Open-Door Playhouse
Open-Door Playhouse is a monthly podcast harking back to live radio theater broadcasts. Created to introduce New Plays, New Writers, and… a wealth of unknown talent. Giving them the opportunity to have their works created in sound studios as opposed to live stage productions and presented on the Podcast as “Radio Productions.” Play submissions will be solicited online, outreach centers and word of mouth. Broadcasts will be once a month (to start) and grow as demand requires. Long term goal is to reach out to undeserved writing communities: prisons, school and community groups to provide an avenue to have their voices heard, via plays, short stories or poetry, and to establish Podcast as its own 501c3 organization.To submit your play contact:open-doorplayhouse@gmail.com
Open-Door Playhouse
THEATER 195: Ask. Tell.
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When an older woman comes to a hospital to collect her injured grandson, she meets a young man who turns out to be the grandson's boyfriend. As they wait for news, the two of them grapple with the generational differences between them.
Bernadette Armstrong directs a cast that includes Anne Cooper as Debra and Larry Coleman as Jace.
Barbara Lindsay is the playwright. Her plays and monologues have received over 400 national and international productions. Among her previous plays are Holy Hell, FREE, Snow White Who?, Sex in the Middle Ages, Creamy Dreamy Boyfriend, Want, The Walkers, and so many more. She is currently based in Seattle.
Founded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse is a Theater Podcast- like the radio dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. The Playhouse launched on September 15, 2020. At the time, Open-Door Playhouse provided Playwrights, Actors and Directors a creative outlet during the shutdown. Since its inception. Open-Door Playhouse has presented Short and One-Act plays from Playwrights across the country and internationally. In 2021 Open-Door Playhouse received a Communicator Award for Content for the Play Custody and in 2023 the play What’s Prison Like was nominated for a Webby Award in the Crime & Justice Category.
Plays are produced by Bernadette Armstrong, Sound Engineer is David Peters, sound effects are provided by Audio Jungle, and music from Karaoke Version. All plays are recorded at The Oak House Studio in Altadena, CA.
There’s no paywall at the Open-Door Playhouse site, so you could listen to everything for free. Open-Door Playhouse is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and if you would like to support performances of works by new and emerging playwrights, your donation will be gratefully accepted. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the Podcast Stage. We strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising one-act plays and ten-minute shorts that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. To listen or to donate (or both), go to https://open...
Hello, and welcome to Open Door Playhouse, a theater podcast that celebrates live theater on the podcast stage. I'm Larry Coleman. At the Open Door Playhouse, we strive to bring our listeners thoughtful and surprising 10-minute shorts and one-act plays that showcase insightful and new perspectives of the world we share with others. Open Door Playhouse is a 501c3 theater organization. Support for Open Door Playhouse comes from listeners like you. Your tax-deductible donations help keep our plays on the podcast stage. Now playing in Theater 195, Ask Tell, written by Barbara Lindsay, directed by Bernadette Armstrong, starring Ann Cooper as Deborah and Larry Coleman as Jace.
SPEAKER_01Scott, I got here as soon as I could. The nurses weren't able to tell me much. It's a possible concussion. Possible fracture of the tibia. I think she said tibia, something like that. Well, they're working on him now. No, I couldn't. He's unconscious. Or semi-conscious or doped up or something, probably because Ah, Scott, no, not that kind of dope. Or not that I know of. Oh Lord, I hope not. I don't think the police were involved. They weren't. Apparently they were not. Scott, yes, of course. Whenever I know something. No, no, no, no, no, no. There's no need to get on a plane just yet. I'm sure. I'm sure he's going to be fine. Scott, don't worry if you can help it. Okay? Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?
SPEAKER_00You must be Deborah.
SPEAKER_01And you are Jace. And you know my grandson?
SPEAKER_00Yep.
SPEAKER_01Were you also in the accident?
SPEAKER_00No, ma'am. Just him and a light pole.
SPEAKER_01Were you there? Did you see what happened? I was right behind him. Oh stupid scooters, they whizz along with no helmets, sometimes not even shoes. I'm surprised you're not all in the hospital. Not so far. I'm sorry, tell me your name again. Jace. Short for Jason. No, it's J and C. Mushed together. Well, you shouldn't be riding those crazy things. Cars have accidents too. Oh, please, there's no comparison. Cars have seat belts and airbags. And if you're in an accident, never mind. What's done is done. I just want to get him out of here, take him home, and see he's safe and looked after. And then we'll get rid of that darn scooter. Good luck with that.
SPEAKER_00What do you mean? He loves that thing. More worried it got banged up than him. We call him scooters sometimes. We? Who? Friends.
SPEAKER_01Well, you can tell his friends his scootering days are over as long as he's with me.
SPEAKER_00I think he's gonna want to come home with me.
SPEAKER_01Why? What do you mean?
SPEAKER_00That's where he lives?
SPEAKER_01With you? You're his roommate.
SPEAKER_00Boyfriend. Oh. Oh.
SPEAKER_01Oh. You're gay?
SPEAKER_00Yep.
SPEAKER_01He's gay?
SPEAKER_00Yep.
SPEAKER_01Since when?
SPEAKER_00Since kindergarten to hear him tell it.
SPEAKER_01Really? Really? Are you sure? Don't answer that. So he's gay? Why didn't I know that? You couldn't tell? How could I tell?
SPEAKER_00By paying attention?
SPEAKER_01To what? He's so he well he doesn't, you know. I mean he's not feminine in any way. I mean he likes cars and ball games and hard rock and, you know, regular boy things.
SPEAKER_00Yes, ma'am.
SPEAKER_01He he does like boy things. Really? That was not a double entendre. And I really don't want you to take what I say and turn it into some crude joke. Apologies. Well, why would he hide it? I don't think he did. Then I just don't understand why. I couldn't tell. I used to have an infallible gadar. We don't really say that. Out for Pete's sake. Excuse me from being from a different time. I'm a broad-minded person and I'm trying to stay abreast. I truly am. But it is very hard to keep up with all these changes and nonsense, and everything has gotten so complicated. I'll tell you, honestly, something has gone off the rails. I mean, something is truly messed up about your whole generation on your cell phones, day and night. Your bodies are covered with tattoos, studs, staples, and all these multiple genders and sex changes. They, you raised the people who raised us. Are you saying this is my fault? It's nobody's fault. I think we're pretty great. Sex changes and all. There's nothing great about wanting to be a girl when you're born with a penis. Pardon my French. Well, you know what they say. You can't say happiness without saying penis. Thank you for ruining happiness for me. But that's not the point. You're confusing things that used to be clear. And do you know why? Because you have no ambition beyond video games and social media. And don't you say, oh, you baby boomers to me. I am proud of my generation. We didn't walk around hunched over phones all day. You would if you had them. I don't think so. We were too busy protesting the war, fighting for civil rights and women's rights, and fighting for gay rights. You have no idea how much you owe people my age. Ma'am, what are you laying into me for? Because you're disrespectful. All of you. Disrespectful and dismissive, as though I don't matter, or have nothing to contribute, or hardly even exist, or I'm invisible. You should have stood up when I entered. Then you should have shook my hand when I held it out. Shaken. Yes, I should have. Adam told me you like to correct people. I was a teacher for a thousand years. It's a hard habit to break. What grade? Middle school. Okay. Okay. No wonder you hate kids. I don't hate children. I don't hate anybody. It's just so. I'm sorry. But they, as a singular pronoun, lands on my ears like fingernails on a chalkboard. I can't help it. I've tried. I'm trying. But I can't help it. Everything is changing so fast. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I apologize. I'm just upset about Adam.
SPEAKER_00About him being gay?
SPEAKER_01Because he's hurt, you dummy. Dang. You actually love him. Oh well, for heaven's sake, of course I love him. Did you think I didn't?
SPEAKER_00I didn't know.
SPEAKER_01Does he think I don't? He doesn't say much about it. Well, he said enough that you knew who I was when I came in. He said enough that I knew he had a rough time at home. Yes, sometimes. Not because we didn't love him. We are a very loving family. But he and his dad will sometimes. Because he's gay. I told you. There were no obvious signs. How could we know? Ask. I wouldn't ask my grandson straight out if he's gay. That's absurd. You asked me? You hinted. Didn't he? Not that I noticed. You weren't paying attention. Did he date girls? He had girlfriends. Friends that were girls. We thought it was dating. You don't just ask, and he didn't say. I understand why he didn't tell his parents, but why didn't he tell me? He knows I have gay friends. Did he think I wouldn't love him anymore?
SPEAKER_00That I don't know. Ask him. Then he'll know I know. Somebody has to say something sometime.
SPEAKER_01Does he want us to know?
SPEAKER_00I don't know.
SPEAKER_01Ask him. Ask him, yes, I know. But don't they say don't ask, don't tell.
SPEAKER_00I don't think the army is the best place to look for advice.
SPEAKER_01Oh my sweet boy.
SPEAKER_00Why wouldn't he tell me? Maybe because he and his dad sometimes. Or maybe because he just didn't want to have to explain.
SPEAKER_01Maybe. I don't know. Maybe you're right. I haven't been paying attention. You seem to be very comfortable with yourself. Have you had therapy? Tons. Do you think he needs it? Ask him. I'm asking you. I think you know him better than I right now. Don't ask me. I think he's already perfect. I'm glad to hear that. Well, I'm going to go check on him, see if there's any news. I'd like to take him home to Kent with me just for a few days, if it's alright, if he wants to. I guess I can stand a couple of days. I'd like to get to know him again. I'll have to figure out how to go about that.
SPEAKER_00He likes you, you know. If you ask, he'll talk.
SPEAKER_01Um. Thank you. Thank you for this conversation.
SPEAKER_00Pleasure.
SPEAKER_01What are the J and C for? My old name. And that was John Carroll. Oh, yes. Thank you, Chase. Can I give you a hug?
SPEAKER_00Yep. Our plays are produced by Bardadette Armstrong, recorded at the Oak House Studios in Altadena, California, and mixed by our talented sound engineer, David Peters. Sound effects and musics downloaded from Audio Jungle and Karaoke version. If you are interested in submitting a play for production, you can find the information on our website at opendoorplayhouse.org. Please share this podcast with friends and do not forget to subscribe so you will be notified when our next production goes live on the podcast.