plot synopsis

Inspired by a true story, BOY explores the complicated terrain of trying to find love in a new body, and the inextricable bonds between doctor and patient. In the 1960s, a well-intentioned doctor convinces the parents of a male infant to raise their son as a girl after a terrible accident. Two decades later, the repercussions of that choice continue to unfold.

select productions

— TimeLine Theatre, Chicago, 2018 (Directed by Damon Kiely)
— Steel River Playhouse, PA, 2018 (Directed by Suki Saurus)
— Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta, 2017 (Directed by Melissa Foulger)
— Keen Company/Ensemble Studio Theatre, NYC, 2016 (Directed by Linsay Firman)
— L.A. Theatre Works, 2016 (Directed by Debbie Devine), the recording of which is featured on the podcast The Play’s The Thing
— Tanghalang Ateneo, Manila, 2016 (Directed by Ed Lacson, Jr.)

more press

“Anna Ziegler’s captivating new play…is already a chief contender for the most insightful, gut-wrenching, and beautiful play of 2016…Dazzingly, deliciously alive from start to finish…[Bobby Steggert gives] a career-defining performance.” — Talkin’ Broadway

“In her gorgeous play, Ziegler [continues] her exploration of the human soul — going beyond the limitations of gender and societal codes — that has made her one of the most compelling voices in American dramatic writing.” — Jose Solis’ Favorite Theatre of 2016, Stagebuddy

“Vibrant and idiosyncratic enough to transcend the zeitgeist…Boy gracefully ponders gender identity – with heart and urgency.” — Washington Post

“A great play….Boy has both the white hot issue of gender identity and the simple fact that it’s very, very good in its favor. They’ll be performing it for years to come…Ziegler’s intelligent script lays out this complex story with precision and grace.” — Huffington Post (Michael Giltz)

“In [Boy], audiences will travel to a world many have never experienced. That’s the power of great theater, and most certainly, of this wonderfully moving production…This is quite likely the first must-see production of the new year.”  — Chicago Theatre Review

“Riveting and affecting. This play ostensibly about sex assignment becomes an indelible journey of the genderless heart. Too precious to pass up.” — DC Metro Theater Arts

“Anna Ziegler’s Boy is a smart, fresh transgender-play twist…In literary annals, there are myriad confrontations between fathers and sons, but it’s likely there are none like this one, certainly not any more beautifully realized…”  – Huffington Post (David Finkle)

“Deeply moving…Utterly glows in the dark…[A] beautiful play…By Boy’s end love finds a way that’s overwhelmingly wonderful…Few plays ever end this perfectly… Rightly refusing the anger that happily never mars Ziegler’s golden script, five unimprovable actors create no villains or victims…If 2018 brings us a better show or staging, it will stand out for a century.” – Stage and Cinema

“Grant yourself a hard ninety minutes of brilliant theater that will keep you vibrating for days to come.” – New City Stage

“The Keen Company’s mission is to create “theater that provokes identification, reflection, and emotional connection – enduring stories fearlessly told.” In order to fulfill that mission, there must be a master storyteller who knows how to create characters with conflicts (problems) that are not only engaging but connectable. The Keen Company has gloriously fulfilled their stated mission with their production of distinguished storyteller Anna Ziegler’s masterpiece Boy.”  – OnStage (David Roberts)

“A poignant and important love story for our era…Boy is one of the true joys of the new year.” – Chicago On Stage

“A strong example of theater as a call to action, conversation and empathy.” – PerformInk

“With uncommon empathy and startling insight, Boy gets to the conflict between medicine and science.” – Theatermania