Drama, Full-length

A woman walks into a bar. Her name is Porto. She’s a regular. She likes this bar: serious food, serious wine, serious bartender–a staple in a gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood (perhaps Bushwick?). Her friends, her wine, and her artisanal snacks are there; her doubts about being a Modern Woman are put on snooze. A handsome stranger walks in and orders something special. Disruption ensues: an upside-down romantic comedy unfolds inside and outside her head. Desires of all kinds are awakened with a ferocious thump. A nice smile is a nice smile, but can we enjoy the sausage once we know how it’s made?

Production Notes

[Porto] was initially produced by Rachel Karpf, John Del Gaudio and The Bushwick Starr (Noel Allain-Artistic Director, Sue Kessler-Executive Director), where it received its world premiere in their 2016-2017 season.

[Porto] was subsequently produced by The Bushwick Starr and WP Theater (Lisa McNulty, Producing Artistic Director, Michael Sag, Managing Director), where it received its Off-Broadway premiere as part of WP Theater’s 2017-2018 season.

Photo by Maria Baranova


Author

Kate Benson

Kate Benson is a writer and actor living in Brooklyn. Plays include: [PORTO] (The Bushwick Starr), A Beautiful Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of the Great Lakes (Obie winner), (New Georges with the Women’s Project Theater), Super Magic Wild Forest (Clubbed Thumb Biennial Commission), and Desert (for Now). She has an MFA from the Brooklyn College Playwriting program. Performances include: I’ll Never Love Again (Bushwick Starr), Tiger, Tiger (on the Nature of Violence) (Dixon Place), Fondly, Collette Richland (Elevator Repair Service at NYTW), Nomads (the Incubator), Good Person of Szechwan (the Public & LaMama), and home/sick (the Assembly)... [FULL BIO]