![\"Burning](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/unnamed_07b0dd34-9e1c-442e-a0e6-03e39d678c55.jpg\")
Tom Rowan\u2019s New Play About a Young Teacher and His Closeted Student Opens September 26 at A.R.T.\/New York Theatres<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Tom Rowan\u2019s New Play About a Young Teacher and His Closeted Student Opens September 26 at A.R.T.\/New York Theatres<\/p>\n
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New York, NY\u00a0(September 3, 2026) \u2013\u00a0TOSOS Theatre Company,\u00a0NYC\u2019s Historic LGBTQIA+ Theatre Company, presents the world premiere of\u00a0Burning Leaves,\u00a0a funny and profoundly affecting new play written by\u00a0Tom Rowan,\u00a0directed by\u00a0Graydon Gund.\u00a0Sixteen performances will be staged at the\u00a0Gural Theatre at A.R.T.\/New York Theatres,\u00a0502 West 53<\/a>rd\u00a0Street, New York, NY 10019 from\u00a0September 26-October 17, 2026.\u00a0Opening night is Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m.<\/p>\n
In need of a fresh start, Matt Leland, a young actor on the run from New York, takes a job teaching at a small high school in the Midwest \u2013 where he finds himself feeling unprepared for the unexpected challenges that await. His most talented student is Jesse Wade, a troubled sixteen-year-old on the verge of coming out. Isolated in the small conservative town, Jesse desperately needs a gay role model\u2014and other things Matt may or may not be able to provide.\u00a0Burning Leaves\u00a0is a humorous, compassionate play that asks serious questions about education, friendship, and love.<\/p>\n
\u201cBurning Leaves\u00a0is by turns funny and devastating. Making you laugh, tear up, and feel for these characters, as they stumble their way through shifting social and political terrain,”\u00a0says Gund. “To me, the play is about balancing a connection with another person who needs you and how that will be perceived.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gund directs a cast of six, including\u00a0Campbell Idol,\u00a0Brady Dalton Richards*, Annemarie Rosano*, Jonathan Stewart*, Sophie Tananbaum,\u00a0and\u00a0Becky Rusch*.<\/p>\n
Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $45-$70 (plus fees) and can be purchased by visiting\u00a0Zeffy.com<\/a>. Direct ticketing link:\u00a0https:\/\/www.zeffy.com\/en-US\/ticketing\/tosos-presents-burning-leaves<\/a><\/p>\n
The running time is two hours, plus one 15-minute intermission.<\/p>\n
Burning Leaves\u00a0was a part of TOSOS Theatre Company\u2019s\u00a0Doric Wilson Playwrights Project,<\/a>\u00a0a reading series that celebrates writers from throughout the LGBTQIA+ timeline, presenting works from past generations of playwrights alongside writers of today.<\/p>\n
*Appearing courtesy of Actors\u2019 Equity Association.<\/p>\n
Tom Rowan\u00a0(playwright) – Tom\u2019s most recent plays,\u00a0The Edge Motel\u00a0and\u00a0Dismantling Prospero,\u00a0were both seen in the Dream Up Festival at Theater for the New City. His other produced plays include\u00a0The Second Tosca\u00a0(45th Street Theatre\/Arvada Center),\u00a0Kiss and Cry\u00a0(FringeNYC\/ Theater 1010), David’s Play (Chain Theatre),\u00a0Faye Drummond\u00a0(Secret Theatre\/Overtime Theatre), and\u00a0The Blue Djinn\u00a0(Fresh Fruit Festival at The Wild Project). Tom\u2019s libretto for Martin Hennessy\u2019s opera\u00a0The Young King\u00a0was heard in concert at the University of Maryland. His books\u00a0A Chorus Line FAQ\u00a0and\u00a0Rent FAQ\u00a0were released by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. His work has also been published by Smith & Kraus, The New York Theatre Experience, Next Stage Press, and Steele Spring Stage Rights. Tom has worked as a literary manager, casting director, acting teacher, and bookseller, and has directed over seventy-five plays and musicals. He was a Drama League Directing Fellow, is a member of The Ensemble Studio Theatre, and holds an MFA from the University of Washington. Many thanks to Graydon and TOSOS for believing in this play.\u00a0TomRowan.net<\/a><\/p>\n
Graydon Gund\u00a0(director)\u00a0– Previously with TOSOS: readings of\u00a0Burning Leaves\u00a0and\u00a0Goldfish. Other credits include:\u00a0The Fear You Enact\u00a0(STG productions),\u00a0Crossing Wires\u00a0(Soho Lighthouse Fest),\u00a0Watch Me\u00a0(The Players Theater),\u00a0A Nantucket Christmas Carol\u00a0and\u00a0It’s a Wonderful Life\u00a0(White Heron Theatre),\u00a0Nantucket the MusACKal!\u00a0(Deep End\/ SHiP),\u00a0Misterman,\u00a0Golden Boy\u00a0(Room 15),\u00a0Transfiguration\u00a0(United Solo Award Winner), as well as work with The Tank, Sam French Fest, and Theater Breaking Through Barriers. Also an accomplished sound designer with credits with Gallery Players, EAT, Katonah Classic Stage, and Dream Up, among many others.\u00a0GraydonGund.com<\/a><\/p>\n
Other members of the production team include Supervising Producer:\u00a0Barry Childs,\u00a0Set Designer:\u00a0Evan Joseph Frank,\u00a0Lighting Designer:\u00a0David Castenada,\u00a0Co-Costume Designers:\u00a0Q Le\u00a0and\u00a0Ricky Lurie,\u00a0Sound Designer:\u00a0Morry Campbell,\u00a0Props:\u00a0Reesa Graham,\u00a0Stage Manager:\u00a0Michael Tosto, ASM:\u00a0Eve Devitt,\u00a0and Press Representative:\u00a0Paul Siebold \/ Off Off PR.<\/p>\n
TOSOS Theatre Company<\/a>\u00a0is New York City\u2019s historic LGBTQIA+ theater company. Through mainstage productions, free readings, and community events, TOSOS celebrates LGBTQIA+ voices past and present, preserving theatrical heritage while championing contemporary writers and artists. The company creates space for audiences and artists to explore the community\u2019s history, ongoing struggles, achievements, and evolving cultural life with honesty, humor, and care. Learn more at\u00a0TOSOSNYC.ORG<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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