ABOUT US
Breaking the Binary Theatre is an Obie Award-winning new work development and community building hub wherein transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ (TNB2S+*) artists come together to reclaim our artistic license and liberty through a number of initiatives, including the yearly all-TNB2S+ Breaking the Binary Theatre Festival each October.
*Breaking the Binary Theatre uses the term “TNB2S+” in hopes to encompass any person who is transgender, non-binary, Two-Spirit, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, agender, intersex, gender expansive, bigender, gender fluid, or any identity within the umbrella transgender community.
TNB2S+ artists have long been misrepresented and underpaid for their work in the American theatre. Breaking the Binary Theatre works to rectify this by holistically centering TNB2S+ artists and compensating all employees and artists equitably, with all wages based upon New York’s Living Wage of $25.65 an hour.
Founded and led by George Strus (they/them), since Breaking the Binary Theatre’s launch in July 2022, the organization has paid out over $650,000 to over 500 TNB2S+ artists (as of 1.1.25).
For a breakdown of Breaking the Binary Theatre’s body of work thus far, click here:
For more information on Breaking the Binary Theatre’s existing new work development and community building initiatives, click here:
George Strus (they/them)
Founding Artistic Director
George Strus (they/them) is a trans non-binary Latiné artist living on the unceded ancestral lands of the Munsee Lenape Nation (colloquially known as New York).
In addition to their role as Founding Artistic Director of Breaking the Binary Theatre, they are also the Founding CEO of theatrical production company Benson Drive Productions, which recently produced TRISHA PAYTAS' BIG BROADWAY DREAM featuring Ben Platt, Sutton Foster, and Rachel Zegler, raising over $100,000 for Entertainment Community Fund. Projects in development include Amber Ruffin’s BIGFOOT, Stephen Sondheim’s THE FROGS (Off-West End), and additional projects to be announced.
Their commercial co-producing credits include OH, MARY!, ILLINOISE (Tony nomination), ROMEO + JULIET, HERE WE ARE, ALL IN, THE ROOMMATE and more.
They were awarded the 2024 Prince Fellowship and are a member of the 2025 Shubert Organization Artistic Circle.
Previously, they held positions at Second Stage Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Public Theater, Audible Theater, A3 Artists Agency, The Sol Project, Pride Plays at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Playbill, Stacey Mindich Productions, Alchemation, Telsey + Company Casting, Paper Mill Playhouse, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
www.georgestrus.com / @GeorgeStrus
Bryar Barborka (they/them)
Literary Manager
Bryar Barborka (they/them) is a Chicago-based nonbinary Latine theater artist. They are the Literary Associate at Seven Devils New Play Foundry and the Literary and Casting Associate at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Bryar has also worked with: Second Stage Theater, The Playwrights' Center, Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Teatro Vista, Definition Theatre, Interrobang Theatre Project, and the Ojai Playwrights Conference among others in various capacities. They are passionate about work that expands theater audiences and reaches those that have historically been left out of the American theatre.
Nora Brigid Monahan (she/her)
Development Manager
Nora Brigid Monahan (she/her) is a playwright, performer, and arts advocate. She is best known for writing the book to the solo musical DIVA: Live From Hell (music and lyrics by Alexander Sage Oyen), as well as the musical adaptation of Virginia Woolf's Orlando (music and lyrics by Cynthia Saunders), and for the plays Aunt Jack and Maximilien Robespierre Did Nothing Wrong. As a performer, Nora has originated roles by incredible queer writers such as Charles Busch, Ken Urban, and Ianne Fields Stewart. She has been a guest artist at Penn State and Stockton University and also served as an adjunct at Stockton, teaching Theatre History and Script Analysis. Nora has also worked in fundraising and administration for The Lark Theatre, Primary Stages, and the Sharon Playhouse, before joining the team at Breaking the Binary.
Breaking the Binary Theatre is powered by fiscal sponsor Producer Hub, counseled by their all-TNB2S+ Core Community, and supported by a number of Admin Allies.
Original Web Designer: Jesse Ye (they/them)
Logo Designer: Christopher "Kit" Wallace (he/they)