Show Me
The Gates
of Heaven

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thrown Stone Awards 2025 ‘Persuasion’ Commission to Ramon Esquivel

South Norwalk, CT – March 3, 2025 — Thrown Stone has awarded its 2025 commission to Ramon Esquivel for his proposed play, Show Me the Gates of Heaven. Selected from 150 submissions, this is Thrown Stone’s second full-length commission, following the 2023 world premiere of Seven Cousins for a Horse by Tammy Ryan — an examination of the life and work of Connecticut portraitist Ammi Phillips, now known as the most prolific folk artist in American history.

Show Me the Gates of Heaven

Perched atop a remote observatory, a scientist is held hostage by an intruder, who is convinced the telescope can reveal a fundamental truth that has been withheld from the public. This gripping showdown of reason versus belief asks: Can we find common ground before it’s too late? Or are some chasms too vast to cross?

“With this new play commission, Thrown Stone has invited me to tell a story about two characters struggling to understand each other despite their opposing beliefs about truth, love, and even the right to exist,” says Esquivel. “One is driven by curiosity, one is motivated by certainty, and each has built comfortable silos for themselves among others who think and believe as they do. Is it even possible for such chasms of difference to be bridged? Right now, at the beginning, I don’t know. But I hope they can find common ground by looking to the heavens, thousands of light years away, in the ominously named Omega Nebula.”

About The Playwright

Ramon Esquivel

Ramón Esquivel is a playwright, director, dramaturg, and educator. His plays have been produced in theatres, universities, and schools across North America. The Thrown Stone new play commission will continue his storytelling about humans engaging with science, spirituality, and the environment. Other works of this ilk include Watching for Sasquatch: An Environmental Play of Plays, commissioned by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; ¡O Cascadia!, featured at the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference; and The Dress… Read more

Selection and Artistic Statement

“Ramon’s proposal stood out for its tension, theatricality, and the complexity of its central question,” said Jonathan Winn, Thrown Stone’s Co-Artistic Director. “It takes persuasion beyond rhetoric and into the realm of survival — showing what happens when two people with completely different worldviews have no choice but to engage.”

Jason Peck, Thrown Stone’s Co-Artistic Director, added: “This concept has all the ingredients for a gripping, intimate play — high stakes, a clear dramatic question, and a setting that amplifies the clash of ideas. We’re eager to see where Ramon takes it.”

Finalists

From 150 submissions, a select group of playwrights emerged as finalists. Their work stood out in a highly competitive field, and Thrown Stone is pleased to recognize them as part of this process.

Acknowledgements

With support from the Burry Fredrik Foundation.

Burry Fredrik Foundation

ABOUT THE BURRY FREDRIK FOUNDATION

The Burry Fredrik Foundation’s overall mission is to champion the growth and the continuing health of Connecticut’s non-profit professional producing theaters. The Foundation supports Connecticut theaters and associated artists with a proven track record of accomplishments. An emphasis is placed on supporting theaters working with playwrights and composers who are actively developing and producing new works. In addition, through its Burry Fredrik Design Fellowship, the Foundation supports Connecticut college or university training of new design talent for the theater.

With the support of the Department of Economic and Community Development Office of the Arts.

Department of Economic and Community Development Office of the Arts

About the Connecticut Office of the Arts

The Office of the Arts is the state agency charged with fostering the health of Connecticut’s creative economy. Part of the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development, the Office of the Arts is funded by the State of Connecticut as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.

ABOUT THROWN STONE THEATRE COMPANY

 Thrown Stone’s mission is to make new theatre. Through commissions, development, and production, we empower artists and audiences to engage on the important questions of our time.

CONTACT:

Jonathan Winn
info@thrownstone.org
Phone: (203) 442-1714

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