All My Love, Kate by Joe Breen performs 7/10 @  8 pm, 7/14 @ 8:30 pm, and 7/15 @ 3 pm. This is a world premiere on the 2018 Fresh Fruit Festival MainStage, The Wild Project, 195 East 3rd Street.

For years, Jack and Danny have lived quietly and privately, keeping their life together separate from the world outside their door. But after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the couple finds themselves separated by an ocean, a war, and a world that would rather pretend they didn’t exist. What does it mean to be a patriot? When you have to sign your love letters with someone else’s name, how do you fight for your country? A love story told across miles, memories, and dreams.

The 16th Season of the Fresh Fruit Festival promises to be a great one and already began at the top of the year! Powerful nights of staged readings, discussions, and poetry events have been added to All-Out Arts’ Festival of works celebrating the diversity of the LGBTQ Community through live performance. All tickets $18 unless otherwise stated and available at OvationTix https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/527

I gotta tell you, I think i figured out your title – especially after I read the description of the show. it made me cry! OK, you got me hooked. now, tell us about yourself as an artist

I was asked once to describe myself in three words. I chose: Writer. Wino. Bagel-Eater. Because not only do they describe my three favorite things (writing, cabernet, and carbs), they also represent the three worst things in the world for me (lack of sleep, wine-lips, and calories). One really does fuel the next.

Now you made me laugh, let’s keep going. Share with us a little something about your play that we WON’T see in the press release.

There is a fun, jazzy, Fred-and-Ginger-type dance number in the middle, used to counterpoint the horrors of the Battaan Death March.

Now you frightened me – I see a Penny-Dreadful thing happening. This question is even more important when you have a period piece. How does your play resonate today? Feel free to be blunt. 

When I was writing “All My Love, Kate”, I was actually very worried that it wouldn’t resonate with modern Gay audiences (a 1940’s gay couple forced to hide their relationship from the U.S. Military—kind of a throwback, right?), but surprisingly—and sadly—these seem to be themes we’re once again being faced with in this country: Trans Americans in the Armed Forces; the definition and application of the word “American”; etc.

Now you got me thinking. Why did you choose The Fresh Fruit Festival for your work?  

In a city where there are more Fringe Festivals than working subway lines, I really responded to the concept of an all-inclusive Festival that features and celebrates all types of Queer-Centric theatre.   

Now I’m just impressed. Where do you see it going in the future? What’s the next step?

Ideally “Kate” would move on to future productions. I would love to work with a company that is passionate about this story, and that has interest in helping me to develop it further. But until then, I’m just thrilled watching these characters come to life every day.

Final thoughts?

I want to give a shout out to my incredible cast: BrendanCataldo.com, MattWCody.com, Kazuimafuku.com, SarahMatteucci.com, @itsChrisMcFarland, and JillMelanieWirth.blogspot.com!