TRUNK at Bughouse Theater

TRUNK is a one-man, interactive production that delves into the mind of a young artist reckoning with his approaching death. Written and performed by Riley Samuel Merritt, the play draws from over a decade of his personal writings—poetry, prose, and eight original songs—to examine the fragile intersections of identity, ambition, and connection.

Inspired by the 15th-century morality play Everyman, TRUNK reimagines the age-old confrontation with mortality through the lens of a flawed, modern creative. While the narrative is not autobiographical, Merritt uses his own life as a vessel to explore the universal story of what it means to live truthfully—and die honestly—as an artist. 

Audience participation is central to the show, making each performance a shared act of reflection and storytelling. Viewers are invited to contribute their voices, reinforcing TRUNK’s core themes of community and collective memory. 

Ultimately, TRUNK is both a personal unpacking and a public offering—a meditation on legacy, vulnerability, and the moral responsibility of the modern artist in a world that often forgets to listen.