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Boston Theatre Scene

John Deserves To Die

BCA Black Box Theatre - 539 Tremont Street

Director: Regine Vital
Playwright: Rachel Greene

All is calm until theater department favorite Professor Daniel Holmes casts unassuming freshman Laura Vogel as Carol in his Spring production of David Mamet’s Oleanna. No one is less pleased than ambitious, fat sophomore Jen Barnett, who threatens to expose a secret that could turn lives and careers upside down. When passionate student reporter Andy Stark starts to follow leads for an explosive exposé, it is only a matter of time before dangerous truths come out. Art begins to imitate life as secrets unravel, masks come off, and classic texts are challenged. In this decidedly murderous exploration into the devilish intricacies of sex, power, consent, and gender politics in academia, three students take control in asking: If Carol was telling the story, wouldn’t John deserve to die?

Content Warning: fatphobia, implications of disordered eating, discussion of murder, discussions of rape, stylized on-stage depictions of sexual assault, onstage moments of physical/sexual violence, explicit language including the c-word

Special Ticket Prices: 

  • Pay What You Want on Wednesday, 5/3 and 5/10 ($5 minimum) 
  • Playwright’s Night on Thursdays, 5/4 and 5/11 – Buy 1 Get 1  tickets when purchased online (no code needed, must buy 2 tickets to receive the discount) — join us for a conversation with the playwright following the performance!
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Director: Regine Vital
Playwright: Rachel Greene

All is calm until theater department favorite Professor Daniel Holmes casts unassuming freshman Laura Vogel as Carol in his Spring production of David Mamet’s Oleanna. No one is less pleased than ambitious, fat sophomore Jen Barnett, who threatens to expose a secret that could turn lives and careers upside down. When passionate student reporter Andy Stark starts to follow leads for an explosive exposé, it is only a matter of time before dangerous truths come out. Art begins to imitate life as secrets unravel, masks come off, and classic texts are challenged. In this decidedly murderous exploration into the devilish intricacies of sex, power, consent, and gender politics in academia, three students take control in asking: If Carol was telling the story, wouldn’t John deserve to die?

Content Warning: fatphobia, implications of disordered eating, discussion of murder, discussions of rape, stylized on-stage depictions of sexual assault, onstage moments of physical/sexual violence, explicit language including the c-word

Special Ticket Prices: 

  • Pay What You Want on Wednesday, 5/3 and 5/10 ($5 minimum) 
  • Playwright’s Night on Thursdays, 5/4 and 5/11 – Buy 1 Get 1  tickets when purchased online (no code needed, must buy 2 tickets to receive the discount) — join us for a conversation with the playwright following the performance!

Duration

2 hours 20 minutes with one 15 minute intermission

COVID POLICY: Due to the intimacy of our space, we are requiring all audience members to be masked for the safety of our performers.

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