SEX WITH STRANGERS
TIMELY & SEDUCTIVE
How far will you go to get what you want? Will you be the same person if you do? When star sex blogger and memoirist Ethan tracks down his idol, the gifted but obscure novelist Olivia, he finds they both crave what the other possesses. As attraction turns to sex, and they inch closer to getting what they want, both must confront the dark side of ambition and the near impossibility of reinventing oneself when the past is only a click away.
“A twisty and timely two character drama about lust, love and the complex nature of identity in our digital-dominated era.”
“Sexually and intellectually provocative…A hell of a lot of fun!”
“Sex with Strangers exhibits wit, humor, power, and nuance. The play navigates existence in our current and ever-evolving digital world; a social media-filtered existence displaying who we are (or appear to be). Is intimacy still achievable if our private selves differ so greatly from our internet selves? Laura Eason’s play accentuates the defibrillation of our disconnect and connection in society – ethically, generationally, and physically. After we endured the isolation of the pandemic, how apropos to open our 40th Season with a play that delves into technological communications and its necessity for our survival. Through Laura Eason’s lens, our blurry internet existence is snapped into focus.”
“San Jose Stage presents a sensationally acted and directed production of this powerhouse two-hander...It is hard to imagine two actors providing more dazzling performances than Allison F. Rich and Matthew Kropschot...”
“While Ethan and Olivia’s struggles with technology and relevance revolve around literature, Rich sees deep parallels in the art of live theatre.”
“Director Johnny Moreno paces the play well... He [has] two gifted actors with Kropschot and especially Rich, a San Jose Stage favorite.”
CAST
CREATIVES
JOHNNY MORENO | DIRECTOR
MAURICE VERCOUTERE | SCENIC & LIGHTING DESIGN
JEAN CARDINALE | COSTUME DESIGN
STEVE SCHOENBECK | SOUND DESIGN
DERRICK SCOCCHERA | PROJECTION DESIGN
JENN TRAMPENAU | PROPS COORDINATOR & PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
JUSTIN TRAVIS BUCHS* | STAGE MANAGER
VIVIENNE TRUONG | PRODUCTION ASSISTANT & BOARD OP
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
JOHNNY MORENO is an Associate Artist of San Jose Stage Company, director, fight choreographer, stunt man, and actor. He is a Theatre Bay Area (TBA), SF Bay Area Critics Circle, and Dean Goodman award-winning performer who has acted, choreographed fights, and directed throughout the Bay Area. He recently directed the first live stream performance of Anthony Clarvoe’s The Living at the Hammer Theatre for San Jose State University, where he currently teaches for the Film and Theatre Department. He is a recognized stage combatant by the SAFD, and a graduate of the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts program.
“For 40 years, The Stage has delighted San Jose audiences with thought-provoking and daring theater. I am thrilled to be a part of the company’s 40th Anniversary Season directing Laura Eason’s Sex with Strangers, a compelling story about two strangers negotiating passion, identity, and the powerful influence of social media today.”
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
LAURA EASON is an Emmy-nominated producer, screenwriter and playwright.
She is currently an executive producer and showrunner of Showtime's forthcoming new drama series Three Women, an adaptation of the blockbuster nonfiction bestseller by Lisa Taddeo, starring Shailene Woodley, Betty Gilpin, DeWanda Wise and Gabrielle Creevy.
Her writing and producing credits for TV include the Showtime / Blumhouse drama The Loudest Voice (WGA nomination, adapted long form; Golden Globe nomination, limited series) and four seasons of Netflix's five-time Emmy-nominated best drama series House of Cards (Emmy and WGA nominations, drama series.) Laura's feature film debut, Here and Now, produced by and starring Sarah Jessica Parker, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival (then titled Blue Night) and is available on demand. Past and present TV development includes pilot scripts for Amazon, Apple, BBC, Starz, Fox 21 and Fox Network.
An award-winning playwright, her more than twenty produced plays and adaptations include SEX WITH STRANGERS which began at Steppenwolf in Chicago before playing Second Stage in NYC (NYT Critic’s pick.) The play was one of the most produced in the U.S. with international productions in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Turkey. Her adaptation of Jules Verne’s AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS began under her direction in Chicago (seven Jeff Award nominations including Best Production and Best Adaptation) and went onto subsequent productions in London and eighteen other UK cities before transferring to the New Victory Theatre in NYC (NYT Critic’s pick.) Her plays are published by Nick Hern Books, Overlook Press, DPS & Broadway Play Publishing.
She served as Artistic Director of Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago (2011 Regional Theatre Tony Award) and is still a proud ensemble member, having worked as a writer, director, actor and/or producer on more than twenty productions to date.