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Word Play

OVERVIEW

Asexuality? Gayness? Mamma Mia? How do they intersect? In a solo show about crossword puzzles, of course. This new comedic play show explores coming out, finding language, and sex's marvelous intersection with America's favorite word game.

RUN TIME

40 minutes

SHOW TIMES

7/10 @ 9:00PM
7/11 @ 5:30PM
7/11 @ 8:00PM

VENUE & STAGE

Allen Rehearsal Hall

VENUE FEATURES

ADA Accessible, Restrooms, Festival Box Office & Info

Mask Requirements

This show offers specific masked performances.

Late Seating Policy

Late seating is NOT PERMITTED.

AUDIENCE GUIDE

TYPE OF SHOW

Age recommendation

CONTENT ADVISORY

Audience Interaction, Homophobia/Heterosexism

4

SHOW SYNOPSIS & details

as submitted by the artist(s)

When Kari wanted to come out to their parents as gay, they constructed a crossword puzzle. They didn’t want to have a conversation. Instead, they crafted a 15x15 grid, New York Times-style, and snuck their coming out into the acrosses and downs. A few years later, they came out as asexual, and their life got a lot more interesting. The puzzle never saw the light of day--until now.

Fresh from a run at a performance art festival in Brazil, this comedic solo show by a Cleveland playwright explores the joys of finding language, the pains of finding language, and what asexuality looks like when you're romantically gay as hell. Explore the history of crossword puzzles. Learn about Kari's celebrity crush on Meryl Streep. Discover why amoebas are the unofficial mascot of asexuality. Will we solve Kari's sexuality and the crossword they wrote for their parents a decade ago?

Creator / Playwright

Written and Performed by Kari Barclay

Director

Directed by Carrie Williams

Cast & Crew

Kari Barclay | Writer, Performer
Carrie Williams | Director
Jasmine Golphin | Video Design

CONNECT

Additional Info

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Screenshot 2025-12-18 at 6.14.09 PM

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