Featuring “Lyon’s Den” by TJ Parker-Young
Directed by Ali Hoefnagel
December 11 – 12, 2019 at Brew Gentlemen (512 Braddock Avenue, 15104)
InQbator is Quantum Theatre’s newest initiative to foster the artists of the future, presenting two early-process or brand new works each year. Quantum Theatre has always been a laboratory for developing work, and this is an opportunity to extend that mission.
“Lyon’s Den” – 2018 Harold and Mimi Steinberg Distinguished Play Winner – is by Pittsburgh resident TJ Parker-Young, a Texas born playwright who serves as co-representative for the Dramatists Guild – Pittsburgh region. He received his MFA in Dramatic Writing from Texas State University. Currently, he works at Bricolage Production Company and is the NPP Vice-Chair for Region 2 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
TJ Parker-Young
Playwright
TJ (he/him/his) is a Texas-born playwright and theatre administrator who also serves as co-representative for the Dramatists Guild – Pittsburgh region. He is also the NPP Vice-Chair for Region 2 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and a board member of the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. His plays include NO. 6 (2017 Harold and Mimi Steinberg Award Winner – KCACTF, published by Samuel French), Lyon’s Den (2018 Harold and Mimi Steinberg Distinguished Play Winner), Ruby’s Baby Blue (2016 John Cable Short Play Regional Selection- KCACTF), Hell is Empty (2017 John Cable Short Play Regional Selection – KCACTF), Hallmark (TETA Playfest 10-minute Winner), Cupid, and The Frontlines. His 10-minute plays are: Before the Fire (Fade to Black 2018 Festival Selection), Effie, Rock the Cradle, Lilies, and Stuffed. He is the recipient of the 2017 Ken Ludwig Playwriting Scholarship. He has had productions at Texas State University as part of their New Works Festival, Director/Designer Collaboration Project, and as part of their 2016-2017 Main Stage Season. He received his MFA in Dramatic Writing from Texas State University.
Ali Hoefnagel
Director
Ali (they/them/theirs) is a performer, arts administrator and teaching artist from Chicago, currently based in Pittsburgh. In Chicago, their weird solo work was most recently seen at Salonathon and with The Dilettantes as a part of Steppenwolf's multi-genre performance series Lookout. For four years Ali served as the Education & Outreach Director and (in their last year with the company) as the Interim Artistic Director of About Face Theatre where they devised and directed Checking Boxes, 15 Breaths, Ad Hoc [Home] and Brave Like Them for About Face Youth Theatre. Ali has been a Chicago Artist Month Featured Artist, received a 30 under 30 award from the Windy Times Times for contributions to the queer community, and was a lead teaching artist with Steppenwolf For Young Adults for several years. In Pittsburgh, they currently serve as the Artistic Programs Director for Dreams of Hope, teach playwriting with City Theatre Company’s Young Playwrights Program and have been seen onstage at Bricolage Theatre as a storyteller with Wordplay. Their one person Show, You Can Call Me Al, was produced this year as a part of the New Hazlett Theatre's CSA Performance Series. Ali is the vice president of The Pride Youth Theatre Alliance, a cohort of activists representing Queer Youth Theater programs from across the U.S. and Canada. They have taught theatre activism classes and workshops with numerous organizations and universities including their alma mater, Lake Forest College.
