Synopsis
In the early aughts, deep in the unspecified woods, there is a summer camp where gender non-traditional, overly theatrical, and borderline agoraphobic teenage boys are taught to become real men... or so their parents think. Under the tutelage of two flamboyant counselors, a band of sissies finds sanctuary from societal expectations and judgement at Camp Mannuppia—that is, until two new campers arrive and turn everything on its head, setting off a chain of disastrous events. Are the campers doomed, or can they come to terms with each other and their own identities in time to make it out of the forest in one piece?
Reviews and Recommendations
”Camp Mannuppia is a chaotic, loving piece that healed a part of me that I did not know was wounded. I cannot stress how thrilled I am for people to see it.” — Begsy Inal
“Gut-achingly funny, sharply observed, and marvelously accessible. All theaters should produce this play, a high-water mark of craft, humor, talent, and sensitivity. Rollicking, meta-theatrical, and effervescent, Camp Mannuppia is, perhaps above all else, wildly ENTERTAINING. When playwrights go hoarse shouting to theaters about the talent that exists in our midst, about the plays ready for production that would grow (and thrill) a theater's audience, John's play is exactly what we're shouting about.” — Jay Stull
"This is the play to produce if your theater is interested in, oh, contemporary social issues, gender representations, identity questions, queer joy, or just about any other edgy, pressing issue circling the atmosphere as we speak. Also: it's just a lot of fun! John's writing is always funny, accessible and artful, but for all its shimmer, this play in particular never shies away from even the most difficult question: how do we become our truest, most authentic selves in a world that imposes its own expectations about who we're supposed to be?" — Quinn D. Eli
“‘An Alt-Masc Comedy’ could not be a better subtitle here. John tackles one of the things that the queer community has in common: a complicated relationship with masculinity. Should we embrace it? Shun it? Fear it? Don't look at it until it goes away? Each character has a different approach, leading to misunderstandings, misaligned gay-teen yearning, general hijinks you would want to see in a Summer camp comedy, and a real reckoning with stereotypes. No one is left unscathed (but also, no heart left untouched <3). In particular, the friendship between Mikey and Darnell warmed my heart. ” — Brian Dang
Cast Breakdown
5M, 1NB
Running Time
~2 hours
Development History
• National Queer Theater, New York, NY, October 2023 (Workshop Production)
• Chesley/Chambers Playwrights Project Reading Series, The Other Side of Silence (TOSOS)/National Queer Theater, New York, NY, July 2023 (Reading)
• Baltimore Playwrights Festival, June 2021 (Zoom Reading)
• The Play Reading Network, December 2021 (Zoom Reading)
• Pinky Swear Productions, April 2020 (Zoom Reading)
Awards/Recognition
• Finalist, 3rd Annual New Comedies Play Festival, B Street Theatre, 2020
Read the latest draft of the script on the New Play Exchange.
Listen to a themed playlist on Spotify.
Photo credit: Daniel Hidalgo