BWW Q&A: Laura Irene Young of WHEN JESUS DIVORCED ME At Off The Wall Productions

Off The Wall Productions presents the world premiere production of WHEN JESUS DIVORCED ME, directed by Allison M. Weakland.

WHEN JESUS DIVORCED ME will play a one-week limited engagement at Off-Broadway’s 36th Street Theatre (312 W 36th St, 4th Floor) in conjunction with #UGLY CRY.

Every divorce starts off a love story.... and here is this one. These two actors became friends during a summer in Ohio. A simple summer stock contract, after meeting online through mutual friends created a quick friendship. That friendship turned into love. They helped each other with monologues, audition packages, write shows, and travel to different cities for auditions and contracts. They eventually got married. The bride was religious and the groom was not. The groom went to an audition for a Christian Theme Park and was cast in all of their shows, including the crucifixion of Jesus. The bride was excited to see her husband slowly become religious, until...he left his bride for an actor playing Mary Magdalene. You may have heard of her.

The production features scenic design by Natalie Rose Mabry, and lighting design by Jen Leno. Shannon Knapp is the sound designer, Juliette Louste is the technical director and Erika Cuenca is the stage manager. Publicity by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR.

WHEN JESUS DIVORCED ME plays the following regular schedule through Sunday, November 12.

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What was the inspiration behind this show?

In a short sentence, my divorce. In a slightly longer sentence, I was the first one of my friends to get divorced, let alone cheated on, abandoned, and divorced, so when either people I knew or people who knew me had friends who went through the same thing, they would reach out to me for support. The story of my divorce was also outrageous enough that it was talked about in many circles as entertainment. I knew there would be a story there. In 2019, I had enough space and separation to finally write the show. Then, I produced it at the Pittsburgh fringe in a much different and smaller version. That is how it began.

The story is told with songs along the way, what was the inspiration for that?

I have always written silly songs and poems when I am processing emotions. If my emotions get to a point where I am not able to express them out loud to others, I will write songs or poems to figure it out. The songs in this show are meant to show the inner workings of my mind when normal storytelling will not do. Sometimes that is with a ukulele, sometimes a sea shanty, and sometimes a rap.

This show has been workshopped since 2019, what makes this production different from the productions previously presented?

It feels like a completely different show. I was given a year of rewrites and the show was given a fabulous director and production team. The production design feels so supportive of the play. The year that I was in rewrites, I lost two people that were very dear to me. The original show had a lens that I was looking back at past me and how silly she must have been and all the pitfalls along the way. After the loss of those two people, I started rewriting the show in the lens that the “me” of 2008-2018 was trying her best and with as much self love as possible.

Was there anything in rewrites you were sad to lose or excited to replace?

The very beginning of the show now opens with a voiceover of God talking about the ‘creation of me’ as a way for the audience to get to know me pretty quickly. It is based off of the beginning of the play my ex-husband was in when we first started dating. In the show, it is very funny, but the inspiration behind it will always make me laugh. There used to be a song called “I am sorry to the one” where I talk about all the men I dated while carrying my past with me. I knew I needed a little bit of a pick me up during that part of the show and I also felt like that song did not apply anymore. Those relationships failed because of other reasons and did not belong in the weight of this show. This song was replaced by new crowd favorite “It’s a coincidence, not a kink.”

What can audiences expect from the show?

They can expect to laugh. I think this surprises people because of the title and subject matter. I am sharing this show years from the hurt and know the funny parts around it. We can laugh and love the past versions of ourselves at the same time. I also hope that audiences will feel hugged by the end. This new rewrite is dedicated to the versions of us that may have made poor decisions because we wanted to be liked, loved, or respected. That is who this show is for and even though it is specific to me, I hope audiences walk away loving that version of themselves. 

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LAURA IRENE YOUNG (Playwright) has been a writer, director, and actor for many years. Favorite acting credits include Julie in After Miss Julie, Marian Paroo in The Music Man, and Lorraine in Bubble Boy. A lover of odd contracts, Laura Irene Young also performed as a jellyfish, in an Amish Musical, and as a zombie apocalypse survivor. Laura Irene Young has co-directed the 2022 season of Hershey Park Dark Nights and directs a local elementary school musical featuring over 125 children every year. She has written a children's book series, The Dapper Adventures, based on her dog. Dapper teaches kids how to live with anxiety and still go on adventures. Laura is currently writing a few more shows that will soon see the light of day.

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