An Ohio theater company is celebrating a major milestone this month, but not everyone is clapping.
Stage Right Theatrics is facing intense online rage and local boycotts simply for presenting plays with a conservative worldview during its upcoming 10th anniversary festival.
A Decade of Defying Cultural Narratives
The arts usually lean in one political direction, but Stage Right Theatrics has spent ten years offering a different perspective.
The company is hosting its 10th annual festival from January 30 to February 1. The event takes place at the Abbey Theatre of Dublin in Ohio. It will also be available via live stream for audiences across the nation.
Founder Robert Cooperman started this journey to give right-leaning playwrights a voice.
The festival offers a rare platform for stories that are often silenced or ignored in the mainstream arts scene.
Cooperman believes that theater should challenge everyone, not just echo popular opinions. His company operates under a simple but powerful motto that many critics seem to ignore.
“Disagreement Does Not Equal Hate.”
Despite this peaceful mission, the group faces constant friction. This milestone festival is no exception. It serves as a reminder that diversity of thought is still a struggle in the modern cultural landscape.
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Thoughtful Plays Challenging Modern Norms
The upcoming festival features four short plays that tackle hot-button issues.
These stories look at history, technology, and social dynamics through a lens you rarely see on Broadway. The lineup includes works from playwrights across the country.
- “All Packed” by Curtis Miller: A couple faces the reality of a looming pandemic. The audience watches with the benefit of hindsight, knowing exactly what the next five years will bring.
- “(Not the) Metamorphosis” by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin: This play draws inspiration from Franz Kafka. It explores identity and transformation based on a 1920s report about the first woman to get plastic surgery.
- “The One” by Stuart Brown: This story takes place in a near future where Artificial Intelligence runs the school system. Parents worry about how this tech overload is affecting their son.
- “Safe Space” by Matthew Greene: A dramatic clash between a college professor and an HR representative. They battle over ideas in a zone designed to protect people from “unwanted” thoughts.
Each play runs about 10 to 20 minutes.
They are designed to make the audience think rather than just lecture them. The directors include local talents like Veronica Heer, AJ Howell, Stacy Zuberi, and Alyssa Ryan.
Online Anger and Local Boycotts
You might think a small theater festival would fly under the radar.
However, the mere existence of a conservative theater group has triggered a wave of hostility. Social media users recently flooded local news feeds with angry comments regarding the group’s anniversary.
Critics are not just critiquing the acting; they are attacking the moral character of the group.
Some comments compared the theater group to historical villains.
“I can see it now. Taking place 1942 Germany from the PATRIOTIC soldier’s perspective: ‘Finding Anne Frank.'”
Other users mocked the group with sarcastic play titles.
“Be sure to visit the Epstein Lounge for a refreshment before the performance of Mein Kampf: The Musical.”
These comments highlight a deeper divide in the country.
Cooperman admits that this is not new behavior. For the last decade, the local theater community has largely shunned the company for its political stance.
The backlash often ignores the actual content of the plays. Instead, the anger is directed at the idea that conservative art is allowed to exist at all.
Supporting the Community Despite Attacks
Stage Right Theatrics is moving forward regardless of the noise.
The group is using this festival to give back to the local area. They have teamed up with the Dublin Food Pantry to help feed hungry citizens in the Columbus region.
Attendees can actually get a discount for being generous.
Anyone who donates to the food pantry cause receives half-price tickets. Regular tickets are priced at $20 per person for the in-person experience. Live stream passes are also $20 per device.
There are further discounts for seniors, students, veterans, and first responders.
This charity aspect contradicts the hateful comments thrown at the group online. It shows a commitment to community service that goes beyond politics.
For ten years, Stage Right Theatrics has stood its ground. They continue to prove that art can come from any side of the political aisle.
The curtain will rise on January 30, proving that the show must go on.
It is clear that true tolerance involves accepting art even when you disagree with the message. We want to hear your thoughts on this situation. Do you think theater should stay neutral, or is there room for all political views on stage? If you support free speech in the arts, share this article on X (formerly Twitter) using the hashtag #FreeTheArts and tag a friend who loves theater.
