By Fran Folic
Meet Henry Sullivan – 27, gay, Autistic, and completely enchanted by the sweeping romance of 19th-century British novels. He’s read Wuthering Heights 67 times; dreamed every scene… but nothing in those pages prepared him for the complexities of modern dating. Join Henry on his journey through love, heartbreak, identity, and acceptance – navigating a world that doesn’t always understand him and learning to write his own kind of love story – in Island City Stage’s Florida premiere of Light Switch by Dave Osmundsen.
“A couple of years ago, Richard Milstein, a patron of ours, emailed me to say he had seen this terrific play in Chicago and he thought it would be perfect for Island City Stage, ” said Andy Rogow, artistic director of Island City Stage. “He told Dave Osmundsen, the playwright, to get in touch with me, which he did. That play was Light Switch and as soon as I read it, I agreed that we had to produce it. The exploration of a young, autistic gay man’s quest to find love in a world that isn’t as romantic as the Victorian-era novels he is obsessed with is so heartfelt and engaging. I’m always looking for new and original stories that highlight the vast diversity of our LGBTQ+ community and this play fits the bill perfectly.”
This poignant coming-of-age story thoughtfully portrays one remarkable young man’s journey to find anything — or anyone — that lights up his heart the way 19th century romantic literature does. When Henry ultimately meets a potential match in Joseph, he wonders if Joseph will be the one to “flip the switch.” Funny, moving, and profoundly relatable, Light Switch captures the power of imagination, the longing for connection, and the courage it takes to be truly seen.
Autistic playwright Dave Osmundsen’s work explores the intersections of queerness and neurodiversity. His play, Light Switch, premiered in April 2022 and received several accolades, including the 2021 Distinguished Achievement recipient of the Jean Kennedy Smith Playwriting Award and the inaugural Future of Playwriting Prize. Osmundsen’s work has been developed at venues like the Kennedy Center/NNPN MFA Playwrights Workshop, B Street Theatre, and Premiere Stages. He earned his MFA from Arizona State University and has published works with Broadway Play Publishing.
