SPF 12: Census
When Jacob, a newly assigned census taker, makes a home visit to Gloria and attempts to get clear answers to the standard questions on the government form he’s been issued, Jacob discovers that the objective facts he’s seeking are not always so, as Gloria peels back the layers and confronts him with a different reality. That she is Black and he is white complicates their encounter in unexpected and mysterious ways.
Susan Miller is a two-time OBIE winner, Guggenheim Fellow and recipient of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Her play 20th Century Blues ran Off Broadway in the 2017/18 season, is licensed by Dramatists Play Service and published in “Plays By Women” (Methuen/ Drama). Miller’s solo play, My Left Breast, which premiered in ATL’s Humana Festival has been performed across the U.S and internationally. Her work has been done by The Public Theatre, Second Stage, Naked Angels, New York Stage & Film, The Mark Taper Forum, Theatre J, Trinity Rep, City Theatre of Miami, The O’Neill, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Invisible Theatre, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati and Contemporary American Theatre Festival. Miller co-ran the prestigious Dramatists Guild Fellows program and was a Consulting Producer/Writer for Showtime’s The L Word and ABC’s Thirtysomething. She won the Writers Guild of America Award for her Indie Web Series, Anyone But Me. www.susanmillerplaywright.com
Abigail Deser is a freelance theater and film director based in Los Angeles. Her work has been seen on main stages across the country including a number of shows at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater, and in Los Angeles at The Boston Court Theater and The Echo among many others. Most recently her production of James Still’s And Then They Came For Me was awarded the 2021 Ovation Award for Best Production in a Large Venue. She works as a dramaturg, teacher, writer and director. Deser served as Associate Artistic Director of the Ojai Playwrights Festival for five seasons, as well developing and directing shows for youth with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Disney Hall. She has developed new plays for over a decade, garnering many awards and nominations. Most importantly, she loves her work and collaborating with fellow artists.
“Census”
Jacob – Kris Frost*
Gloria – Franchelle Stewart Dorn
A Young Man – Ronaldo Alexander-Mateo Medina
Stage Directions – Susan Miller
*Road Company Member