Deanna Gamboa and Alex Perez in Femuscripts "At War's End," a short play about a young Civil War veteran determined to reclaim the woman he loves and the future he envisioned.
Seven original short plays examine personal freedom, family relationships and the complicated meaning of independence as America marks its 250th anniversary.
For an 85-year-old woman determined to challenge hospital rules, liberty means having control over her own life. For a teenager confronting her father at Thanksgiving, it means asserting her independence. And for a woman considering a move to Italy, freedom may come down to finding the courage to pursue a dream.
These are among the interpretations of liberty explored in "What's Liberty?," a collection of seven original 10-minute plays written by South Florida women and presented by Femuscripts Productions at Miami's Sandrell Rivers Theater on Thursday, Oct. 22, and Friday, Oct. 23.
As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary, the production looks beyond the familiar language of freedom and independence to examine how those ideals play out in everyday life.
Carolyn Johnson in "Bad Dad." Angelo Canzani photo
"Liberty is a word we use so frequently that we sometimes forget how differently people experience it," says Laurie Tanner, co-founder of Femuscripts Productions. "We wanted to give women playwrights the opportunity to explore what liberty means to them, not necessarily as a political concept, but as something personal, complicated, and deeply human."
The plays emerged from a writing workshop organized by Femuscripts, a nonprofit theater company founded in 2020 to support women playwrights and provide opportunities for their work to be developed and presented.
Through guided instruction, discussions, feedback and revisions, the participating writers developed short plays around the central theme of liberty. The completed works are being presented as staged readings featuring professional South Florida actors.
The resulting stories range from comedy to drama, examining the often-complicated relationship between freedom and the responsibilities, expectations and relationships that can limit it.
In "Give Me Back My Freedom," an outspoken 85-year-old patient finds herself at odds with hospital bureaucracy and those who believe they know what is best for her. The comedy raises questions about personal autonomy and the fine line between protection and control.
Family relationships also figure prominently in several of the works.
"No Contact" centers on a teenager whose decision to declare independence from her father leads to a Thanksgiving confrontation filled with humor, grief and unresolved emotions.
In "Set Me Free," a young woman attempts to break away from her protective older sister, only to discover a disturbing secret that changes her understanding of their relationship.
Another family conflict unfolds in "Bad Dad," a comedy about a confrontational podcaster whose assumptions are challenged when a school social worker arrives to discuss his teenage son. The encounter explores masculinity, parenting and the ways people misunderstand one another.
Other plays consider the possibility of starting over.
Stylist (Laurie Tanner) and salon customer (Cristina Rojo) in Femuscript's "Buzz."
"The Bowl" follows a woman contemplating a move to Italy as she weighs her dreams against love, uncertainty and fear of change. In "Buzz," a visit to a hair salon becomes an exploration of loss, identity and the courage required to begin a new chapter.
The collection also ventures into historical territory with "At War's End," which follows a young Civil War veteran returning to Missouri. Determined to reclaim the woman he loves and the life he imagined, he must contend with the psychological consequences of war and the dangerous convictions he carries home.
Although the seven plays approach liberty from different perspectives, they share an interest in the difficult choices people face when pursuing independence.
For Femuscripts, the presentation also reflects a broader mission: creating opportunities for women playwrights to develop original work and see it performed.
Since its founding, the South Florida organization has produced original plays, staged readings, short-play festivals, films and educational workshops, according to
The "What's Liberty?" project received a $1,000 Women in the Arts Grant from the Skirt Foundation.
By bringing the works together in a single evening, Femuscripts offers audiences seven different perspectives on a concept that remains as relevant in personal relationships as it is in the nation's history.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Femuscripts Productions' "What's Liberty?," an evening of seven original short plays.
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. (Final performance.)
WHERE: Sandrell Rivers Theater, 6103 NW Seventh Ave., Miami.
TICKETS: $30 general admission; $20 seniors ages 65 and older; $18 students with ID, plus applicable fees. Visit ftfshows.thundertix.com/events/269057 .
