“In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot”

Playwrights Horizons is now presenting Sarah Mantell’s In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot.  A Playwrights commission that is directed by Sivan Battat and presented in association with Breaking the Binary Theatre.

Mantell’s play blends apocalyptic fiction, a quirky heist, and a queer love story, all set in a future where our country is littered with Amazon warehouses, and the oceans are swallowing up the coasts. Mantell and Battat bring us an unforgettable story about trans and queer folks making it through at the edge of survival, fueled by hope.

The scenario isn’t entirely far-fetched—climate change, rising sea levels, and the overwhelming presence of e-commerce giants give this story a chilling touch of reality. Mantell’s unique ability to inject warmth into such a dark vision is what won the play the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Though the setting mirrors a dystopian reality, the resilience of the characters gives the story life. By focusing on queer and trans characters, the play presents their struggles as universally relatable, showing they’re not just isolated voices but part of a broader story of survival and adaptation.

This portrayal feels especially significant given today’s sociopolitical climate, where LGBTQ+ rights and visibility are constant topics of debate. Mantell’s work doesn’t just entertain; it’s a celebration of queer existence, calling us to see trans and queer individuals as integral to humanity’s story—especially in the face of existential threats.

In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot isn’t just about survival; it’s a testament to the beauty of human connection, even at life’s edges. For those interested in theater that challenges and inspires, this play is one not to miss.