Myself & My Niche
Hi! I’m Justy DeForest (ge, gem, ger / he, him, his). I’m a genderfluid playwright, poet and actor; choreographer and dancer; educator and lifelong learner.
As a dramatist, my niche is revisiting Ancient Greek and Celtic legends and reengineering their iconic characters and themes in light of our current understanding of science and social justice. Approaching these stories from a fresh perceptive has allowed me to use them more effectively in exploring how we may become our best selves at this pivotal point in the 21st Century.
My Characters
My plays are peopled by an array of characters representing groups needing more visibility onstage and often maligned offstage. Strong feminine, sensitive masculine, self-aware gender-variant, and spiritually diverse protagonists power the action of the plots with dignity, courage, and conviction. I believe affirming our rich tapestry of identities and experiences makes for a stronger society, not a weaker one. This vision steers my personal and artistic endeavors.
My Aesthetic
Considering my subject matter, it’s not surprising that my approach to drama is more influenced by Sophocles than Chekhov. Rather than subdued drawing room dramas whose characters leave much to innuendo, my plays are high-stake verbal sparring matches played out in the public square by larger-than-life characters. Imagine an indomitable Hecuba refusing to surrender her remaining Trojans to a disbelieving Agamemnon, or the scheming ursurper Conomor vowing to continue on his chosen course of conquest against the dictates of Dame Destiny, herself!
For actors looking for meaty roles in a bold, direct “Say what you mean” style, I make several of my scenes and monologues available on this website free of charge to individuals for use in acting classes or as audition pieces. Go to the New Monologues & Scenes with Archetypal Themes page of this website to see the list of performance pieces currently available.
My Language
Because of my commitment to respect and inclusion in language, I’m a Trailblazing English (TE) user, which accounts for some of the unfamilar words and spellings you may find on this website. Visit the Trailblazing English Overview page to learn more about the Trailblazing English Movement and the words I use to honor humin dignity on- and offstage.
My Works Performed Locally…
My plays and monologues have been performed in several venues throughout Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, including the following:
- Commodore Barry Club in Mounty Airy,
- Big Blue Marble Bookstore in Mount Airy,
- Unitarian Society of Germantown,
- The Flying Horse Center in Germantown,
- The William Way Center in the Gayborhood,
- The Philadelphia Ethical Society on Rittenhouse Square,
- Philadelphia Fringe Festival at International House in West Philadelphia,
- The Da Vinci Art Alliance in South Philadelphia,
- The King of Prussia Players in Upper Merion,
- Lansdale Public Library,
- Montgomery County Community College Central Campus in Blue Bell,
- Bucks County Community College Upper Bucks Campus in Perkasie,
- The Village Faire in Wrightstown, and
- Green Lane Scottish/Irish Festival in Perkiomen.
…and Worldwide
Since the launch of my website offering students free access to some of my scenes and monologues for use in classrooms and at auditions, I have received emails from young people who have used my performance pieces from as far away as The Philippines!
Contact Me!
If you use any of my performance pieces for your class project or audition, email me at https://stagepagan.com/contact/ and let me know where, when, and which performance piece. I’d be thrilled to hear from you!
Stage Pagan 