TOMMASO CARTIA
Presents
A NEW PLAY
BY DAVID JAMES PARR
COMING SOON OFF-BROADWAY
In partnership with
SLAP&TICKLE is a darkly funny, thought-provoking theatrical experience that invites audiences on a compelling journey—from the raw intimacy of gay bathhouse and sex club culture in the U.S. to the emergence of social media—shining a spotlight on the queer community’s evolving quest for connection and the timeless human need for love and belonging.
The play is set in 2010 at THE SANCTUARY—the last surviving bathhouse in New York City - and candidly explores the experiences of queer individuals who came of age in the shadow of the AIDS crisis but before the rise of dating apps. The play offers a powerful generational reflection—an urgent and heartfelt testimony revealing a legacy of resilience, identity, and connection in a rapidly changing world.
THE STORY
SAM, an idealistic closeted twentysomething from a small town, stumbles into THE SANCTUARY in search of belonging. Within its shadowy corridors, he encounters a vibrant cast of transgenerational characters who share their stories and guide him through the unspoken rules—the slaps and the tickles—on a journey of sexual awakening and self-discovery.
THE EXPERIENCE
The production reimagines the theatre space to bring the experience of THE SANCTUARY to life. A spectacle weaving together sound, light and movement to create a fully-sensory experience. The audience becomes a witness of time and is invited to inhabit a visceral space where history breathes, bodies speak, and time bends.
A SHOW WITH A MISSION
The show is a life-affirming celebration of how significant the battles of the gay community have been in pushing the boundaries fighting for equal rights in the U.S. and passes down a testimony of resilience to our younger generation. In light of this the production partners with GMHC the world’s first HIV/AIDS service organization, offering a platform to raise awareness, help remove the heavy stigma of AIDS, and fight against discrimination and hate crimes against queer people.
Meet the Team
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David is an award-winning, NYC-based writer, playwright and director with over 20 years of experience in the theater industry. His play Eleanor Rigby Is Waiting was made into an independent film which premiered at the 2019 Manhattan Film Festival, winning Best Dramatic Independent Feature. His plays Slap&Tickle, Pluto Is Listening, and Albee Damned have been produced all across the U.S. including Chicago, Dallas, New York, Provincetown and St. Petersburg. His script Mimi at the 44th Parallel was a Top 10 Finalist at the 2019 Austin Film Festival. He is a two-time winner of the Tennessee Williams Short Fiction award and a Founder of Boundless Theater.
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Tommaso Cartia is an NYC-based Theatre/Film Producer and the Artistic Director of Boundless Theater (A Stage Without Borders) producing theatrical experiences & exclusively original shows with the mission of shining a light on the underground scene of contemporary theatre fostering an authentically independent theater movement.
Tommaso has 20 years of experience in the field of entertainment, media communications, PR and marketing. He is also a communications strategist for talents & brands, and a published author & an entertainment journalist with an extensive body of work.
Recent productions include SLAP&TICKLE (in development); Stranger Interludes (in development); Boy Meets Girl (in development); Eleanor Rigby Is Waiting - Immersive Experience; Broadway Barfly Live with Rob Driemeyer; Pluto Is Listening.