'Ballast'
The question at the heart of Georgette Kelly's new play is simple on its face: What does it mean to love someone in a moment of seismic transition? Usually, the changes roiling such scripts are external, like a time when the priorities of a hip, brash young generation starts to supersede those of their crotchety elders. But in Kelly's play, which premiered last spring in San Diego, the big changes are personal. The narrative is about relationships between cis- and transgender partners, including a minister played by Eileen Noonan and a teenager played by Jayden Simmons. The youthful cast includes Olivia Wilusz, Marcel Michelle and Piper Quinn under the guidance of director Claire Avitabile. "Ballast" opens 20% Theatre Company's 12th season. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sept. 10. Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 S. 4th St., Mpls. $5-$25. 612-227-1188 or mixedblood.com.)
Rohan Preston
