I EAT BOYS
After a violent rupture with her boyfriend, Ellie commits an act she can’t undo—and seeks refuge in “I EAT BOYS,” a church-basement recovery group for women struggling with a literal hunger for men. In the fluorescent-lit “Recovery Womb,” she joins a circle of survivors bound by assault, betrayal, and simmering rage, following a 12-step guide called The Cookbook to keep their appetites in check.
As confession turns to confrontation, the group becomes a fragile experiment in what healing really demands. Is recovery obedience, forgiveness, solidarity—or a radical reclaiming of power? Blending horror and satire, I EAT BOYS examines female rage, trauma, and intimacy, asking whether love can truly metabolize violence—or only teach women to swallow it.
I EAT BOYS - Atelier @ TheaterLab
Kind Strangers helped develop I EAT BOYS by staging an early version of Scene 2 in their production of Rock Bottom, Bottoms Up. The excerpt introduced the church-basement support group—women sitting in folding chairs, following “The Cookbook,” and speaking about rage, harm, and restraint with a mix of humor and seriousness.
Seeing the scene on its feet clarified the tone and structure of the larger piece. The audience response helped playwright Jamie Gore Pawlik understand how the satire and emotional honesty could coexist, and what needed to be expanded. That workshop showing ultimately gave shape and momentum to the full-length play.
I EAT BOYS (Staged Reading)
Royal Family Productions
After its early development with Kind Strangers, I EAT BOYS went on to receive a full staged reading with Royal Family Productions. The complete play was presented over two nights in a 100-seat theater, both performances sold out.
The reading marked the first time the entire script was heard in front of an audience, allowing the playwright to experience the full arc of the story—its humor, tension, and thematic questions—in real time. The strong turnout and engagement affirmed the play’s momentum and supported its continued development beyond the workshop phase.