Dennis is joined via Zoom by Gabe Rivas Gomez, the writer of the visually stunning and very moving new play Level Up! which is about a trans tween named Desi whose quest to be who she really is takes her into a spectacular and dangerous video game world. Gabe talks about where the original inspiration came from, finding the trans actress to play Desi, Mathias Brinda, several workshop productions ago and watching her grow up before his eyes and the technical challenges of trying to depict a video game on stage. He also talks about producing this show at a time when trans youth are under attack and what the reactions from audiences have been like so far. Other topics include: Gabe's career as a college professor and whether today's kids really are alright, taking inspiration from the book Ready Player One, what his own kids think of the show, his obsession with Lego and why some scenes just have to hurt.

https://www.latinotheaterco.org/levelup

Show Notes

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Gabe Rivas Gomez, the writer of the visually stunning and very moving new play Level Up! which is about a trans tween named Desi whose quest to be who she really is takes her into a spectacular and dangerous video game world. Gabe talks about where the original inspiration came from, finding the trans actress to play Desi, Mathias Brinda, several workshop productions ago and watching her grow up before his eyes and the technical challenges of trying to depict a video game on stage. He also talks about producing this show at a time when trans youth are under attack and what the reactions from audiences have been like so far. Other topics include: Gabe's career as a college professor and whether today's kids really are alright, taking inspiration from the book Ready Player One, what his own kids think of the show, his obsession with Lego and why some scenes just have to hurt.

https://www.latinotheaterco.org/levelup

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