The Specimen - A Horror Play at Potrero Stage

The Specimen - A Horror Play follows Johnny, a gay paleo zoologist who loses his job amid Trump-era science budget cuts. Outraged and unmoored, Johnny refuses to abandon his life’s work, continuing his research through increasingly dangerous—and darkly comedic—methods inside his apartment bathroom. Blending horror, satire, and political rage, The Specimen explores queer identity, institutional abandonment, and the costs of pursuing truth in a world that no longer funds it. Content Warning: This production includes bloody imagery and nudity. The production is written and performed by Schaeffer Nelson, whom The Los Angeles Times calls, "an intriguing new voice…who should be heard." Directed by Bella Campos Hintzman. Stage managed by Jasmine Lew.