The piece

Nathaniel Quinn made a movie. Became a big shot. Lived the dream. Until his sobering reality no longer matched the quintessential, Hollywood rags-to-riches narrative that fans love to hear. But you can’t turn off the imagination. It finds a way, even when you’re determined not to use it.

Nathaniel retreats from the entertainment industry – and shrinks from life itself – after the overdose and death of his co-star and best friend Brian Kingsley (Blake Sheldon). He blames Hollywood-powers-that-be for the loss. Disavows the movies completely.

Now, as a matter of principle and protest, Nathaniel only directs movement pieces with no dialogue in 45-seat theaters, funded by his corporate CEO husband Peter Hearndon (Greg Ainsworth).

But will the young, optimistic cast of his new production – “Trouble of the World” – spark a comeback to the Hollywood scene Nathaniel both loves and despises? His latest theatrical outing features Jason Quinn (Laurence Fuller) as a leading man who not only inspires Nathaniel, but provokes the hermit artist to believe they are reincarnated soulmates from a previous existence. Did Jason and Nathaniel truly share a past life in an ancient monastery? Or is Jason just another Hollywood actor who sees an opportunity to take advantage of unresolved grief by capitalizing on his similarities with deceased movie star Brian Kingsley?

From beyond the grave, Brian Kingsley narrates the journey of Nathaniel Quinn to find love – and make full use of his imagination – before it’s too late.

After all, sometimes it takes a piece of (meta) theater to understand the soul of a filmmaker.