Sam Kerns is a director and playwright from Cincinnati, OH. He has served on creative teams with the Cincinnati Opera, The Cincinnati Fringe Festival, concert:nova, Maison des Scénaristes, and Opera America. His Theatre School credits include CLOISTERF*CK, and Brooklyn Bridge. Sam thanks his professors, family, and friends for their unending love and support.
The Lord, The Lady, The Girl, The Baby closes May 27th at 7:00 pm CST. Tickets are free and available here.
What is this play about?
Playing pretend, falling in love when you least expect it, and becoming the person you
were always meant to become.
Where did this play come from?
This play comes from an impulse to upend societal norms and dynamics that have
defined us for far too long. I wrote this piece in an attempt to create a world where
history meets fantasy, where pretend meets discovery, and where love meets those
who deserve it most. I must also give credit where credit is due—Saskia Bakker (the
actress playing Tabitha who is also in my playwriting cohort) encouraged me to write
something weird and true to myself. I’m glad I listened to her.
Where is this play going? What impact do you hope it leaves on its audience?
It’s been such a joy creating a world that explores relationships in both a physical and emotional way, and seeing that come to life would be amazing. I hope this play leaves an audience asking, what are the costumes society forces us to wear? And how do these costumes keep us from truly loving ourselves and those around us?
How does this play fit into your mission/ethos/aesthetic as a playwright? How did it
challenge what you thought you knew about yourself as an artist?
This world is about history, power, class, gender, duty, and queer love—all the themes
that challenge and excite me most as a writer. This play allowed me to discover and
embody my aesthetic through the written word like never before. My aesthetic is
outrageous, ominous, sexy, campy, flirtatious, dreamy, anachronistic, and daring. It’s a
Vivienne Westwood runway show come to life.
Were there any moments or scenes you loved but had to cut? Tell us about them!
Lady Mwah originally had a best friend, Lady Tata, to whom she told all her secrets. The
pair gossiped over tea and found interest in the strangest things: drawbridges, false
noses, and condoms. I was sad to see Lady Tata go.
If your play was distilled down into a scent, what would it smell like?
The wet earth after heavy rainfall. Tea parties. Silver polish. A horse-drawn carriage.
A garden in full bloom.