fire work
by The Vortex
Sep. 05 - Sep. 26
Thursdays-Sundays
A new dystopian comedy blazing with revolution. The thrills and twists of this fierce, anti-capitalist fable challenge us to step into a fantastical world complete with fireworks and “Eat the Rich” games. It explores survival, love, and the explosive cost of complacency in a system designed to consume us.
Directed by Bonnie Cullum. Production Design by Jason Amato.
Featuring Allegra Jade Fox, René Otero, Julie Moore, Aurora Villarreal, Alaithia Velez, and Blaise Ricin. Introducing Anais Summers Robbins and Maybelline Ardino.
Sound Design by Johann Solo. Costume Design by Cecelia Sanchez.
Hair and Makeup Design by Ivy Vidal. Prop Design by Sunayna Rajput. Scenic Painting by Izzy Poehlman.
Stage Managers: Jamie Carroll, Tamara L. Farley. Assistant Directors: Gabriel Maldonado, Jaimee Harmon-Taboni.
Melissa McKnight, Managing Director. Bonnie Cullum, Producing Artistic Director.
fire work is produced at The VORTEX as part of a National New Play Network Rolling Premiere. Other Partner Theaters are Unicorn Theatre (Kansas City, MO) and Theatre Alliance (Washington DC). For more information, please visit nnpn.org
About the Playwright: Mary Glen Fredrick (they/them) is a New York-based writer, actor, and video editor, hailing mostly from Kansas City. A writer for both theatre and film, they create kinetic, femme-centric stories that dance with the absurd, the imaginative, and the dystopian. Their plays include fire work (NNPN Rolling World Premiere & National Showcase of New Plays, O’Neill finalist), These Violent Delights (Hothouse @ Theater Alliance), ANARCHY (New Perspectives WWSP Lab), and Edit Annie (Neukom Literary Arts Award finalist, The Leah finalist, O’Neill semifinalist), the latter earning eleven B. Iden Payne nominations for its 2022 production at The VORTEX, and appearing on multiple “Best Theatre of 2023” lists in San Francisco, CA. Mary Glen’s work has been produced by Theater Alliance, Crowded Fire Theater, The VORTEX, The Unicorn Theatre, and New Perspectives Theatre. They are a Tribeca x Chanel Through Her Lens fellow, and a recipient of Venturous Theater Fund’s Production Grant and National New Play Network’s Collaboration Fund. MG has developed work through Working Barn Productions’ Feature Film Incubator, Fresh Ground Pepper’s PlayGround PlayGroup, Letter of Marque’s Ensemble Playwright Lab, and the Eastern Frontier Residency. They hold a BA in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity from Stanford University and an MFA in Acting from UC San Diego. heymaryglen.com
fire work is funded and supported in part by VORTEX Repertory Company, The Texas Commission on the Arts, The Shubert Foundation, and the City of Austin Economic Development Department. We are proud Core Members of the National New Play Network, Six Square-Austin’s Black Cultural District, ATX Theatre, and the Network of Ensemble Theatres.
fire work is produced at The VORTEX as part of a National New Play Network Rolling Premiere. Other Partner Theaters are Unicorn Theatre (Kansas City, MO) and Theatre Alliance (Washington DC). For more information, please visit nnpn.org
fire work
by Mary Glen Frederick
The Vortex
September 05 - September 26, 2026
September 5-26, 2026
Thurs-Sat 8 pm Sun 6 pm
The Eloise Brooks Cullum Stage @The VORTEX
2307 Manor Rd. Austin, TX 78722
Tickets: $39/$29/$15 General Admission
LIMITED SEATING
$39 Benefactor
$29 Enthusiast
$15 Discount/Child/Artist/Student/Senior
$9.99 Live Stream
www.vortexrep.org or 512-478-5282
Advance Reservations Recommended. Limited seating.
Blue Star Theatre: Discounts for Military, Veterans, and their families.
Radical Rush Free Tickets: Limited free tickets for each performance in the spirit of sustainability, accessibility, and the gift economy. Radical Rush tickets released one hour in advance-in-person only.
“Industry night” Wednesday, September 23, 2026 8 pm
2-for-1 on Wednesday with donation of 2 cans of food for SAFE
ASL-interpreted Saturday, September 12- 8 pm
Live-Streamed - September 17 8 pm CT
Six Square-Austin’s Black Cultural District.
Bus route. Bike Racks. Limited Free Parking.
The Butterfly Bar@The VORTEX opens at 5 pm: hand-crafted cocktails, mocktails, wine, and beer.
Patrizi’s@The VORTEX opens at 5 pm: delicious homemade Italian food.
