born & raised in florida.
running away ever since.
photo by Layne Beckner Grime
Alison Fishburn is a Pushcart-nominated writer, award-winning playwright, performer, and community organizer.
PLAYS & PROJECTS
The resurrection of Sarah Jeremiah
Coming July 2024
A solo, spoken-word performance that will debut during the 2024 Hamilton Fringe Festival (July 17-28, 2024) for Fringe On The Street, with The City of Hamilton.
Are you good enough?
Watershed Writers - Season 4, Episode 4
talking church boyfriends with writer tanis macdonald
PURITY! A CONVERSATION
2023
An in-depth conversation about purity culture from the personal experience and insight of three expert writers on the subject, recorded for a special podcast episode by Dr. Sara Moslener for “Straight White American Jesus.”
CHURCH BOYFRIENDS & other impure thoughts
2023
CHURCH BOYFRIENDS & OTHER IMPURE THOUGHTS, written & performed by Alison Fishburn, is a solo performance about the coming of age sexuality of an evangelical Christian teenager in Florida and the boys who were too intimidated to go the distance with her.
CHURCH BOYFRIENDS was first presented during the 2023 Hamilton Fringe Festival at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, Ontario, directed by Sara E. Culley. The performance run was awarded “Best In Venue,” recognizing the highest overall ticket sales at one of the four main Fringe venues.
The set was designed and created by Alison Fishburn, with Sara Culley. Lighting and sound design was by Sara E. Culley, with Tabitha Jakabffy.
CHURCH BOYFRIENDS was subsequently performed again at The Staircase in Hamilton, ON on October 13-15, 2023. Taylor Finnigan was the lighting and sound technician.
“…one wishes the show could be longer to spend more time with this friend and her secrets… it’s quirky, silly, well-told and well-executed- it’s everything one could want from a one-person show or Fringe experience.” Beyond James
“While years of foreplay may not be sustainable, Fishburn’s personal and relatable piece certainly is.” Steel City Girl
photos by Jono & Laynie Co.
“Tanis MacDonald sits down with Alison Fishburn to talk about purity culture, writing about class and finding fellowship as an author, and her award-winning performance in her one-woman play… Church Boyfriends & Other Impure Thoughts.”
RIVERSIDE READING SERIES
Since 2022
RIVERSIDE READING SERIES is a Paris, Ontario-based literary organization launched by Alison in 2022 to support writers of all ages and professional levels.
photos by Layne Beckner-Grime
photo by Zach Mumford
a man’s best friend dies
2016
A MAN’S BEST FRIEND DIES is a full length play written by Alison Fishburn.
When Martin's best friend, a dog named Pierre, is diagnosed with Terminally Dying, he begins a journey of confronting the greatest loss of his life, discovering that the world isn't obliged to give breaks for the bereaved.
A MAN'S BEST FRIEND DIES was first presented at The West End Theatre (at the Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew) in New York City on October 27, 2016, directed by Alison Fishburn.
The set design, lighting and sound design were also by Alison. The costume design was a collaboration between Alison and the cast. The cast included Sara Culley, Lev Gartman, Tim Layman, and Kendall Segovia.
kidnap: a tale of southern hospitality
2015
KIDNAP: A TALE OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY is a full length play written by Alison Fishburn, an exercise in trying to piece together fragments of family history.
In the heart of 1963 Florida, a couple has gone to great lengths to conceal a family secret. Over the course of one supper with longtime friends the truth is dragged into the open, laying bare their version of morality for the sake of appearance.
KIDNAP: A TALE OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY was first presented at St. Paul's Theater in Brooklyn on October 29, 2015, directed by Dennis Feitosa.
The set design was by Christopher Mattiucci. The lighting and sound design was by Christopher Mattiucci and Dennis Feitosa. The costume design was by Christopher Mattiucci and Alison Fishburn. The cast included Steve Capps, Sara Culley, Ellen Fraher, Tim Layman, and Kendall Segovia.
KIDNAP: A TALE OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY was subsequently performed again at St. Paul's Theater on December 16, 2015.
dear natalie, it’s me stazia
2014
DEAR NATALIE, IT’S ME STAZIA is a full length play written by Alison Fishburn with Christopher Mattiucci.
Hilarity is horrific and tragic is comedic in this tale of Stazia's search for love and belonging in the loneliest city on earth: New York. To the outside world she lives a life of comfort and grandeur, though on the inside she is torn, caught between the realities of her tragic family past and a 20-something’s idealism for the future.
DEAR NATALIE, IT'S ME STAZIA was first presented at Magnet Theater in New York City on August 9, 2014, directed by Alex Marino.
The set design was by Christopher Mattiucci. The lighting and sound design was by Alex Marino and Dmitry Shein. The costume design was by Alison Fishburn. The cast included Steve Capps, Alison Fishburn, Tamar Gressel, Ivy Hong, Brendan Jordan, Alex Marino, Christopher Mattiucci, Anne Vogel-Antonucci, and Tamara Young.
DEAR NATALIE, IT'S ME STAZIA was subsequently performed again at Magnet Theater in October 2014. Cast replacements included Dennis Feitosa and Nathan Peterman.