Dear Anita Bryant by Ronni Sanlo
A one-act readers’ play, both dramatic and humorous, that shares the challenges of pain and the power of forgiveness as it tells the stories of LGBT history during the 1970s to the present through the journey of a Jewish lesbian who lost custody of her children in 1979.
$25
Testimonials from Zoom audience members, August 2020:
We are moved to tears by your powerful story. Ronni, thank you for sharing your Experience, Strength and Hope.
—Kent and Joe Bloom
Thank you for sharing your courage with us.
—John Brewer
I am awed and overwhelmed. You are a blessing to our community.
—Ruthie Berman
To the director Carol Swarbrick Dries: Thank you so much for introducing us to a person we had not known about, and who was extremely courageous in every way. Our eyes have been opened a little more due to your theatrical presentation. That’s what good theater should do.
—Don White
The Soldier and the Time Traveler by Ronni Sanlo
In 2020, seventeen year-old Beth is a smart, geeky teen who is infuriated by her history teacher’s denial of the holocaust. Beth has heard the stories from her Jewish great-grandfather Sam and wants to see for herself. Beth time-travels back to 1945 to accompany 19 year-old Sam through the last five months of WWII Europe and the liberation of Dachau. While there, Beth and German teen time-traveler Ludvig encounter two teen-age girls and discover what happened to most German girls who lived in the villages that were ravaged by war. Beth also discovers why Sam and his army buddies, citizen soldiers, went to war. The story is based on actual letters from Sanford Lebman, the playwright’s father, to his wife Lois. It creates both political and historic links between 1945 and the present time.
$25
Testimonials from the May 2020 Zoom performance:
I am blown away by all I just saw. It was beyond well done! It hit home! I have often thought of the similarities between what is happening today in the here and now and what what happened in Europe during the first half of the previous century. You reached out and touched your audience, reminding us our differences should never divide us.
—Roz Dermer
It is so timely, so important, and what an added delight to see and hear it read by teenagers! Congratulations!
—Carol Swarbrick Dries
Sing, Meadowlark by Ronni Sanlo
based on the book Sing, Meadowlark, Sing by Helen Ruth Schwartz
The Great Earthquake creates a new island off of the coast of California. Simultaneously, the gene that causes homosexuality is discovered. All who test positive are sent to the new island called Cali. Sing Meadowlark recounts the stories of both a young lesbian professional and the older lesbian prime minister from Cali and the challenges of returning to an America that is officially openly hostile to lesbian and gay people.
$25