SPANDEX
A Wishbone Original Play
Why do we believe in superheroes?
In 2010, Wishbone set out to answer this question through our first ensemble-devised play. Starting with an incubator granted by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the next 18 months were spent exploring what powers superheroes have in a modern context when each day brings new questions that no "grown up" can seem to answer. The resulting show, SPANDEX is an hour-long comedy that explores the themes of justice, evil and right to life through the eyes of American children. Premiering at the 2011 Chicago Fringe Festival (review), with an encore performance at Chicago theater, Studio Be, SPANDEX went on to a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013 and a sold-out run at Clemson University in 2014.
SPANDEX is an hour-long show for 3 men and 3 women with minimal technical requirements. It is suitable for ages 9-99 and serves as an excellent conversation starter for many current issues.
For more information on this play or performance opportunities for your school or community, please email us through the button below.
Technical requirements
Originally designed as a fringe festival show, SPANDEX is designed to work within a minimal production budget. For reference, the Wishbone production requires six chairs and all the costumes fit in 6 children's backpacks.
In the classroom
Devising topical work. Wishbone has developed a 2-hour workshop for high-school and college-aged theatre students that will introduce them to the fundamentals of devising theatre around a topical issue. Students will then create the basis for their own show.