Somewhere in New York City tonight, two strangers are arguing about time and dignity on a ferry – and somehow, that’s because of me.
The Last Shine officially opens at The Secret Theatre as part of the Queens Short Play Festival, and I’m still processing the surreal math of it all: a script born in Florida, polished at Stage West, and now walking confidently into the lights of New York City (probably wearing better shoes than I own).
Massive gratitude to Santiago Pinkney, my brilliant friend and director, who somehow made my words sound like they were written on purpose. To the phenomenal cast – Jeremy Kareken, whose performance as Sal is pure, weathered poetry, and Thor Cloninger, who brings equal parts chaos and heart.
To my wife, Stephanie, and my amazing kids – thank you for letting me disappear into fictional worlds and somehow still loving me when I reemerge quoting my own dialogue.
And to my Stage West Playwriting Group, thank you for turning Saturday mornings into sacred chaos. Every note, every debate, every “what if he just… doesn’t say that?” moment helped this play find its rhythm.
I wrote The Last Shine about slowing down long enough to remember who you are. Tonight, I’ll be doing the opposite – pacing, overanalyzing, and pretending to look casual while one of my plays debuts in New York City.
Break a leg, everyone. And if you see Sal on the ferry… tell him he made it.
Brian Brijbag 