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h*llo k*tty syndrome

🙀🏡


HK is a little lost. They just quit their job as a police officer, broke up with their cowboy-partner, and made a vendetta with their brother-in-law. They find themselves caught in the throes of a family drama, noir, and romance. And worst of all, nobody will stop commenting on the fact that they are wearing a Hello Kitty™ mascot costume (but it’s slightly off because of copyright laws).

This play was my first attempt and experiment of playscript as container for ensemble devising. 

characters:
HK
STAGEHAND

An ensemble of three will play three characters (and then, later, more):
1. SUSAN, a housewife on the verge of divorce
2. MERYL, a detective on the verge of discovery
3. COWBOY, a cowboy on the verge of death

-Tennessee Williams Scholarship in Playwriting for Sewanee Writers’ Conference (2021)
-Artist in Residence @ King Street Station, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture (2020) 
-COVID-19 Artist Response Grant, 4Culture (2020)

Production @ Undermain Theatre, Dallas (May - June 2025)

directed by Garret Storms
with
Jess Anoruigwe (Meryl, et. al)
Ryan Michael Friedman (Cowboy, et. al)
Marianne Galloway (Susan, et. al)
Parker Gray (Stagehand)
Captain Milbourn (HK)
Aaron Patrick DeClark (Costume Design)
Claudia Jenkins Martinez (Sound Design)
Paul Semrad (Music Director)
Luke Atkison (Lighting Design)
Leah Mazur (Scenic Design)
Rayven Harris (Properties Design)
Julissa Hernandez (Stage Manager)
Joseph Martinez (Assistant Stage Manager)

PRESS!
-Interview by Rich Lopez, with Garret Storms: “Undermain’s ‘H*llo K*tty Syndrome,’ bends every genre while giving big queer energy”
-“‘H*llo K*tty Syndrome’ defies the rules as uncharted theater” by Rich Lopez in the Dallas Voice
-Review on OnstageNTX by Martha Heinberg



University Production @ Syracuse University (Feb 2023)

directed by Matthew Winning
with
Sarah Bottino (HK)
Gabi Benintendi (Stage Hand)
Jordan Burrows (Susan/Meryl/Cowboy)
Mackenzie Furlett (Susan/Meryl/Cowboy)
Karen Sanchez (Susan/Meryl/Cowboy)
Kit Verweij (Stage Manager)
Hope Allen (Assistant Stage Manager)
Stuart Plymesser (SM Mentor)
Kyle Hejlik (Understudy)
Sydney Carmona (Understudy)
Ella Johns (Assistant Director)
Cricket Withall (Assistant Director)
Alec Barbour (Fight Choreographer)
DaiAwen Cynfamau (Intimacy Choreographer)
Ben Wolfe (Lighting Designer)
Dianna Angell (Production Manager)
David Bowman (Master Electrician)


Reading @ Vashon Repertory Theater’s Plays in a Snap! (July 2022)

directed by Jéhan Òsanyìn
with
Chris Boscia
Aviona Rodriguez Brown
Taece Wisdom Defillo
Jéhan Òsanyìn
Sydney Maltese



Zoom Workshop and Reading (Jan 2021)

directed by Jéhan Òsanyìn
with
Aviona Rodriguez Brown
Maya Burton
Taece Wisdom Defillo
Minna Lee
Quetzie Reyes-Tabargos
supported by 4Culture, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, and Parley Productions


VIDEO LINK! [half of a recording and a Q&A starting at 1:09]