Island City Stage continues its third season with the South Florida premiere of Octopus by Steve Yockey.  A play that examines how hard should you struggle to keep afloat a relationship when it detours into dark, unfamiliar waters, and asks if love can really vanquish all “monsters”.

Octopus transports the audience into the surrealistic journey of a young gay couple who see their relationship spiraling into jealousy and betrayal after engaging in an adventurous night of group sex with a somewhat older couple, compounded by the arrival of a mysterious telegram boy and a ravenous sea monster from the ocean floor. At once sexy and surreal, Octopus is a universal love story told through a post-modern gay lens.  

Octopus was first presented by the Actors’ Express Theatre Company in Atlanta, and has been called “a wonderful piece of theatre that is meaningful and compelling” (tohtallyawesome@wordpress.com). 

Director Andy Rogow brings his Island City Stage award-winning design team together to deal with the numerous special effects required for this production: Michael McClain(scenic design), Preston Bircher(lighting design), David Hart(sound design), and Peter Lovello(costume design), along with Andy Fiacco who will design projections for this work. 

Previews begin Jan. 29 with an official press opening on Jan. 31.  The production runs through Mar. 1, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 5:00 p.m.  Performances take place at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Dr. in Fort Lauderdale.  All tickets are $30, and can be purchased at islandcitystage.org or by calling 954-519-2533. 

Los Angeles based writer Steve Yockey has had his plays produced around the world.  He is also the creator and co-executive of the Sony Pictures Television project Teeth, and is currently adapting the Tama Janowitz novel Slaves of New York into a series for Sony/Wet Dog Entertainment/Killer Films.

WARNING: this play contains adult themes and nudity.