Blu
By Gloria Bond Clunie
Director: Carol North
Dramaturg: Graham Whitehead
“He was like the sky, only nobody looked up!” Blu Peterson is an outrageously special, strong but fragile, brilliant, artistic teen! Everyday at school, he battles the bullying that threatens to turn his technicolor world gray. When his older brother Scott teams with friends to search for Blu’s missing journal, they discover clues that help them understand this extraordinary artist and are surprised to discover the important gift Blu has created for his family and community. Humor and tragedy weave a story of loss, love, friendship, and the persecution many young people collide with every day.
The Hero Twins: Blood Race
By Ramón Esquivel
Director: Courtney Sale
Dramaturg: Guillermo Reyes
Competing in the ancient Blood Race, a stonecutter named Moth descends into the underworld to free her twin brother, Cricket, who is trapped there. To win the race, Moth must defeat the reigning champion, Jaguar, and overcome deadly obstacles. But the Blood Race is designed to give Jaguar many advantages, so Moth must rely on her intelligence and unconventional skills to defy the odds. When she learns the truth of the Blood Race and the society built upon it, Moth faces a choice: accept the way things are and have always been, or tear it all down and start anew. An original story inspired by Classic Mayan mythology, The Hero Twins: Blood Race employs parkour, freerunning, capoeira, and other martial arts and dance forms to weave a tale of determination, discovery, and liberation.
A Squirrel Boy, A Robot Cat, But Also Parents
By Jonathan Graham
Director: Nina Meehan
Dramaturg: Christina Marín
Max and Jane are both 13. There are things they’d rather not talk about-like weird living situations and unfortunate parents. But they both like to draw. And they kind of like each other, too. So that’s a start. This comic drama explores housing instability, absentee parents, substance abuse, friendship, and the power of making art in tough times.
My Name is Loofa Tutu
By Nicholas Kryah
Director: Annie Cusick Wood
Dramaturg: Megan Alrutz
“When you wake up in the dark, anything can happen.” Especially if you are Loofa Tutu. Her curiosity and hunger for adventure propel her into a mysterious realm where she discovers “X marks the spot.” But X is elusive. As Loofa pursues X, her journey takes her as far as the limitless reaches of outer space and as close as her own bedroom window.