TheatreLab is coming off of their community acclaimed ‘Lizzie,’ and switching gears with ‘Not Another Thanksgiving Play’….a sort of rom-com with honest, heartfelt themes. I was so fortunate to get to sit down with Philip Drennen, who has returned from NYC to direct the show at the TheatreLab Dayton Space.
937: Welcome home and congrats on the success of ‘Big Gay Jamboree’ in NYC! SO exciting!
PD: Thank you! It’s been fun.
937: I’m intrigued by NATP!! So, what is the gist of this show?
PD: Not Another Thanksgiving Play follows a group of 20-30 somethings who share a bond through Dungeons and Dragons. And no you don’t have to know anything about D&D to enjoy the show, I sure didn’t before I came on board to direct! The real story is each character coming to terms with their own happiness within their partner and themselves. Most of our characters are part of the LGBTQIA+ community and we see 2 of them go home to their family’s Thanksgiving after years of hiding their identities from their parents. 
937: Ummmm, I think I lived that plot-line myself! Tell us why you decided to return home to direct his particular performance?
PD: While this may sound heavy, NATP is mostly a comedy of errors as we watch Daniel and Gemma take home beards (fake girlfriends) home to the parents; one set strict and conservative, the other warm and maybe a little TOO open. The play has a very “rom-com” feel to it and plays as a queer, millennial “Friends” or “Seinfeld”.
937: I know TheatreLab is known for its local casts!! What can you tell us about them this go’round?
PD: The playwright, Marley Masterson, is a local Dayton artist and a big reason we wanted to do this show. TLD prides itself on hiring and giving voice to local talent and all of our actors have been seen on our stages as well as starring in all of the Dayton theaters.
937: I know TheatreLab Dayton has been handling this season with a sense of mystery…can you hint at what’s to come? We know the theme is ‘Taking Back Their Story.’ Any more you can share??
PD: TLD has always been a bit unorthodox and this season is no exception as we slowly roll out our season one show at a time. We’re all about creating art for our community with the members of our community and we’ll do that however we need to!
937: I see what you did there….no hints! UmmmHmmm. What is the audience takeaway for this show in particular?
PD: A big takeaway from NATP is that family is important and can look different for everyone. For some it’s mom and dad, for others it’s the chosen family we find at work, in school, or through a gaming club. And true happiness comes when we are true to ourselves. It might sound cheesy, but that’s what the holidays are all about!
937: Not cheesy at all….important to remember that! I have to ask you….how is it feeling to be home after your NYC premiere?
PD: I’m really excited that I get to work on an original piece as my first project back in Dayton. Marley and I have worked together on this show as well as many past TLD productions and I wanted to make sure her voice gets heard. It’s a great way to get back into the Dayton Theater Scene!!
937: Well, congratulations to you, Philip. I know people are also tuning into your Dayton Drama Queens video-podcast. Much success with that as well. You can catch the latest TheatreLab Dayton performance on the dates times below.
November 21st – 7:30pm.
November 22nd – 8:00pm
November 23rd – 8:00pm
November 24th – 2:00pm
The performances take place at:
TheatreLab Dayton. 116 North Jefferson St. 45402.
Visit theatrelabdayton.org
