They have become the forest
“In the woods, things of value must protect themselves.”
Written by Aly Kantor
Directed by Eric Parness
Staged Reading Presentation:
Saturday, June 13, 2026 – 3:00 PM
Tickets
General Admission - $10
Location
IATI Theater - Mainstage
64 E 4th Street
NYC, NY 10003
ADA/Wheelchair Accessible
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About
Welcome to Sy and Daphne’s campfire. You’re here tonight, among the ancient trees of Arcadia’s sacred forest, to hear a story. It’s a love story. It’s also a horror story. And it might just be your story. They Have Become the Forest is a queer myth retold as a contemporary campfire tale about courage, autonomy, and what it takes to stay alive when you walk among gods.
Language: English
Genre: Tragedy
Playwright
Aly Kantor | United States
Aly Kantor is a playwright from Long Island, New York, and a proud member of the Dramatists Guild. Her work is boldly femme-forward, often queer-affirming, and known for its subversive voice. Her plays have been produced throughout the United States and internationally, and several of her works are published through Smith & Kraus and Applause Books. Aly’s honors include two-time winner of Chameleon Theatre Circle’s New Play Contest and recipient of the Telling Stories Prize. She currently serves as a Creative Associate with EastLine Theatre.
Artistic Team
Eric Parness, Director
Proud to return for his twelfth Cimientos reading, with previous IATI credits including the full productions of Three on a Match and The Treatment. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Theatre at Westfield State University and Artistic Director of Resonance Ensemble, where he has directed works inspired by Sophocles, Shakespeare, Maxim Gorky, Anton Chekhov, Henrik Ibsen, Karel Čapek, and Samuel Beckett. New York directing credits include Going Once! Laughing Twice!!, Crazy for the Dog, Embraceable Me, Measure for Measure, North to Maine, Proud, Kryptonite City, and Blood Wedding. He holds a B.A. from Brandeis University, an M.F.A. from Brooklyn College, and is a member of Lincoln Center Theater’s Directors Lab.
Rae Cofsky
as Sy
Melina Garcia
as Daphne
Marion Rivas
Stage Directions