Show Info

Title 

Jellyfish Baby 

Playwright 

Darrin Terpstra 

Director 

Meredith Healy 

Category 

Gallery 

Read Throughs

September 30 and October 2

There will be two read throughs prior to the first rehearsal to allow the playwright additional time to work on the script. Actors cast will be expected to attend unless a conflict is approved by the director during casting.

First Rehearsal 

October 6 

Load In/Tech /Dress 

October 21-23 

Performances 

October 24-26 

Roles to be cast 

Age (Presentation) 

Gender (Presentation) 

Description 

Jonathan 

Mid-20s to early 30s 

M 

a trans man performing detransitioning in body but not mind. 

Cecilia 

Teens 

F 

a girl who’s really a jellyfish (or a jellyfish who’s really a girl). Hyperfeminine. 

Danielle 

Mid-20s to early 30s 

F 

a butch trans woman. Jonathan’s ex-girlfriend. 

Jake 

30–40s 

M 

a detransitioned conversion therapist. Extremely earnest. 

Synopsis 

In a watery world of jellyfish, a trans man’s body is detransitioning, but his mind is being left behind. 

Notices 

We are considering actors whose gender identities align with the characters regardless of trans or cis identity. If you have any questions, please reach out to the playwright and director. 

 

Content Advisory: transphobia, conversion therapy, religious fundamentalism 

Intimacy Choreography Breakdown

Page 

Stage Directions/ Planned Action 

Character(s) 

Notes 

15 

Jonathan spreads the new clothes out on the floor, staring at them blankly. Jake enters, then picks out clothes in shades of blue. He peels Jonathan out of the janitor’s uniform, then helps him dress.   

Jonathan, Jake 

 

27 

Jonathan is putting on makeup, while Jake watches. Jonathan doesn’t know what he’s doing. He offers Jake artistic control, maybe as a challenge, maybe as a jest. Jake takes it. When he’s done, Jonathan’s face looks almost translucent, as if he is about to float away.   

Jonathan, Jake 

 

37 

He pulls and pulls, eventually drawing out ropes from Jonathan’s head that look like the arms of jellyfish. When he finishes, Jonathan slumps, boneless. Jake draws him back up, smoothing his hair and straightening his clothes.  

Jonathan, Jake 

Might also involve fight elements of fight choreography. 

49 

Jake cradles the back of Jonathan’s head and covers his nose, then dips him back in the tank. He brings Jonathan back up for breath, then immerses him two more times. For a moment, it looks like Jonathan is going to drown.   

Jonathan, Jake 

Might also involve fight elements of fight choreography. 

53, 54 

(He touches Jonathan’s heart.... He touches the nametag.) 

Jonathan, Jake 

 

63 

Jonathan examines himself with a critical eye. He strips his outer layer of clothing, like a snake shedding its skin, then re-examines his body. What he finds in some way relieves him. Danielle stands beside him.  

Jonathan, Jake 

 

63 

(He runs through the injection preparations... Jonathan makes the injection)  

Jonathan 

 

Important Dates/Holidays 

10/6-10/13 Sukkot*, 10/13 Indigenous Peoples' Day, 10/13 Columbus Day (Fed. Observed), 10/13-10/15 Sh’mini Atzeret *, 10/15 Simchat Torah* 

* Holidays marked with an asterisk (*) begin at sundown on the previous day. 

Callback List

Thank you to all who attended our first day of callbacks! We loved sharing a space with you. 

Please note: 

  • The first part of our Sunday callbacks will involve some devised movement, so please wear comfortable clothing. 

  • We are calling everyone back for the entire block (from 4-6pm) and understand that there may be conflicting callbacks. We will try to release as we go and will be in communication with Argonautika to make sure everyone is seen. 

  • You are still under consideration regardless of Sunday callbacks, so please be sure to check the final cast list which will be posted following the Casting Meeting at approximately 10:30pm Sunday, August 31. 

The callback list for Sunday’s slot is below:  

 

JONATHAN 

JAKE 

CECILIA 

DANIELLE 

Hayden Bailey 

Tyler Andrew 

Kita Bond 

Kate Carlson 

Colby Boza 

Lucas De La Rosa 

Vivian Bonde 

Roxy Glave 

Gavin Gilbert 

Carden Green 

Roxy Glave 

Anna Gordon 

Michael Glover 

Hunter Meyer 

Nicolette Mayer 

Jordan Kinney 

 

 

Pepper Williams 

Kaiya Kralik 

 

 

 

Charlotte Larsen 

 

Cast List

Jellyfish Baby Cast List 

Thanks again to all who joined us this weekend for callbacks! We feel so fortunate to have shared the room with you and are grateful for your willingness to try new things.  

 

JONATHAN – Gavin Gilbert 

JAKE – Lucas De La Rosa 

CECILIA – Vivian Bonde 

DANIELLE – Anna Gordon 

 

Please note that we will have two workshop rehearsals on September 30 and October 2 to give Darrin an opportunity to work on the script before we dive into our full rehearsal process the following week.  

Please email director Meredith Healy (meredith-healy@uiowa.edu) to accept or decline your role by Friday, September 5.

Contact

Questions or concerns?

Darrin Terpstra, Playwright & Team Leader: darrin-terpstra@uiowa.edu

Meredith Healy, Director: meredith-healy@uiowa.edu