“We need to keep talking until everyone can understand [mental illness]; kudos to Woodstein for starting the conversation.” - Jenn Oswald in The Argus
“...fresh-out-of theater-school playwright Aaron Harris Woodstein has an autobiographical tale in hand for the next Moth Story Slam.” - Dan Jakes from The Chicago Reader
Jack, on a road trip with his friend Gabe, is faced with major coming of age moments (including awaiting the results of an HIV test) which turns into a full-blown manic episode. We are propelled backwards and forwards in time as the play unfolds through the lens of Jack’s mind.
“Felt as if it was a mirror in some ways to [my own life] and I felt moved by it. Very very moved by it.” - Rachel Dicker, Audience Member
“The script style was very innovative, the way it structured dialogue... it really was an interesting thing to behold.... [Playwright Aaron Harris Woodstein] brings a lot of innovation to the stage” - Bill Turck on Playtime Radio
“Turn That Thing Around” is Aaron’s own personal story of survival, and has been performed five times for live audiences.
Standing at the intersection of queerness and neurodivergence, the story centers on Jack, a young person on the cusp of another fun summer at camp with their best friend Gabe. As Jack becomes unstable, different lines of thought and memory, escalating emotion, and a sense of unreliable narration bring the audience into Jack's mind and foster a sense of understanding of his neurodivergence. Reality grows increasingly unreliable until everyone in Jack's life must confront and accept that the journey to camp has become a long and arduous journey to recovery.
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