A Contemporary Comedy About An Autistic Man's Longing For Connection And Courage

Island City Stage’s production of Light Switch is directed by Michael Leeds and stars Silver Palm Award-winner Gage Callenius as Henry, multi-Carbonell Award-winner Irene Adjan as Marian, Eric Gospodinoff as Joseph, Larry Toyter as Roggie, and Luis Roberto Herrera as Aaron/Ken/Another Guy.

“As Henry, Gage Callenius is a name to remember. Carefully molded by the expert director Michael Leeds, his marathon performance is convincing physically and emotionally, consistent, detailed and covering a wide emotional range.” – Bill Hirschman, Florida Theater on Stage

“This is a fascinating, edgy, enlightening, funny but also often emotionally difficult play to experience.” - Mindy Leaf, South Florida Theater Magazine

“The entire audience was captivated. It’s such an emotional and insightful story done by a stellar cast! I’ve seen it twice and it’s not enough. Love the explanation of the Light Switch mind! This truly resonates with so many! I saw heads nodding throughout the theater.” -Lydia Tegelaar Carlson, audience member

“We saw this on Saturday night with another couple... and I can't describe how much I loved this show! We laughed, we cried ... I was so impressed with entire cast, but I must say, Gage Callenius as Henry was REMARKABLE. I was so moved by his performance and hope that EVERYONE goes to see this play. You won't be disappointed. THANK YOU to the entire cast - we will be back to see it again before it goes!” - Brent Booher, audience member

This poignant coming-of-age story thoughtfully portrays one remarkable young man's journey to find anything -- or anyone -- that lights up his heart the way 19th century romantic literature does. When Henry ultimately meets a potential match in Joseph, he wonders if Joseph will be the one to “flip the switch.” Funny, moving, and profoundly relatable, Light Switch captures an Autistic man's longing for connection and the courage it takes to be truly seen.

Autistic playwright Dave Osmundsen’s work explores the intersections of queerness and neurodiversity. Light Switch received its world premiere with Spectrum Theatre Ensemble in April 2022. Light Switch was also the 2021 Distinguished Achievement recipient of the Jean Kennedy Smith Playwriting Award, an Honorable Mention finalist for BAPF 2021, long listed for the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award, a finalist for the 2020 Carlo Annoni Playwriting Prize, and a semi-finalist for the 2020 National Playwrights Conference. Osmundsen’s work has been seen and developed at KCACTF Region 8, the Kennedy Center/NNPN MFA Playwrights Workshop, B Street Theatre, the William Inge Theatre Festival, the Midwest Dramatists Conference, Phoenix Theatre Company, Clamour Theatre Company, Premiere Stages, and more. He was one of two recipients of the Blank Theatre and Ucross Foundation's inaugural Future of Playwriting Prize. His one-act, A Firework Unexploded, was a semi-finalist for the NYC Audio Theatre Writing Contest and was produced by Pint-Sized in London. His plays have been published by or are forthcoming in The Dionysian, Canyon Voices, Exposition Review and Broadway Play Publishing. MFA: Arizona State University.

Light Switch co-producers are Funding Arts Broward & Mark Loeser and the Opening Doors Charitable Trust; Lights and Sound Sponsor is Scott Bennett; Talent Sponsors are Jim Morgan & Joe Rodonis; Costume Sponsor is Richard Meyerson; and Set Sponsor is Glenn Goldberg. Additional funding is provided by the following: The Our Fund Foundation, The Schubert Foundation Inc., the SHS Foundation, the Warten Foundation, and OutClique.

From twisted tales to touching human stories, Island City Stage invites you to expect the unexpected. Closing out its 14th Season of bold productions, each delivering unexpected twists, inventive storytelling, and unforgettable theatrical moments, is the Tony Award-winning play Eureka Day by Jonathan Spector from Thursday, August 20th, 2026 – Sunday, September 20th, 2026.

The show runs for one hour and 50 minutes with an intermission.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.islandcitystage.org. Or call: (954) 928-9800. Or email: boxoffice@islandcitystage.org. Follow Island City Stage on: www.Facebook at facebook.com/IslandCityStage - And on Instagram at: @islandcitystage.

About Island City Stage

Founded in 2012, Island City Stage is a professional regional theater committed to sharing classic and contemporary stories, engaging audiences with entertaining, challenging, and inspiring productions and programs. These shows are brought to life on stage through the talents of professional artists whose credits include Broadway, Off Broadway, national tours, major regional theaters, film and television. Island City Stage offers an intimate setting with six rows of stadium seating to foster a feeling of inclusion and participation at each theatrical event. Island City Stage is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. It is located at 2304 North Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors, Florida 33305. For tickets and more information, please call: (954) 928-9800. Or visit: www.islandcitystage.org.