Wanna play

WORLD PREMIERE 

TICKETS $20-30 at colorarcproductions.com

Wanna Play, a new play by Austin playwright Christine Hoang, explores the awkward courtship of making new friends as an adult. After two online video gamers get zapped into The Here – a mysterious realm without screens, cell phones, or technology – they must play old-school analog games to earn enough points to get back home. It’s The Wizard of Oz meets Squid Game performed live in a black box theatre.

Recommended for audiences ages 14+.

Wanna Play is directed by ACC Associate Professor of Drama Jamie Rogers. Christine Hoang plays Gemma, a blunt Vietnamese American woman with the personality of a black cat. Travis Owens plays Ethan, a Southern white guy with the energy of a golden retriever. Michelle Alexander plays The Here’s mysterious guide Cappy who the script describes as “not quite Dungeon Master, not quite White Rabbit, not quite Bob Barker.” Marc Pouhe voices video game characters Ograth the Ogre and Damon the Destroyer. Vanessa Hoang Hughes is the voice of video game character Capybara. 

Wanna Play includes two original songs: “Play” by Tyler Mabry (music) and Christine Hoang (lyrics), and “Swim” by Johann Solo (music) and Christine Hoang (lyrics). The production also includes hip-hop choreography by Daniel Broxton.

SPECIAL SHOWS:

April 6 at 2pm (Sunday): Post-show Talkback on the Wanna Play creative process with the playwright/actor and her fellow castmates Travis Owens and Michelle Alexander. Moderator is Paul Alvarado-Dykstra (co-founded Fantastic Fest, film producer, screenwriter)

April 13 at 2pm (Sunday) - ASL Interpreted Show 

April 13 at 3:30pm (Sunday) - Post-show Talkback. The U.S. Surgeon General released an Advisory on the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation and the healing effects of social connection and community. In our talkback, we will discuss how art and storytelling help create community and connection. Panelists are playwright & screenwriter Christine Hoang (Wanna Play, Fly Girl) and comic book writer & video game narrative designer Evan Narcisse (Marvel’s Black Panther, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales). Moderator is screenwriter & podcaster Nichole Abshire (The Voucher Scam).

April 16  at 8pm (Wednesday) - Industry Night

TIX: $20-30 at colorarcproductions.com or tickets.atxtheatre.org/events/wanna-play-191854

ACCESSIBILITY:

ASL Interpreters. If you are a deaf attendee, please email colorarcproductions@gmail.com in advance so we can reserve you free seats in the front for our ASL Interpreted Show on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 2pm.

Seating & Viewing. The venue offers seating in the front row for patrons who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices, are visually impaired, or could otherwise benefit. Seating is general admission, so we recommend emailing colorarcproductions@gmail.com in advance so that we can ensure your needs are met.