Will Roland and Brian Fitzgerald in the NYC Off B’way production of The Bus
“One of 5 stage moments to catch this Fall.”
OUT Magazine
Praise for “The Bus”:
“The Bus is theater magic! It’s beautiful in every way theater should be. The best show I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
Weston Clay, Theater is Easy, NYC
Read the full review here.
“The Bus packs a wallop … by the end of this production, some in the audience were teary-eyed and most were touched because this little play is not really so little at all.”
Elizabeth Ahlfors, Curtain UP!, NYC
Read the full review here.
“Lantz’s script is searing at points and plays on words such as ‘trespass’ and ‘transgression’ are deeply thought-provoking ... The Bus is a thoughtful exploration of forbidden, cautious love.”
Vanessa Bunn, Extra! Extra! London UK
“Lantz’s richly textured script and fragmented structure captures the spirit of the parochial South.”
Paul Vale, The Stage, London UK
“James Lantz’s intimate and touching drama stars two teens who swap spit in an old bus parked in the middle of an explosive conflict between a megachurch and a gas station … an admirable critique of faith-fueled small-town homophobia.”
The Advocate Magazine
“A tale of gay love and religious conflict well worth getting a ticket for The Bus.”
Sheila Chisolm, Cape Times, Cape Town, South Africa
“I have never been more moved by any experience in my life than to be a tiny part of the phenomenal presence of The Bus in our town … the hearts and minds of those who were fortunate enough to be a part of this experience will be forever changed.”
Steph Mott, Trans-Christian, Topeka, KS
“The Bus has the flavor of Our Town with a little Alfred Hitchcock tossed in ... more than a worthy night at the theatre. See it before it goes on the road, straight to the heartland.”
New York Theatre Guide, NYC
“A fascinating play, full of surprises.”
Howard Loxton, British Theatre Guide, London UK
“James Lantz has a first-rate story to tell and surprises to spring in what is an exceedingly well-written play.”
Reviews Gate, Will Russell, London UK
“An extraordinary play … a taut, often darkly amusing script.”
Brent Hallenbeck, Burlington Free Press, Burlington, VT
The Bus
The Bus is the award-winning LGBTQ story of two boys who regularly rendezvous in a parked church bus to explore a budding relationship hidden from family and friends. When their secret meeting place is in danger of being discovered, the boys find themselves in the middle of a conflict between the largest church in town, and the owner of a gas station — who also happens to be the father of one of the boys. Centered in small-town America in the 80’s, The Bus tells a story about secrets, religion and, as The Burlington Free Press described it, “the flammable bonds of family.”
The Bus has played nationally and internationally including Off Broadway at 59E59 in New York City, Cape Town South Africa, and London UK.
In 2016, The Bus was honored with a state winner award in The Clauder Prize.
Pictured above (l to r) Brian Fitzgerald and Will Roland.