Jeremy Torres Lab Theatre Production

My name is Kaitlyn Huston, and I am a senior Performance and Production major at Texas State University. My co-director, Abigail Thompson, is a sophomore at Texas State University, also studying Performance and Production. Through the Jeremy Torres Lab Theatre, we are seeking funds to have the opportunity to direct Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five (or The Children's Crusade) adapted by Eric Simonson.

A brief synopsis of the show is as follows: Based on Kurt Vonnegut's classic novel, Slaughterhouse-Five introduces us to Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes "unstuck in time" after he is abducted by aliens. In a plot-scrambling display of virtuosity, we follow Pilgrim simultaneously through all the phases of his life. Concentrating on his (and Vonnegut's) shattering experience as an American prisoner of war who witnesses the firebombing of Dresden, this satirical and horrifying anti-war story carries a unique poignancy -- and humor.

Slaughterhouse-Five was an incredibly impactful novel that we both read when we were young. It made us think in ways that the American education system had not taught us to think and ask questions that often didn't have answers. We were so excited to find an adaptation that allowed us to tell one of our favorite stories in our favorite medium: the stage. Set during WWII and based on the perspective of a former soldier, the book and play adaptation explore war and humanity through a primarily male lens. Despite this fact, our female directing team still connected so strongly with this story. We realized that this was because Slaughterhouse-Five is a story that speaks to universal truths and does not need to be bound by gender. Our mission for this show is to reframe the story by placing female and gender non-conforming actors in roles originally written for men. By expanding the scope of gender in a narrative typically explored through the male perspective, we are telling the universal story of how war affects humanity.

Donations made to this production will go towards procuring rights for the show, props, set pieces, technical elements, and costumes. This is an amazing cast and crew, and we would appreciate anything you are willing to give!