Boy

Inspired by a true story, Anna Ziegler’s Boy explores the tricky terrain of finding lover amidst the confusion of sexual identity, and the inextricable bond between a doctor and patient.

Play title: Boy

Author (s): Anna Ziegler

Publisher: Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Publication Date: 2016 (Dramatists Play Service)

Genre: Drama

Funders: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

https://sloan.org/programs/public-understanding/theater

Primary Discipline: Medicine

Secondary Discipline: Psychology

Scientist (s): None

Source Texts: Unknown

Character Breakdown: 3 Men and 2 Women

Adam Turner, Dr. Wendell Barnes, Jenny Lafferty, Trudy Turner, Doug Turner

Setting: Davenport, Iowa, and Boston, Massachusetts

Time Period: From 1968-1990

Synopsis of Play: Inspired by a true story, Anna Ziegler’s Boy explores the tricky terrain of finding lover amidst the confusion of sexual identity, and the inextricable bond between a doctor and patient. In the 1960s, a well-intentioned doctor convinces the parents of a male infant to raise their son as a girl after a terrible accident. Two decades later, the repercussions of that choice continue to unfold. (play text cover blurb, Dramatists Play Service)

First Performance Date: February 23rd, 2016

First Producer: Keen Company

Performance History: The world premiere of Boy was co-produced by Keen Company (Jonathan Silverstein, Artistic Director) and Ensemble Studio Theatre (William Carden, Artistic Director; Paul A. Slee, Executive Director), in New York City, opening on February 23rd, 2016. It was directed by Linsay Firman; the set design was by Sandra Goldmark; the lighting design was by Nick Francone; the sound design was by Shane Rettig; the costume design was by Sydney Maresca, and the production stage manager was Rhonda Picou.

Links: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/11/theater/review-in-boy-a-man-deals-with-gender-cards-hes-given-not-born-with.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-ent-boy-timeline-review-0119-story.html

http://chicagocritic.com/boy/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/boy-theater-review-873862

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/mar/10/boy-review-transgender-drama-clurman-theater-new-york

https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/boy

https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2018/01/24/boy-shows-the-consequences-of-a-gender-experiment-gone-wrong

http://www.playbill.com/article/anna-zieglers-boy-opens-tonight

http://chicagoonstage.com/timelines-boy-poignant-important-love-story-era/

https://chicagoontheaisle.com/2018/01/31/boy-at-timeline-caught-in-a-physiological-trap-lad-is-certain-that-hes-not-alack-a-lass/

Entered by: Meaghan Yesford

Photo/Visual Research with citations