It all began for Joshua doing weird little plays and musicals at the community theater near his home in Katy, Texas. Surprisingly, that theatre opened its doors for all people to express their creativity. Little did they know they were becoming the incubator for Joshua’s fertile imagination and creativity.

“I love art that just allows us just as human beings to be included, and environments to allow us to bring ourselves to rehearsal”, the young artist remarked; acknowledging their ability to provide a safe space for growth. Joshua’s style is evolving into mastering the art of a simple conversation growing into the necessary talk. Clever, the best education and enlightenment is one that sneaks up on you.

After a moment’s pause, he said “as an artist I just want to write things that have a heartbeat.”

Viewing his latest work – Café Americano – you will hear that heartbeat.

We were lucky enough to have a moment with Josh to ask a few questions about him and his work and considering his birthplace, and the lead character’s name our first question was easy…

Is your play — in any way — autobiographical?

I’d say the character of Texas has always felt like a more weathered version of myself despite the circumstances of our current lives being quite different. I’d say all the characters have aspects of people that I know, but none of them are written in an autobiographical way. I’d say the closest to autobiographical would-be Texas just because he’s from Texas and he’s a writer. The second act that primarily focuses on a barista from San Francisco, being played by the incredible Micaela O’Rourke, is completely fictional. As I wrote the play the character of San Francisco just had a clear voice to me, and it was compelling, so I just followed where it took me.

What – or who – inspired you to write this play?

So many things, too many things. My biggest inspiration for this play would be the diaries of Ned Rorem. He was a composer who published his diaries. He spent a good amount of time going between Paris and New York. He’s just so utterly honest. He talks about wanting to meet himself one day which was something that felt so raw to me. The idea of meeting ourselves was so intriguing and as I kept reading his diaries, I just felt like there was something about the space we give ourselves in a journal where we feel emboldened to write what we are scared to say. I realized I wanted to write a play that was made up of our innermost thoughts and this was the result. Ned Rorem passed away as I was working on the play, but I’d like to think he’d enjoy it.

Your plotline reads like the grand old romantic comedies of the golden age of the silver screen but with a twist. Are we ready for the LGBTQ version of these feel-good themes?

I don’t know if we’ll ever be ready for the queer version of these themes. There will always be people who aren’t ready for these stories being told by queer people about LGBTQ+ people and growing up I have been surrounded by these people who aren’t ready. That doesn’t prevent us from needing this representation, and I’m still going to write it. Some will be able to see that I’m trying to write about people going through things all of us feel: love, grief, joy, compassion, and all the other things we feel on a daily basis. Other people will only see it as strange, or “not normal”. Hopefully by watching my work they will see we are all just human. If they can’t see that then it’s ok, at the very least queer people will know they are not alone in feeling the very human things we feel.

Why the Fresh Fruit festival?

I’ve worked with this festival previously and the mission to uplift LGBTQ+ voices is very honorable. Working with them last year was incredible and it’s very well organized. Also, it’s always very clear that Frank, Louis, and everyone at Fresh Fruit care about the artists they are working with, which just makes the experience much more enjoyable. Plus, the Wild Project is just the cutest space ever. It reminds me of a theater I did shows at when I was young. It’s a little slice of home for me in the East Village.

What’s next?

Well, first I’m graduating from Wagner College this May. Finances pending I’ll be at Pace this fall to get my MFA in Playwriting. Other than that, I have a couple of preproduction things for possibly another run of Café or another play I have been working on, but of course we will see. I’m very excited to see what is next, but I’m trying to focus on the blessing that this experience has been so far.