SPF 11: Marianas Trench
Teddy Passanante and Anzor Khasanov are eleven-year-old pen pals. Teddy is an unathletic, half-Korean nerd living in a liberal U.S. made up of what used to be Blue States. Anzor is the child of Muslim refugees trapped in a militant right-wing Christian theocracy that used to be the Red States. The boys know their correspondence is mandated and monitored by Anzor’s government. Part coming-of-age drama, part political thriller, above all Marianas Trench is a love story.
Development History
I wrote Marianas Trench in 2018, the first play in The Second World Trilogy which also includes Pangea and The Known Universe.
This play received a private developmental reading by Elephant Room Productions in December 2018, and two self-produced public readings: the first at TheaterLab in New York City in July 2019 and the second at Shetler Studios, also in New York City, in March 2020, directed by Janet Bentley.
On June 5, 2020, Portland Stage in Maine presented an online reading of Marianas Trench, directed by Kevin R. Free, as part of their Little Festival of the Unexpected.
SCOTT C. SICKLES is an LGBTQ/biracial Korean American writer whose plays have been performed in New York City, across the U.S., and internationally in Canada, Australia, the UK, Hungary, Singapore, Indonesia, and Lebanon. Nonsense and Beauty (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis) received a 2018 Edgerton New Play Award, the 2020 St. Louis Theater Circle Award, and was a 2020 ATCA Steinberg Finalist. Others: Marianas Trench (2019 O’Neill Finalist); Pangea (2020 O’Neill Semifinalist), and Composure (2016 NY Innovative Theatre Award; 2018 Lambda Literary Award Finalist). Five consecutive Writers Guild of America Awards for “General Hospital” and eight Emmy nominations. Dramatists Guild. NPX. www.ScottCSickles.com
Gregg T Daniel directed a critically acclaimed production of August Wilson’s, “Gem of the Ocean” at A Noise Within, credits include, Lanie Robertson’s Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill” & Katori Hall’s, “The Mountaintop” at the Garry Marshall Theatre, West Coast premieres of Mfoniso Udofia’s, “Her Portmanteau” at Boston Court Theatre & Tearrance Arvelle Chisolm’s,”Br’er Cotton” for Lower Depth Theatre. With Rogue Machine Theatre, Lorraine Hansberry’s, ”Les Blancs (Ovation-nominated, Best Director), the L.A. premiere of Greg Kalleres’, “Honky”, Lorraine Hansberry’s, ”A Raisin in the Sun at”, A Noise Within (Ovation nominated, Best Director) & a revival of Alice Childress’, “Wedding Band” for Antaeus Company (Winner Stage Raw Award–Best Revival, Best Ensemble). He is a recipient of the NAACP Best Director award for the International City Theatre’s production of August Wilson’s, “Fences” (nominated L.A. Drama Critics Circle, Ovation, and StageScene LA awards). For Lower Depth Theatre, the West Coast premiere of Kwame Kwei-Armah’s, “Elmina’s Kitchen” (Winner-NAACP Best Ensemble). Gregg is a Founding Member/Artistic Director of Lower Depth Theatre (Lower-Depth.com)
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“MARIANAS TRENCH”
Teddy Passanante – Kevin Matsumoto
Gerry Passanante – Joseph Lee
Opal Passanante – Avery Clyde*
Rico Passananate – Dana Lee
Anzor Khasanov – Ethan Harris Riggs
Zeliha Khasanov – Lauren Murphy Yeoman*
Yukub Khasanov – Stewart Zully*
Bashshar Melikov – Ruman Kazi*
Stage Directions – Miatta Lebile
Stage Manager – Emily Lehrer
Dramaturge – Lizz Mangan
*Road Company Members