A funny, fearless show about women’s work—and everything else we didn’t sign up for
Saturday, May 10th at 4pm
At National Comedy Theatre – 3717 India St, San Diego, CA 92103
Ever stress-eaten cupcakes at a PTA meeting? Had an existential crisis on a trampoline? Fantasized about quitting your job mid-Zoom? Then grab a front-row seat at Park Bench Confessions, a new staged reading from the What Next? Collective—happening Saturday, May 10 at 4:00 PM at National Comedy Theatre (3717 India Street) followed by a talkback with the creative team at Shakespeare’s Pub next door. www.thewhatnextcollective.com/park-bench-confessions
Directed by Jena Joyce and set in the fictional Friedland Park, this hilarious and heartfelt collection of five short plays serves up comedy, catharsis, and a whole lot of “Yep, been there.” Written by San Diego-based playwrights and performed by a knockout cast of local actors, Park Bench Confessions dives headfirst into the invisible labor women take on—at work, at home, in their bodies, and in each other’s business.
The show features a talented cast of local San Diego actors, including Julie Alexandria, Isabel Canzoneri, Susan Clausen, Maria Costello, Blair Hatch, Lucinda Moaney, Analia Romero, and Naomi Welsh. Featured San Diego based playwrights include Lindsey Salatka Julie Alexandria Melissa Jordan Grey Lolo Moreno Ines and Caroline Gilman
“Park Bench Confessions isn’t about breaking glass ceilings—it’s about sweeping up the shards no one talks about,” says Melissa Jordan Grey, What Next? Co-Founder. “We laugh (and sometimes cry) under the weight of it all. So forget the job description—we’re here to rewrite the manual.”
Featured New Works:
3P: Percussive Poetry in the Park by Lindsey Salatka
A women’s poetry circle spirals into chaos when one member goes rogue—and rhymes turn into daggers.
Breaking News by Julie Alexandria
A veteran news anchor melts down—on air and off—as she’s forced to confront aging, ambition, and the influencer trying to replace her.
Sugar Coded by Melissa Jordan Grey
A bake sale unravels as three women confront unpaid labor, unmet dreams, and the outrageous cost of lavender-scented water.
Three Generations of Samayoa-Browns by Lolo Moreno Ines
A family yoga session turns into a generational showdown over motherhood, memory, and who really raised whom.
Tramp Camp by Caroline Gilman
An overwhelmed mom bounces into a trampoline workout and discovers that what really needs lifting is her entire life.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM (Doors open at 3:30 PM)
Location: National Comedy Theater, 3717 India St, San Diego, CA 92103
Tickets: $25 — Available online only at https://tinyurl.com/pbctix
Talk-Back/Q&A: Immediately following at Shakespeare’s Pub, just down the street
More Info: www.thewhatnextcollective.com/park-bench-confessions
About What Next? Collective
Founded in 2023 by Melissa Jordan Grey and Jena Joyce, the What Next? Collective is dedicated to bold, inclusive, and resonant storytelling by a San Diego-based group of playwrights and performers who happen to be women over 40. The Collective centers the voices of those too often left out of the narrative, with work that’s gutsy, grounded, and gloriously honest.
Susan Clausen
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