Each month, the Department of Theater at my graduate school, Southern Illinois University, hosted Big Muddy Shorts. This was a night of script in hand short plays. Each month had a theme and the department playwrights - either playwriting graduates or those enrolled in the playwrighting courses - would be tasked with writing these plays to fit their interpretation of the theme and then produce them by enlisting a director or actors or tech, etcetera.

In January of 2018, as part of the Playwriting II class, I received my prompt for that month’s BMS - “Unapologetic.” Less than a month prior, the film The Greatest Showman had been released. Whether you personally love it or hate it, for me there was something about that film that reminded me why I love the theater and why I do what I do.

Theater, whether as a place or an art form, prides itself on inclusivity. “All are welcome here.” But, just like any other industry, that is not always the case. I have often found myself overlooked and not because of a lack of talent. Lettie Lutz (played by Keala Settle), offers words of encouragement in her song “This is Me” - to not let those who want to bring you down win, “for we are glorious.”

So I began writing my script. I wrote about a time where I was cast as the female love interest, but whispers in the wings gossiped that “she’s too fat to play the love interest.” I was inspired by Lettie’s determination and perseverance.

I acted the role myself when it was time for performance - the only time I would ever perform until that point in my 3 years of graduate school. The piece was met with thunderous applause, a reaction I had not experienced in my years of attending BMS. It even won an award.

Years later, I find myself thinking back on this script and this experience. I understand that I am not alone and this happens more than is documented in our industry. Too often people who need the environment and the family that theater offers are turned away based on race, size, gender, sexual orientation, looks, and so many other reasons.

I want to hear your story.