Playwright Gabe Rivas Gomez (Level Up!): "I Should Not Let My Words Get In The Way Of The Play"

DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley · Apr 16, 2026 · 1h 4m

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Gabe Rivas Gomez, the writer of the visually stunning and very moving new play Level Up! which is about a trans tween named Desi whose quest to be who she really is takes her into a spectacular and dangerous video game world. Gabe talks about where the original inspiration came from, finding the trans actress to play Desi, Mathias Brinda, several workshop productions ago and watching her grow up before his eyes and the technical challenges of trying to depict a video game on stage. He also talks about producing this show at a time when trans youth are under attack…