After the death of his mother, Freddy and his father, Julio, spread her ashes in the garden, and a giant zucchini (that seems to have a heartbeat) sprouts overnight. Freddy calls his older brother Sebastian home to witness the vegetable, and also help take care of their father Julio, who seems to have lost the will to live. Sebastian brings his recently bonded red-tailed hawk along and the two brothers try their best to coax their father out of his room. Can all three men develop a communal vocabulary to express their grief with each other?

The Latinx New Play Festival expands the presence of Latinx stories and artists on the American stage, and spotlights the broad range of today’s Latinx experience. Four scripts have been selected to be rehearsed and developed at the Playhouse, culminating in a live public reading at the festival. More here >>

Benjamin Benne’s (he/him) plays include Alma (world premiere ’22: CTG’s Kirk Douglas Theatre in L.A. & American Blues Theater in Chicago; ArtsWest in Seattle ’22; Curious Theatre in Denver ’23; Central Square in Cambridge ’23), In His Hands (World Premiere ’22: Mosaic Theater of DC) and What/Washed Ashore/Astray (world premiere ’23: Pillsbury House in Minneapolis). His play Manning is scheduled to have its World Premiere at Portland Stage in 2024. He has been the recipient of Portland Stage’s Clauder Competition Grand Prize, Arizona Theatre Company’s National Latinx Playwriting Award, the Kennedy Center’s KCACTF Latinx Playwriting Award, American Blues’ Blue Ink Playwriting Award, and the Playwrights’ Center’s McKnight and Many Voices Fellowships, among others. The L.A. Times named him part of “LA Vanguardia: The Latino innovators, investigators, and power players breaking through barriers.” He has been commissioned by South Coast Rep and Seattle Rep. MFA: Playwriting, David Geffen/Yale School of Drama ’22. benjaminbenne.com