Julio Down by the Schoolyard
It is the morning after the brutal murder of Julio Rivera, a gay Puerto Rican man in Jackson Heights, Queens. The murder became the first gay hate crime tried in New York State during the 1990s. In JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD, the community reacts and is taken on a journey of self-discovery by a fabulously unapologetic queen personifying the beauty and brutality of Jackson Heights. The play is an examination of the political and societal environment of Jackson Heights. The play captures the fear and outrage of the LGBTQIA+ Community leading to the borough’s first public demonstrations against homophobia. Like many Queer stories, the play does not follow a traditional narrative, as LGBTQIA+ people are often forced to follow non-traditional lives due to laws and societal pressure. The play focuses on poetry, imagery, and Fabulism to take a hard look at how Queer bodies are seen as threats to the status quo.
Cast Requirements
J. HEIGHTS / SPEAKES
GO GO BOY #1 / KISSING GUY #1 / GLITTER GUY / PRESS #1
GO GO BOY #2 / MAGIC POC QUEEN / KINSOLVING
GO GO BOY #3 / BUTCHIE / KISSING GUY #2
JOE / WHITE GUY / MAN #2 / POLITICIAN #2 / COP #2
SAMMY / THE VIRGIN / MAN #3 / POLITICIAN #3 / COP #3
AMARA / CIS / LEFT BRAIN / COP #1
JIMENA / DESI / MAN #1 / POLITICIAN #1
FRUIT STAND / ELENA / MOM #1 / PANIC #1 / RIGHT BRAIN
ELEGANCE / MOM #2 / PANIC #2 / PRESS #2
SOPHISTICATION / MOM #3 / PANIC #3 / PRESS #3
HIM / DJ -
Note: This play isn’t literal so neither should casting. With that said, race should NOT be swapped. Gender can be played with where it makes sense. It does not make sense for trans men and women to be played by cis-gender men and women, unless their transness isn’t germane to the scene… but hint hint - It is always germane to the scene in this play. Do the work. Cast trans people in roles about trans people.
Production and Development History
Commission, The New York City Council, through the office of Daniel Dromm (District 25), and LaGuardia Community College/CUNY, 2019
Workshop, INTAR Theatre , 2019
Workshop, The Lark Play Development, 2019
Residency, The Lark Play Development, 2018