Angry Fags

Written By: Topher Payne

Directed By: Jack Bowes

An out lesbian state senator is up for re-election. Her female opponent is a moderate conservative who has aligned herself with right-wing extremists. When a gay man is bashed and left to die, his ex-boyfriend, a campaign aide for the incumbent senator, is enraged. But his boss's unwillingness to label it a hate crime tips him over the edge, leading him and his best friend down a path of sabotage and violence.

My video design (with surfaces provided by Scenic Designer Nora Brooks-Slauter) diverged somewhat from the original script, as we felt that the pre-recorded segments called for in the script would connect with audiences more if done live. As such, the video content tended to be more atmospheric and scenic in nature, instead of simply replacing the action on stage. We still wanted to really integrate media into the backbone of the world, so several of the displays in the set were actually functionally integrated into the video system. This way, the cast could directly interface with the media surrounding them, suggesting an even greater connection to the chaos happening around them.