in a pinch, you'll walk away with confidence, a few laughs, and maybe even a new spark for self-sufficiency. *Closed-toe shoes required
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PAST SESSIONS

Sunday, June 8 - From Seed to Seed: Container Gardening & Seed Saving Workshop
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Louisville Tool Library
1227 Logan Street
Join Jody Dahmer from Beargrass Thunder and the Louisville Seedbank for a hands-on workshop that takes you through the complete lifecycle of plants—from seed to harvest and back to seed again! Perfect for gardeners with limited space, this session will teach you how to grow abundant food in containers while preserving genetic diversity through seed saving. Learn practical techniques for successful container gardening, discover which varieties thrive in small spaces, and master the art of collecting and storing seeds for future seasons. Take home knowledge that connects you to centuries of gardening tradition while building resilience in our local food system. All experience levels welcome!‍

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Sunday, May 11 - Sustainable Crafting
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Louisville Tool Library
Celebrate Mother's Day with Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Louisville Tool Library! Grab your mom, daughter, auntie, or friends and join ATL Business Administrator Norman Dixon and LACE Coordinator Carly Riggs for our sustainable crafting workshop. Use everyday paper and ephemera to create a unique collaged card to give to Mom or to a friend! Crafting is a fantastic way to maintain joy amid chaos, and everyone loves to receive a card in the mail! Supplies will be provided on site, but participants are welcome to bring personal photos or paper mementos if desired.

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Sunday, April 13 - Hand Sewing Basics
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Louisville Tool Library
Are you tired of fast fashion but don't know how to make the most of the clothes already in your closet? Or perhaps you found a rare vintage gem while thrifting, but it's missing a couple of buttons and you're afraid to attempt a repair? Join Actors Theatre Costume Shop Supervisor Anna Jenny, Props Supervisor Katelin Ashcraft, and Production Technician Jessica Hughes to learn how to sew a button, create a travel sewing kit, and mend an item with a decorative patch. Drop in for one tutorial, or hang out for the full afternoon and experience all three. All necessary supplies provided on site, but participants are welcome to bring personal projects and receive support.

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This dazzling Tony Award-winning musical traces the rise of the Dreamettes, a sensational trio inspired by 1960s Motown girl groups like The Supremes, who are on the verge of catching their big break. But can their friendship—and their music—survive as they navigate ambition, romance, and the precarious world of show business along the path to superstardom? Full of onstage joy, backstage drama, and powerhouse vocal performances, Dreamgirls is propelled by an electrifying score that blends R&B, gospel, pop, and the arrival of disco, capturing the sound of a transformative era in American music.

PAY WHAT YOU CAN performance Monday, September 22. Tickets will go on sale for this performance August 1.

Take a journey through the underworld, a dark realm filled with glittering light and mystery where the dead are very much alive. In this fantastical adventure infused with astonishing puppetry, humor, music, and magical visual effects, two skeleton friends, a dodo and a boy, are drawn into the epic battle between existence and extinction as they fight to stay together. Experience this mesmerizing odyssey from the Obie Award-winning company Wakka Wakka, international leaders in stretching the boundaries of theatrical imagination.

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