DINO NUGGETS ARE GAY and THE WORLD'S CASSETTE LIBRARY To Be Presented By Out of the Box Theatrics

Out of the Box Theatrics has announced Dino Nuggets Are Gay, the final workshop in the 2025-2026 “Building the Box” series, and The World's Cassette Library, the inaugural workshop in the 2026-2027 "Building the Box" series.

OOTB is also proud to introduce “World Builders,” a new workshop and development initiative in partnership with Made Up World Productions. Both programs will operate for the 2026-2027 season from Out of the Box Theatrics' new home at 308 West 46th Street.

“Building the Box” was created in 2017 to address community needs in the changing landscape of New York theatre. Projects selected for the “Building the Box” series are given support that is tailored to the creatives involved and the current needs of the project. Each project is given workshop time and presentation opportunities to introduce the piece to relevant industry professionals.

Finishing out the 2025-2026 “Building the Box” series, in association with Ice Berg Productions, will be an industry presentation of Dino Nuggets Are Gay, a new play by Vaheed Talebian (Off-Broadway: Ichabod, Another Cousin's Wedding) and directed by Noah Eisenberg (OOTB: As Time Goes By; Adding Machine). In a vain attempt to not be Fire Island clichés, a gaggle of gays heads to the Catskills for a weekend away from New York City. Between a love square, weed-fueled philosophical debates, and too many shrooms, the group soon finds that their night bags aren't the only thing that need unpacking. The presentation will take place at 308 West 46th Street on May 14, 2026.

The cast of Dino Nuggets Are Gay features John El-Jor (Film: Mean Girls: The Musical; Off-Broadway: We Live in Cairo) as Hezha, Luke Islam (Theater Camp, “Mighty Ducks: Game Changers”) as August, Dom Martello (Broadway: Dog Day Afternoon) as Benny, Javier Munoz (OBC Hamilton, In the Heights) as Mickey, Matt Rodin (OOTB: Beau the Musical; Broadway: Company) as David, and Ianne Fields Stewart (“Dash & Lily”) as Elena.

Emilio Ramos serves as script consultant, Martavius Parrish is associate director, Blake Elliott is production stage manager, Kayleigh Laymon is assistant stage manager, and Taylor Gates is production assistant. Casting is by Charle Hano, Telsey CSA.

The 2026-2027 “Building the Box” series will lead with The World's Cassette Library, a new musical with book and lyrics by Mike Nappi (Shucked North American tour; Off-Broadway: Darling Grenadine), Sam Durant Hunter (The Box), and Max Sangerman (Broadway: Dead Outlaw, A Beautiful Noise; OOTB: Beau the Musical), and orchestrations and arrangements by Mike Nappi and Chris Gurr (OOTB: Beau the Musical; Broadway: Back to the Future). Shannon Molly Brown and Jessica Sporn will serve as co-producers. The cast will be announced at a later date.

In the wake of their brother Joey's passing, estranged siblings Krysti, Michael and Brian uncover a box of dusty cassette tapes upon which Joey recorded countless treasured memories. A journey through the past inevitably rips open old wounds and begs a difficult question: forgive or forget? The World's Cassette Library will have industry presentations on October 22 and October 23 at 308 West 46th Street.

Out of the Box Theatrics will also launch their newest developmental program, “World Builders.” “World Builders” is a new workshop and development initiative from Made Up World Productions. An incubator for theatrical projects, “World Builders” will create a breeding ground for ground-breaking new work. In collaboration with Webster University and The Rep Theatre St. Louis, “World Builders” will reshape the development pipeline and shake up the expensive and often slow world of new work development while establishing a fresh, collaborative, and cross-market creative environment. Each of the phases in the three-stage development pipeline will consist of either a workshop or a production, all leading towards eventual licensing and/or a New York City production.