‘Hi, Are You Single?’
Ohio Wesleyan Alumnus Ryan J. Haddad Performs One-Man Show Aug. 30 for Sagan National Colloquium
DELAWARE, Ohio – Actor, playwright, and autobiographical performer Ryan J. Haddad’s solo play, “Hi, Are You Single,” has been described in The Huffington Post as “a show that should and needs to be seen.”
A 2015 Ohio Wesleyan University graduate, Haddad will return to campus Aug. 30 for a performance and talkback of his acclaimed show, an exploration of the dating scene for a gay man with cerebral palsy. Haddad, who began writing the piece while an OWU theatre and English double-major, will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 30 on the Main Stage in Chappelear Drama Center, 45 Rowland Ave., Delaware.
He describes his show as “an examination of intimacy, rejection, and judgment. But also Grindr, fabulous drag queens, and go-go dancers.” And Haddad, jokingly, has one request for those who attend: “Please bring an attractive male friend with you.”
Intended for mature audiences only, Haddad’s performance will be followed by a discussion about the creation and evolution of the show and of his career.
The event, co-sponsored by the OWU Department of Theatre & Dance, is part of the university’s 2019-2020 Sagan National Colloquium. This year’s semester-long colloquium – titled “OWU: Our World Needs You” – is an exploration of the many ways Ohio Wesleyan alumni are working to change the world.
Writing for The Huffington Post, journalist Christina Paschyn says of Haddad’s “Hi, Are You Single?”: “It is a stirring work of theater, replete with both heartrending and deliberately hilarious moments. It is a show that should and needs to be seen.”
Haddad, now living and working in New York, previously performed “Hi, Are You Single?” during the Public Theater’s 2017 Under the Radar Festival, and the play continues to tour the country. In addition to live theatre, Haddad’s television credits include “Bull,” “Madam Secretary,” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” He also has a recurring role in the upcoming Netflix series “The Politician,” streaming Sept. 27.
He is a member of The Public Theater’s Emerging Writers Group and a former Queer|Art Performance and Playwriting Fellow. Learn more about Haddad at www.ryanjhaddad.com.
“Hi, Are You Single” is directed by Laura Savia, associate artistic director of the Tony Award-winning Williamstown Theatre Festival, with sound design by Lawrence Schober of New York’s Five Ohm Productions. For the Ohio Wesleyan production, lighting design will be by the OWU Theatre & Dance Department.
Admission is free for this Sagan National Colloquium theatre performance and talkback. For a complete listing of all upcoming colloquium events, visit www.owu.edu/snc.
About the Sagan National Colloquium
Now in its 35th year, the Sagan National Colloquium seeks annually to address in-depth an issue of national or global importance. The colloquium is funded by an endowment from 1948 OWU alumni Margaret Pickett Sagan and John Sagan, both deceased. Past colloquium speakers have included social activist Gloria Steinem, authors Barbara Ehrenreich and Kurt Vonnegut, Nobel Peace Prize winner Jody Williams, and former President Gerald Ford. Learn more at www.owu.edu/snc.
About Ohio Wesleyan University
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 90 undergraduate majors and competes in 25 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through Ohio Wesleyan’s signature OWU Connection program, students integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives” and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.