Dead Brains by Erik Champney. Art design: Toronto McK.

DEAD BRAINS by Erik Champney

Henry and Philly have gotten caught up in the fantasy. Artist and muse, they are idols in their own minds. Enter Corey, vulnerable and real. Now a decision must be made about his role in their game. It’s time to change the rules. Again and again and again. In Erik Champney’s psychosexual thriller, art is dangerous and nothing is sacred.

  • WinnerNational AIDS Fund/CFDA-Vogue Initiative Award for Playwriting, The Kennedy Center

  • WinnerOutstanding Overall Production, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity

  • WinnerOutstanding Playwriting, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity

  • WinnerSold Out Award, Seattle Fringe Festival

  • *Production, Baker Falls; presented by Baker Falls and Knitting Factory; dir. Erik Champney. New York, NY

  • *Rehearsed Reading, Ripley-Grier; dir. Erik Champney. New York, NY.

  • Production, The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center; dir. Adam Chisnall. New York, NY.

  • *Workshop / ReadingT. Schreiber Studio & Theatre; dir. Erik Champney. New York, NY.

  • ProductionSeattle Fringe Festival; dir. Megan E. Carter. Seattle, WA.

  • Fully Staged ReadingBay Area Playwrights Festival; dir. John Morace. San Francisco, CA.

TRAILER: Dead Brains: A Psychosexual Thriller at Baker Falls, New York; January 17 - March 3, 2024.

Dead Brains at Baker Falls, New York, NY; Presented by Baker Falls and Knitting Factory; Directed by Erik Champney; Featuring Jon Pratt, Charity Schubert, Dylan Goodwin; Production Manager: Alex Williamson; Production Designed by Erik Champney; Properties by China Perruccio and Erik Champney; Production Photographer: Bryan Cash.

  • “Champney is straight-ahead serious about the possibilities of sex and violence and art in the theater.” REVIEW: THE VILLAGE SUN

  • “This psychological thriller may prove to be the most idiosyncratic ‘love’ story in recent theatrical memory:  It’s as twisted as it is darkly entertaining.” REVIEW: LAVENDER AFTER DARK

Dead Brains at The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, New York, NY; Produced by Jim Kierstead; Directed by Adam Chisnall; Featuring Richard Wingert, Ellie Gossage, Matt Maretz; Stage Manager: Richard Sommerfield; Lighting Design by Gilbert “Lucky” Pearto; Sound Design by Erik Champney and Adam Chisnall; Properties by Erik Champney and Richard Sommerfield; Technical Direction by Mary Greene; Production Photographer: Bryan Cash.

Dead Brains at the Seattle Fringe Festival, Seattle, WA; Directed by Megan E. Carter; Featuring David Hogan, Emily Vise, Eric Stevens; Scenic and Costume Designs by Thomas Welch & Sarah Perkins; Lighting by Katherine Coffman; Sound Design by LeVette Fuller.

Dead Brains at the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, San Francisco, CA; Presented by the Kennedy Center, The National AIDS Fund, The Council of Fashion Designers of America, and the Vogue Initiative; Directed by John Morace; Featuring Brian Erlich, Stacey Jackson, Kenny Shults; With Starr Aché.