Jerry Metzker - Plays

 AVAILABLE

All About Her

In this outdoor theater experience, audience members are divided into three groups and visit six different sites, three times each, to experience the story of a community swearing revenge on a teenager for a crime that isn’t really a crime. Community members are mob-hunting a transgender young person for defending herself against a bully. The trouble is that the bully is injured, and the community thinks that the transgendered person is the instigator.

The Carpet Cleaner – a solo play for two actors

Adapted from the autobiography, The Legacy, this play presents the story of Arshavir Shiragian, an Armenian patriot who survived the early 20th century genocide and joined the underground team that found the Turkish leaders guilty of mass murder. His role was to execute the villains. This play is available in two versions: 1) a solo play for two actors; and 2) an ensemble piece.

The Carpet Cleaner – an ensemble play

Adapted from the autobiography, The Legacy, this play presents the story of Arshavir Shiragian, an Armenian patriot who survived the early 20th century genocide and joined the underground team that found the Turkish leaders guilty of mass murder. His role was to execute the villains. This play is also available as a solo play for two actors.

Hot Summer Night

This irreverent, gender-bending comedy cross-dresses Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Sondheim/Lapine’s Into the Woods, and a cast that includes Moses, Odysseus and Wonder Woman. Romance is in the air, but it doesn’t always go the way a person expects.

Nephilim

In this solo play with puppets, Richard Hunter, a much down on his luck working class fellow, meets one of the mythological biblical giants (Nephilim) that miraculously survived the Flood. The creature becomes a dear friend, but beneath the surface, lies an evil that Richard can barely perceive. In his conversations with the creature, Richard begins to learn how good and evil can be mixed up, and how our allegiances can bring about our own downfall.

Playing Detective

Joey Tremain feels a connection with a fellow he met via a dating app. When the fellow goes missing on the morning after their first and only night together, Joey determines to find out why. This goes against the wishes of his best friends and has him intertwined with a handsome detective who is investigating a much larger case. This is a love story presented as a mystery.

The Quality of Anger

Upon learning of his sister Jane’s debilitating accident, Bobby Thayer entwines himself in the lives of the three people he holds responsible to bring them down. In this tragedy, Bobby’s obsession leads to greater destruction than he intends.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

This is a stage adaptation of the beloved television musical telling the story of the origin of Santa Claus, how he was abandoned, adopted by elves and learned how to make toys and through kindness brought Christmas to a northern city called Sombertown. Words and lyrics are available.

Secret Santa

In the spirit of the Hallmark television Christmas movies, Marty, a gay sports ghost writer with a closeted professional athlete boyfriend, returns to his hometown to help take care of his sister Lucy and the family business. While agonizing over his relationship and taking care of his sister, he reconnects with his best friend from childhood, a man with several children and a confusing lifestyle.

 This Is My Life

Michael (Mac) Brandt has big hopes and plans for his life: a husband, children and a loving home for all of them. In the meantime, he tends to meet men for sexual dalliances via an app. His friends Mark and Lisa endeavor to keep him on track, and this includes setting him up on a blind date with a fellow who is actually in an abusive relationship. Additionally, Mark and Lisa have their own issues with relationships and life. Mac’s life takes a big step forward when he meets Claude, whose wife left him for a woman. Their dating comforts and even changes Mac, even though Claude ultimately breaks up. Ultimately, Mac comes to recognize himself that he is okay with who he is and whatever turns out.

 Where I Come From

An Irish Famine immigrant to America shares how he has fled his terrible life to build a better one in the United States.

IN PROCESS

Jonathan and David

This is the love story of the biblical heroes who through circumstances not of their own making are forced to be apart.

House of Stairs

Adapted from the young adult novel of the same name by William Sleator, this play covers the story of five very different teenagers who are trapped in a world of staircases and platforms, where their safety and health is dependent on their interactions with each other…and following directions.

A Travesty of Justice

Two seemingly unrelated murders of an older transwoman and a gay man slowly draw together as a writer talks to witnesses and experts.

The Works

Based on the artwork and theory of Keith Haring, with a nod to the visions of William Blake, this multi-media piece tells the tale of a prophet and a rag-tag group of rebels who are struggling against an oppressive oligarchy, combining circus acrobatics and aerials, dance and spoken word.