Ian Thal

@ianthal.bsky.social

337 Followers 460 Following

Playwright and theater critic based in Washington, DC.

Locomotive Telephony with Dancer and Editor by Ian Thal A spontaneous telephone call from his dancer friend, N.B., inspires Jonah, a poet, to compose a new poem. The editor of a poetry journal wants to rewrite the poem. N.B. and Jonah, nonetheless, dance. RECOMMENDED BY Donald Loftus:“An inventive and intellectually playful work, Locomotive Telephony with Dancer and Editor deftly fuses poetry, movement, and meta-theatrical humor. Ian Thal crafts a witty exploration of artistic process, language, and collaboration, where dialogue and physical expression intertwine with striking originality. The piece’s layered structure and self-awareness culminate in a thoughtful, engaging meditation on creation, interpretation, and connection." 4/17/2026
Dan West recommended Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, Meets The Crowd by Ian Thal: “When off-beat substitute teacher Mr. Kultura first steps in front of today’s assigned charges, it seems like we are being setup for a blood in the water moment with the classroom eating him alive. But instead what we get is Thal and Kultura turning the tables on all of us for a hilarious indictment of corporate crowdsourcing as a component of late stage capitalism. If all lessons on economics were this engaging, we might all have a better understanding of why things are the way they are in the world we live in.”
Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, Meets The Crowd by Ian Thal Mister Kultura is filling in for the regular social studies teacher. The students refuse to provide their real names, identifying themselves only by such monikers as "King of My Pants" and "Unique Superstar" while a previously scheduled guest speaker named Jackie gives a presentation on the awesomeness of the crowdsourced economy. RECOMMENDED BY Nora Louise Syran: “Ian Thal is a thinker. He's also very funny. So when he brings in Mister Kultura --"I like this guy"-- and passes around a do-it-yourself- attendance sheet, I knew immediately I was in for a ride and you will be too. And, most importantly, you'll be "happy, because subjects of King of His Pants are patriots who just want to have fun"! Right?!🤣” 12/10/2025
Recently Recommended: James Perry recommended Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, Meets The Crowd by lan Thal: "This satirical play is clever, sharp, and unapologetically pointed. An engaging piece that knows exactly what it wants to say and has a hell of a time saying it. It's smart, funny, and absolutely worth sharing with an audience."
Making Out With Katy and Jonah (The Orgone Oscillation Overthruster Play) by Ian Thal Two artists go home together after a poetry reading. Things get weird, then they get weirder. RECOMMENDED BY Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend: “I read this one for the title, and it was as wonderfully ridiculous as I hoped it would be! I was on board from the character descriptions. There are so many wonderful opportunities for physical comedy in here. A trio of comedic actors would have an absolute field day with this short. So delightfully bonkers!” 11/15/2025
Locomotive Telephony with Dancer and Editor by Ian Thal A spontaneous telephone call from his dancer friend, N.B., inspires Jonah, a poet, to compose a new poem. The editor of a poetry journal wants to rewrite the poem. N.B. and Jonah, nonetheless, dance. RECOMMENDED BY J.Lois Diamond: “ I absolutely adore this witty spirited play. It's full of physical and verbal gymnastics. The rhythmic language sings with the magic of poetry and I can totally picture the spontaneous choreography happening while on an Amtrak train. I would love to see this produced. ” 9/5/2025
Banned from the Great Unknown by Ian Thal December 2003, Cambridge, Massachusetts, months after Amiri Baraka has been removed from the post of New Jersey Poet Laureate: A discussion between two performance poets about a possible upcoming gig becomes adversarial as the subject turns to terrorist networks, conspiracy theories, political appointments, and artistic gatekeeping. RECOMMENDED BY Danielle Wirsansky: “ Banned from the Great Unknown is a sharp, timely exploration of political divides and the complexities of artistic expression. The tension between the two poets, layered with personal history and global issues, makes for a thought-provoking piece on how beliefs can fracture even the closest bonds. ” 6/8/2025
Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, and the Matriarchy of the Ants by Ian Thal With the assistance a Newspeak interpreter named Dix, Mister Kultura finds himself in a biology class presenting “The Matriarchy of the Ants,” a nature documentary. What follows is a lesson in evolutionary arms races, selfish genes, xenophobia, the threat that repressive regimes pose to scientific inquiry, a brief history of constructed languages, and puppet hijinks. Comrade Guest Eder Kultura and MotherGov of Antland Comrade Guest Eder Kultura from Ungoodland come to lifesci class and show Oldspeak TrueDocFilm. Newspeak Comrade TrueSpeaker Dix speak goodthinks. TrueDocFilm ref MotherGov of Antland and is ungoodthink. TrueDocFilm is untrue, maked by crimethinkers. Uncomrade Kultura is unperson. You unhear him. You unsee him. This warn you.You unread this. Download is infocrime. Stageact this is artcrime. This warn you. RECOMMENDED BY Kerr Lockhart: “ Ian Thal is a verbal stylist, and he has let it all go with a fantasia on Orwell's Newspeak Gone Wild, which like many dialects, seems strange at first but gradually becomes easy to understand. The heart of the piece is the pitched battle between scientific inquiry and the almost inevitable desire of governments to to control thought -- words being one of the most efficient tools. (How can you think about things for which there are no words?) There are laughs, but the story is not really funny. ”
Sarah Siegel recommended Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, Meets The Crowd by Ian Thal “This play is the proof that being a Philosophy major is excellent training for playwriting. It got me curious to read a version of the play, where Ian Thal demonstrates through self-absorbed adolescents, a Communist bureaucrat, and a Capitalist substitute teacher why Communism isn't fair either.”
Sarah Siegel recommended Two Cats Explain the Monstrous Moth Group by Ian Thal “ I appreciated a window into the mind of a human genius -- genius because the human was wise enough to pay attention to brilliant cats, including one, who was (spoiler alert) determined to transform the other into the reformed Eliza Doolittle of cats. Weird and charming! ”
John Patrick Bray recommended Making Out With Katy and Jonah (The Orgone Oscillation Overthruster Play) by lan Thal " The characters pop off the page in this wonderful and at times satiric (of later generation Bohemians who feel they have discovered drugs and Marxism) yet sincere play by lan Thal. The poetry infused madness of the evening feels honest, raw, and for poor Jonah, deeply confusing. The last line is simultaneously heartbreaking and funny, which speaks to Thal's mastery of his craft. would love to see this play produced!"
Making Out With Katy and Jonah (The Orgone Oscillation Overthruster Play) by Ian Thal Two artists go home together after a poetry reading. Things get weird, then they get weirder. RECOMMENDED BY Iyna Caruso: “The title alone is irresistible. The two main characters may both be artists, but Ian Thal does a fine job distinguishing them as fully realized individuals and not reducing them to a single stereotype. Good-guy Jonah is an especially memorable and complex character, guided by a moral compass, who finds himself in situations that test his patience and his limits. Smart and tightly written.”
Two Cats Explain the Monstrous Moth Group by Ian Thal Inspired by a television commercial, two cats attempt to explain the monster group and supersymmetry to their incredulous human. The human, however, may be more attuned to the finer points of psychology than the cats suspect. When a wayward bat flies through the window, scampering and compulsive grooming ensue. RECOMMENDED BY James Perry: “In this play, Ian Thal blends whimsical absurdity with existential musings, presenting a philosophical exploration from the perspective of two cats and their human. The cats, Omi and Parvati, are richly developed characters whose contrasting personalities drive the play’s action and humor. This piece is sure to resonate with both casual theatergoers and those who seek intellectual engagement.”
Arlecchino Am Ravenous by Ian Thal In this tale of slapstick blasphemy and auto-cannibalism, Arlecchino, late of Bergamo, is so driven mad by hunger that he storms both Heaven and Hell in search of a meal. In his journeys Arlecchino gains no spiritual enlightenment. Originally performed by the author, it has since been presented and performed by others. RECOMMENDED BY Treyton Blackburn: “Arlecchino Am Ravenous is dark Commedia for the modern age. Delightfully cynical and irreverent, Thal's bombastic short play suggests that our spiritual hunger may be insatiable no matter what virtues or vices we consume. Who better to discern whether there is anything filling to eat in heaven or hell than Arlecchino?”
Banned from the Great Unknown by Ian Thal: December 2003, Cambridge, Massachusetts: A discussion between two performance poets about a possible upcoming gig turns adversarial as the subject turns to terrorist networks, conspiracy theories, political appointments, and artistic gatekeeping. RECOMMENDED BY Dan West: “Although set 20+ years ago, this short piece deftly examines a heavily debated topic causing existential angst amongst today's political left. At what point does anti-Zionist expression cross the line into antisemitism, and how do you even address it within a coalition where deviation from the majority standard can lead to banishment from said coalition?”
The Second Annual Administration Building Takeover And Slumber Party by Ian Thal With her daughter now attending her alma mater, Meegz is struck with nostalgia and reconnects with old friends as she assembles an oral history of the times they seized control of the campus administration building to protest proposed budget cuts and tuition hikes. The story is told in achronological order, alternating between episodes from the occupation and conversations held decades later. RECOMMENDED BY Dan West:“ This wonderful Neo-Brechtian play bounces between "nineteen-nineteen-something-something" and today as it examines college protests done as activity rather than action. In a time where there is no war to stop and no revolution to commence, what is a protest minded activist to do? These four ceaselessly entertaining characters reflect on this twenty some years on in a play that shows how the protest of politics can often take a second seat to the politics of protest. A fantastic piece. ”
Banned from the Great Unknownby Ian Thal RECOMMENDED BYJ.Lois Diamond:“ This play deals with the very real presence of Anti-semitism in our society, which comes from both the right and left and even from those who should definitely know better. Sadly, it is more timely than ever. I've known people like these 2 characters and would love to see it produced. ”
George Sapio recommended Banned from the Great Unknown by Ian Thal “ The complexities of global politics always daunting. Who to believe? Two friends--colleagues, artists respectful of each others' work (who both genuinely connect on the death of one's beloved cat)--clash on an Amiri Baraka poem and discover there's a wide gap between their opinions and their choice of sources. Deftly woven, this play demonstrates the ease with which we can be polarized when we should be desperately seeking ways to come together. ”
George Sapio recommended Banned from the Great Unknown by Ian Thal: “ The complexities of global politics always daunting. Who to believe? Two friends--colleagues, artists respectful of each others' work (who both genuinely connect on the death of one's beloved cat)--clash on an Amiri Baraka poem and discover there's a wide gap between their opinions and their choice of sources. Deftly woven, this play demonstrates the ease with which we can be polarized when we should be desperately seeking ways to come together. ”
Making Out With Katy and Jonah (The Orgone Oscillation Overthruster Play) by Ian Thal Two artists go home together after a poetry reading. Things get weird, then they get weirder. RECOMMENDED BY Brent Alles: “Drawn in by the two main characters immediately, and then the use of poetry just advanced my enjoyment so much more. Then Chris arrives, and the electricity brought to the scene makes one snap to attention. I loved the use of language throughout this work and enjoyed my time being able to revel in the world and the sounds of the Orgone Oscillation Overthruster as suggested by Thal. A weirdly memorable and enjoyable 10-minute! Always enjoy a rom com from an askew angle.”
The Conversos of Venice by Ian Thal RECOMMENDED BY Donna Latham “ A rich, poetic, theatrical sequel and response to Shakespeare's "Merchant" and its troublesome anti-Semitism and character dynamics. World-building is remarkable, and I especially love the the commedia elements. I recently had the pleasure of being in the audience for a reading of this piece, and it was an absolute delight to experience actors sinking their choppers into juicy roles. Bravo, Ian Thal! ”
Two Cats Explain the Monstrous Moth Group by Ian Thal Inspired by a television commercial, two cats attempt to explain the monster group and supersymmetry to their incredulous human. The human, however, may be more attuned to the finer points of psychology than the cats suspect. When a wayward bat flies through the window, scampering and compulsive grooming ensue. RECOMMENDED BY Arianna Rose: “ You had me at "Two Cats"! A hysterical play that is so visceral - I could see it staged as I was reading it. The humor and theatricality are off the charts. I particularly loved the differences between Parvati and Omi. Playwright Ian Thal has crafted a play that will delight and keep you thinking long after the last meow. ”
Visual elements: Map of Venice by Gio Domenico Rossi, 17th century. Sketch by Vittore Carpaccio that looks suspiciously like Ian Thal, circa late 15th - early 16th centuries.
The Conversos of Venice by Ian Thal RECOMMENDED BY Tony Tambasco:14 Jun. 2024 “ A touching and thoughtful dramatic reply to The Merchant of Venice that would make an excellent companion piece to that play. Conversos blurs the line between history and fiction, and written in light of changing historical and scholarly perspectives on Shakespeare's characters, flips the script into a satisfying sequel. The cherry on top is Thal's inclusion of commedia and folk song as essential plot elements. ”
The Conversos of Venice by Ian Thal RECOMMENDED BY Nora Louise Syran: “Thal's play immerses us in the multicultural frenzy and bustling commerce of 17th century Venice -- complete, unlike its "prequel" THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, with its canals! While drawing from Commedia dell'arte's situational comedy, the tale is steeped in tragicomedy as running beneath it all is the ever present lurid antisemitism of Shakespeare's play and the treatment of the character Shylock. Thal "fleshes" out this character, humanizes him and adds moments of levity including my favorite line: "The Inglés wish not to become Escocés. I have seen their plays and they would rather be Italianos." Quite a trip!”
Two Cats Explain the Monstrous Moth Group by Ian Thal RECOMMENDED BY Nora Louise Syran: 8 Dec. 2023 “This is an inventive fusion of humor, intelligence, and the endearing quirkiness of felines. Within the whimsical realm of cats and their humans, Thal seamlessly incorporates elements of mathematics, physics, and absurdity, crafting an engaging narrative. Great fun--for cat lovers, especially!”
The Tenth Voyage of Capitano Giangurgolo Coccodrillo Fanfarone Matamoros Spavento by Ian Thal RECOMMENDED BY Ricardo Soltero-Brown: 8 Dec. 2023 “One need not be familiar with the work of Mel Gordon to enjoy this commedia dell'arte, yet scholars and general audiences alike will relish in this lazzi spettacolare with the same stupefying awe as one does when discovering the works of Dario Fo, Antonio Fava, even Jacques Lecoq. Francesco Andreini and Flavio Scala may be lost to the ages, but Ian Thal has resurrected Il Capitano to resplendent heights in this marvel of theatre that decides to leap bounds over Plautus and Terence with Spavento's braggadocio, incorporating characters as gargantuan and mythical as his narrative, highly suspect, tales of bravado.”