Irish Classical Theatre Company (ICTC) proudly presents the North American premiere of DORIAN, a bold and provocative adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Phoebe Eclair-Powell and Owen Horsley. In this production, Victorian London collides with the underground ballrooms of 1970s New York—a world where beauty is currency, youth is power, and the spotlight never fades.
Originally staged by Reading Rep Theatre in the UK on October 13, 2021, DORIAN makes its U.S. debut in Buffalo, reinforcing ICTC’s commitment to fresh, thought-provoking adaptations of literary classics.
“This version exposes the queer undertones of the novel and pays homage to the experience of men during the Victorian era who were subject to a law that kept their truth hidden,” shared playwrights Eclair-Powell and Horsley, adding,
It is a tapestry of a play that asks the audience to immerse themselves in an ever-changing queer narrative and to reassess that which we think we know. But most importantly, we wanted to imbue the text with pride, hope, love, and, ultimately, queer joy. We hope that this time, we have been able to do just that. We hope Oscar likes it.
DORIAN intertwines two gripping narratives—the rise and fall of the hedonistic Dorian Gray and the real-life persecution of Oscar Wilde.
Wilde (1854–1900), the renowned Irish playwright, poet, and novelist, was known for his wit and works such as The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband. His relationships with men led to a highly publicized trial for “gross indecency” in 1895, resulting in a two-year prison sentence that ultimately destroyed his reputation and health. The Reading Rep Theatre Company is less than a mile from the former Reading Gaol (also known as HM Prison Reading), where Oscar Wilde was imprisoned.
His novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, follows a man who remains eternally youthful while a hidden painting reflects his moral corruption, leading to his downfall.
The production is set in a pulsating underground club inspired by the ballroom scene of the 1970s. It explores excess, obsession, and moral decay, as Dorian’s relentless pursuit of youth leads to ruin while Wilde’s downfall exposes society’s harsh judgment.
WATCH: this series of exclusive interviews with Artistic Director Keelie Sheridan, Director Mason Beggs, Actors Brian Brown and Kristopher Bartolomeo, and Dramaturg Juno Hunter. Take a look inside the bold new vision behind Irish Classical Theatre’s latest production—a radical reimagining of Wilde’s iconic tale through a contemporary queer lens.
“The underground ballroom scene of the 1970s saw artistic expression as a means of survival. Performance was not just self-expression—it was self-preservation,” explains director Mason Beggs.
“To walk a category was to construct an identity so precise, so flawless, that it defied the constraints imposed by society. Beauty became power, and illusion became armor. Nearly a century before, Wilde explored the same clash between aestheticism and reality. In DORIAN, we witness how these two eras of queer survival intersect. We see hedonistic gods stripped of their shields, layers of opulence—once forged as armor against society’s rejection—destroyed. What remains is the shattered, vulnerable warrior beneath, forced to confront their own feelings of inadequacy and emptiness.”
Intimacy, in all forms, is at the heart of the play. Beyond enhancing the narrative, intimacy direction ensures a safe and supportive creative environment. “There are inherent power structures in the entertainment industry and a culture of scarcity for performers that set up the potential for abuse, particularly around the sensitive areas of scenes of intimacy onstage or on film,” Dr. Jessica Hillman-McCord, the production’s intimacy director, explains. “The #MeToo movement brought many examples of those abuses to light. The Intimacy Direction field puts structures in place to support the process and creates a ‘brave space’ where actors and the creative team can tell the stories the play asks of them while respecting the boundaries of all involved.”
In a production like DORIAN, where seduction, power, and repression are central themes, intimacy direction is not just about choreography—it’s about trust, respect, and creating an environment where storytelling can thrive. “The intimacy in DORIAN is integral to the storytelling,” continued Dr. Hillman-McCord. “It happens in key moments and helps define the complicated power dynamics in these relationships. It ranges in style and tone from slapstick to intense and helps create the overlapping worlds of this play.”
Beggs believes DORIAN is more than a historical reflection; it is a vital statement for today’s world.
As we watch our government once again debate the very existence of the queer community, we realize we are not witnessing echoes of the past, but voices of the present. And we remember—it is not the artifice they truly seek to destroy, but the very essence of who we are, hoping to strip that away in the process. Somehow, amidst it all, we find ourselves navigating a comedy—because what else is there to do but laugh, love, fight… and pose?”
For ICTC Artistic Director Keelie A. Sheridan, DORIAN is more than a play—it’s a statement. This play is not just for fans of Oscar Wilde or The Picture of Dorian Gray—it’s a love letter to anyone who’s ever needed to hide themselves to be safe, a history refresher on the cyclical nature of injustice, and a celebration of the immeasurable contributions the queer community has made to theatre, art, and culture.”
DORIAN will run for three weeks: Friday, March 28, through Sunday, April 13, 2025. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sunday Matinees.
Tickets are $45 and can be purchased online at www.irishclassical.com, by phone at 716-853-4282, or in person at the ICTC Box Office.
DORIAN By Phoebe Eclair-Powell and Owen Horsley
March 28 – April 13, 2025
A North American Premiere Production.
Adapted from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
Opening Night with Reception: Friday, March 28, 2025, at 7:30 pm. Pay-What-You-Will Performances: Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 2:00 pm Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 7:30 pm Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 7:30 pm Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 7:30 pm (Purchase in-person at the Box Office on the day of the performance. Seating subject to availability.)
Speaker Series: Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 1:30 pm. Featuring Dramaturg Juno Hunter, offering a compelling exploration of Oscar Wilde’s life and legacy, and the enduring significance of The Picture of Dorian Gray in today’s social climate.
Talk Back Thursdays: Engage with the Creators! After every Thursday performance, stay for a free Talk Back where members of the creative team discuss their roles and answer your questions about their creative journey. Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 10:00 am | Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 7:30 pm | Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 7:30 pm Open Captioned Performance: Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Cast | Kristopher Bartolomeo, Brian Brown, Dave Spychalski
ICTC Creative Team | Director & Sound Designer Mason Beggs; Production Stage Manager Leyla Gentil-Rosado; Assistant Stage Manager Shannell Dixon; Wardrobe Supervisor & 2nd ASM Araia Heathcott; Scenic, Costume, Hair & Make-up Designer Collin Ranney; Props Designer E.L. Hohn; Lighting Designer
Lowden Flower; Fight Director Danielle Rosvally; Intimacy Director Jessica Hillman-McCord; Choreographer Willa DeWhisp; Dialect & Speech Coach Megan Callahan; Dramaturg Juno Hunter; Associate Choreographer Kristopher Bartolomeo; Assistant Sound Designer Joyce Melody; Assistant Scenic Designer Donnie Woodard; Scenic Carpenter Gabriel Gutierrez; Scenic Artist Anna Krempholtz; Publicity & Archival Photographer & Videographer Sarah Potter; Promo Photographer Eric Tronolone