M. D Schaffer
He, him, his, they, them, theirs
New York City, NY
M. D. Schaffer (He/They) is a Non-Binary, Ashkenazi, African American writer, choreographer, librettist, and lyricist from Houston, Texas.
Biography

M. D. Schaffer (He/They) is a Non-Binary, Ashkenazi, African American writer, choreographer, librettist, and lyricist born in Houston, Texas, and residing in New York City. Their previous works include Southern Seeds: An Americana Story with the Ensemble Theatre’s New Voices Fest, The Last Days of Victor Greymore with Emerging Artist Festival, A Rodeo Clown with the Obsidian Theatre Festival, & Drapteomania: A Negro Carol with the We Will Dream Festival. Additionally, they are a 2023 recipient for the Pine Meadow Ranch for Arts & Agriculture Residency program with Roundhouse Foundation. They are a proud alumni of the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at New York University - Tisch. Their works examine the relationship between Americana historical romanticism and contemporary American reality. 

Plays

by M. D. Schaffer

Welcome to the 3rd Annual Bimbo Summit! Created by Bodhi Baby, a young Zen Buddhism teacher, this Bimbo-themed Buddhist retreat explores the intersection between new Western progressive ideals and the Eastern religion. The group will partake in sessions asking them to let go of external stressors and trauma through meditation, dialogue, and physical activity. However, when discussions around privilege, appropriation, and accountability are brought into focus, our Bimbo Buddhists realize that sometimes letting go isn’t so easy. With insecurities here and a dash of pink there, they’ll explore whether change is possible in a world that seems to resist change.

Cast:
BODHI BABY - An academic who dropped out of college and turned to a life practicing Zen Buddhism. Through her travels, she developed a new version of Zen Buddhism through the guise of a hyper-gendered, Gen-Z lens. Now, she leads an annual, weekend-long retreat to the middle of the Utah desert in order to help people reach Nirvana through a new approach of Western Zen Buddhism. Favorite Bimbo: Elle Woods. Real Name: Ariela Funk. Female-presenting. White. Mid 20s. Hot.* EVERY BABY - An influencer whose the literal definition of could be your sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare. Probably has a knife hidden on them at all times. Stone cold to strangers but flirty after you get past the walls. A childhood friend of Bodhi Baby & Ken Doll Baby. Favorite Bimbo: Usagi Tsukino a.k.a. Sailor Moon. Real Name: Jay Beltran. Any Gender (pronouns should match the actors preferred pronouns.)** White. Mid 20s. Hot.* KEN DOLL BABY - A cis straight man with a head of nothingness and a heart of gold. But also deeply feeling. Never really saw anything through in life. Got a baseball scholarship to a good school, dropped out. Attended a trade school, flunked out. Tried to become a trainer, accidentally overworked a client. A childhood friend of Bodhi Baby & Every Baby. Favorite Bimbo: Kronk. Real Name: Ken Alberga. Male. Any Race. Mid-20s. Hot* SILLY BABY - A therapist who always finds something to laugh about. Trying to learn from Bohdi Baby in order to help her clients. While she can be a Mama Bear, she's the type of Mom who would tell her kids why not to do certain drugs from experience, and trust me, she will hammer it home. Does she have any kids? She won't tell. Everyone's best friend. Favorite Bimbo: Brittany Spears. Real Name: Salena Glass. Female. Any Race. Mid 20s. Hot* BABY BABY - The newcomer to the "Bimbo Summit". Shy and reserved from trauma that has not been unpacked. She holds all of her cards close to her chest and you're gonna need a crowbar to pry it from her. Favorite Bimbo: Marilyn Monroe Real Name: Moira Garrison. Female. White. Early 20s. Hot* GOTHIC BABY - They are a proud black goth who mixes the aesthetics of classic punk, early 2000s emo, and modern bimbo. Some of their spikes are not just for show. Favorite Bimbo: Chrissy Chlapecka (They love that white woman.) Real Name: Sage Williams. Any Gender. (pronouns should match the actors preferred pronouns.)** Black. Late 20s. Hot* FANCY BABY - A first year medical student with the most confident flair. Despite being a young gay man, he evokes a mix of the mother who has a "Be the kind of woman who, when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says Oh, no! She's up." and Nicki Minaj. He's also a budding baby drag queen with the cutest boots to match. Favorite Bimbo: Nicki Minaj. Real Name: Isaac Perlman. Male. Any race except for visibly White or Black. Early 20s. Hot* MRS. GARRISON - Moira's Mormon mother. A Karen. Also, her name is Karen. Probably your biggest nightmare. White. Female. Middle Aged. MR. GARRISON - Moira's Mormon father. His stare has probably caused a myriad of daddy issues. White. Male. Middle Aged.

Successes

The Workshop Theatre’s Spring 2023 Workshop Intensive - 2023

Pine Meadow Ranch for Arts & Agriculture Residency - 2023

Harlem9's "48 Hours in Harlem" - 2023

"Drapetomania: A Negrol Carol" – We Will Dream: New Works Fest - 2023

"Southern Seeds" – The Ensemble Theatre: New Voices Fest - 2022

"A Rodeo Clown" – Obsidian Theatre Festival - 2022