STAGE WEST THEATRE
Ellen Eberhardt, Ryan Michael Friedman, and Olivia Cinquepalmi
Photo is by Evan Michael Woods
Stage West - I Wanna F*cking Tear You Apart
Performance: June 17 through July 9, 2023 | Created by Morgan Gould
Sam and Leo, Leo and Sam – roomies and besties since college. Nothing can tear them
apart—or can it? Stage West presents the regional premiere of the buddy comedy
I Wanna F*cking Tear You Apart, by Morgan Gould, which begins a 4-week run on Thursday, June 15.
Sam and Leo love each other, in a co-dependent sort of way. They binge-watch TV together,
finish each other's sentences, critique and encourage each other's writing, and even have a
couple name—Team Fat/Gay. Sam juggles freelance writing with working on her first novel,
while Leo works, reluctantly, for a BuzzFeed-type website and (occasionally) on his own
writing. But one day, Leo brings his "work wife" home with him—the annoyingly charming
Chloe. He's sure that Sam and Chloe will hit it off, but Sam is less than enthralled,
and the friendship begins to fray. Then, unexpectedly, a huge secret comes to light,
and everything is irrevocably changed.
Ultimately, the story of these two bright, funny and relatable characters allows us to
dive into the nature of a friendship made up of love, trust, competition, and even
heartbreak, with a special nod to a kind of love that sometimes looks a lot like rage.
Associate Producer Garret Storms says of the show, "This play is our riotous homage to
those friendships that we can't live without. These characters are both frustrating and
endlessly endearing, and feel like your besties. But it's not without its twists and
turns. This one packs in the love, the laughs, and the gut punch!"
The play, whose title refers to a lyric in the song Tear You Apart by She Wants Revenge,
was originally produced in 2017 by Studio Theatre in Washington, DC.
"The comedy love child of Will & Grace and Friends" - DC Metro Theater Arts
Morgan Gould is a playwright, director, and screenwriter and a recent graduate of the Lila
Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellowship Program at Juilliard. Her play Nicole Clark Is
Having a Baby (2020 Kilroy's List) was set to premiere as part of the 44th Humana Festival
at Actors Theatre of Louisville , but was cancelled due to the Covid. Her other plays
include Jennifer Who Is Leaving (Finalist – O'Neill), All The Stupid Bitches (Finalist -
O'Neill, workshop at Playwrights Center, IAMA Theatre) and Three Fat Sisters (Finalist –
Sundance, Workshop, Cutting Ball Theater and Z Space in San Francisco). I Have Never
Wanted To Bash Anyone On The Head As Much As I Do Right Now (a commission for Cutting
Ball Theater in San Francisco) had its world premiere in October 2022 with Morgan directing,
and Jennifer Who Is Leaving had its world premiere at Roundhouse Theatre in DC in March
2023 with Morgan directing.
Morgan is a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre, a Yaddo Colony Fellow, a MacDowell Colony
Fellow, and an alumnus of Interstate 73 at P73, the Ingram New Works Program at Nashville
Rep, the Dramatists Guild Fund Playwriting Fellowship, The Women's Project Lab, the
Civilians R+D Group, Target Margin Lab, Lincoln Center Director's Lab, SDC Observership
Program, the BAX AIR Residency, Playwrights Horizons Directing Residency and New Georges
Writer/ Director Lab. She has previously held staff positions at Playscripts, Inc., Lark
Play Development Center, Cape Cod Theatre Project, and was the Associate Artistic Director
of Young Jean Lee's Theater Company, where she co-created Untitled Feminist Show (BAC/PS
122). Morgan is also the Artistic Director of Morgan Gould & Friends, her theater company
with 9 actors, 3 designers, and a filmmaker (www.morgangouldandfriends.com).
As a screenwriter, she was recently on staff for Amazon's reboot of A League of Their
Own (created by Will Graham and Abbi Jacobson) and she is currently working on an
adaptation of the podcast Bunga Bunga with Wondery and Apple, an adaptation of the
bestselling mystery thriller A Flicker in the Dark with Fruit Tree/ A24, an adaptation
of the Jerry Rothwell /Atlas Reuben documentary Sour Grapes as a limited series with
MetFilm, Temple Hill and Amazon, and an original series with Creative Engine/ EOne and
HBO Max in addition to developing other film and TV projects.
Morgan holds a B.A. in Directing from Fordham College at Lincoln Center, and a M.F.A.
in Playwriting from Brooklyn College. She is a very grateful and proud union/ guild
member – WGAE, SDC, Dramatists Guild.
I Wanna F*cking Tear You Apart will be directed by Jenna Burnett, who previously directed
Church & State for Stage West. The production features two faces familiar to Stage West
audiences: Olivia Cinquepalmi, who appeared as Somebody in Everybody and Juliet in the
Bass Hall Education Program of Romeo and Juliet, will play Chloe, and Ryan Michael
Friedman, who played Love in Everybody and Tom/Marshall/Reporter/Security Guy in Church
& State, will play Leo. Making her Stage West debut as Sam will be Ellen Eberhardt, who
appeared as Herod last year in the WaterTower Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Set design is by Natalie Rose Mabry, with lighting design by Ryan Burkle, costume design
by Steven Smith, sound design by Claudia Jenkins Martinez, projection design by Jacob
Rivera-Sanchez, and props and set décor by Lynn Lovett. Stage Manager duties will be
handled by Tiffany Cromwell and Dana Schultes.
I Wanna F*cking Tear You Apart will preview Thursday, June 15 at 7:30, and Friday, June
16 at 8:00, and will run through Sunday, July 9. The opening night reception will be
after the evening performance on Saturday, June 17. Performances will be Thursdays at
7:30, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00, and Sundays at 3:00. Ticket prices are $40 on
Thursdays and Fridays, and $45 on Saturdays and Sundays, with $20 tickets for the two
preview performances. Food service is available 90 minutes prior to performances
(reservations are advised). Reservations and information are available through the
Box Office (817-784-9378), or on the website, www.stagewest.org.
STAGE WEST ANNOUNCES ITS 2023-2024 SEASON!
Stage West is excited to announce the lineup for its 45th season! The new season will
feature six shows, one of which will be a co-production. Four will be presented in the
Evelyn Wheeler Swenson Theatre ("The Evie"), with two in the Jerry Russell Theatre.. It's
a unique mix of 1 musical and 5 plays, which range from an intriguing drama to a
delight-inducing comedy-mystery to a much-loved classic. Here's the lineup:
Once Upon a Mattress
Music by Mary Rodgers, Lyrics by Marshall Barer,
Swenson Theatre
Book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer
October 19 - November 5, 2023
A co-production with Theatre TCU
By royal decree of the Queen, all princesses must pass a series of tests if they want to
marry the hapless Prince. Even worse, throughout the kingdom no one may wed until the
Prince finds a worthy wife! Many have tried, all have failed, and the Queen plans to
keep it that way. But when a bold and undeniably charming new princess makes a splash
at court, it seems the Queen has finally met her match. Music and mischief reign in a
tale where happily ever after has never been more ap-PEA-ling.
"As fresh, inventive, and funny as ever...with wit and sophistication, and more important,
human feeling" –New York Daily News
Poor Clare
Regional Premiere
by Chiara Atik
Russell Theatre
November 30 – December 17, 2023
2022 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Finalist
Meet Clare - a stylish teen living in medieval Italy, trying out the newest hairstyles,
and keeping up with the latest fashions and juicy town gossip. But everything changes
when she meets a man named Francis who has started ranting in the streets. Her mother,
sister, and maids don't understand it, but this man's ideas are, like, totally starting
to make sense - and now she can't unsee the world he has shown her. The surprising story
of Saint Clare of Assisi comes to vivid life in this modern parable of generosity,
perfect for the holiday season.
"A powerful and very funny modern spin on the medieval story of Saint Clare of Assisi" -
The Hollywood Times
Marjorie Prime
Regional Premiere
by Jordan Harrison
Swenson Theatre
January 18 - February 11, 2024
2015 Pulitzer Prize Finalist
In the near future, Marjorie and her daughter are worried that her memory may be fading.
That is, until the appearance of Walter, a mysterious and charming young visitor who
arrives to help Marjorie uncover the intricacies of her own past. But a secret truth is
about to blur the lines between human and machine. In this richly spare, wondrous new
play, profound questions emerge about the limits of technology and whether or not memory
is an exclusively human invention.
"Elegant, thoughtful and quietly unsettling … keeps developing in your head, like a
photographic negative, long after you have seen it" - The New York Times
POTUS: or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.
by Selina Fillinger
Regional Premiere
March 7 - 24, 2024
Swenson Theatre
2019 Kilroys List
It all starts with a little four-letter word that the President blurts out - and what
starts as a PR nightmare, turns into a complete global crisis! The seven brilliant and
beleaguered women upon whom he most relies risk life, liberty, and the pursuit of sanity
to keep things under control. It's a total rollercoaster ride as Capitol Hill turns
upside down in this riotous comedy. Get ready to laugh your stars and stripes off and
root for the powerful women running the free world!
"A broad, zany, old-school comedy" - TimeOut NY
Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear
Regional Premiere
by David MacGregor
Russell Theatre
June 6 – 23, 2024
The as-yet-undiscovered genius, Vincent Van Gogh, presents a most peculiar case to noted
detective Sherlock Holmes, his partner Dr. Watson, and his paramour Irene Adler. The
trio embark on a rousing caper and find themselves confronting the daughter of Professor
Moriarty. With a helping hand from Oscar Wilde, the world's greatest detective attempts
to uncover a Post-Impressionist conspiracy. This zany mystery adventure is the opening
gambit in a Baker Street trilogy. The game is afoot!
"An expertly crafted, utterly intelligent, and yet purely delightful escape…thoughtful,
artful entertainment full of imagination and intrigue" - Encore Michigan
The Importance of Being Earnest
by Oscar Wilde
Swenson Theatre
September 5 – 22, 2024
So, there are these two rich and eligible English bachelors. Both are pretending to be a
man named Ernest, because they are trying to woo these two ladies who have decided they
are all about that name. But when their romantic schemes collide, the whole charade
unravels in a whirlwind of wacky surprises and dazzling wit. This classic comedy of
courtship and manners is a masterpiece of social satire for all who appreciate the
humbling folly of falling in love.
"One of the funniest and most beautifully crafted comedies" - The Times UK
Season tickets are on sale now, and will include, the Premium Season Ticket (which
includes several great additional perks) at $339 each, and the Standard Season Ticket
at $219 each.
For more information, call Stage West at (817) 784-9378. Tickets and information will
also be available online at www.stagewest.org.
VISIT STAGE WEST
Stage West is a highly-respected regional theatre operating under an S.P.T. agreement with
Actors' Equity Association, the professional union of theatrical actors and stage managers
in the United States. Founded in 1979, the organization's mission is to entertain, inspire,
and challenge through great live theatre and to offer exceptional low-cost and/or free
educational outreach services to the community at large. Stage West's staff works daily
to broaden and intensify the theatrical experience for our patrons with consistently
excellent acting, directing, and plays. Meticulous attention to creative detail, customer
service, and a willingness to step outside of the box with new, thought-provoking material
has led to consistent critical and audience-based praise for Stage West. Through all of
this, the company nurtures the artistic growth of area actors, directors, designers, and
playwrights by providing meaty material and a safe environment in which to explore.
Over the theatre's history, 265 shows, including 244 plays and 21 musicals, have been
produced by the group. Stage West's typical season is comprised of a wide range of works
including new, classic, and contemporary plays that reflect the national conversation and
the human experience today.
In addition to on-stage offerings, Stage West also operates the Lobby Cafe which offers
an assortment of delicious appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and hot meals for 90 minutes
before each performance. Reservations are highly advised. While in the cafe, audiences
are likely to dine next to creative team members who also frequent the restaurant before
shows. Additionally, the Lobby Cafe walls display a new set of artists for each play as
an added visual treat. Finally, Stage West is home to a wide variety of educational
opportunities from weekly classes, to summer camps, to writing festivals for K-12 students
and adults.
Stage West is a theatre for the whole community where diversity is celebrated and a shared
humanity embraced. Come join us!
Stage West
821 W. Vickery St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
Metro (817) 784 - 9378 (STG - WEST)
VISIT STAGE WEST'S
WEBSITE
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