Letters From Tyra

The Brick/ Exponential Festival

2026

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Written and Performed by Derek Smith
Directed by Sarah Blush
Sound by Johnny Gasper
Lights by Mikelle Kelly
Visual Design by Normandy Sherwood
Associate Sound Design: Emma Hasselbach
Stage Manager Cliff Hoitt-Lange

A spectacular duet blending song, dance, and scene work on national and Italian themes.

"The irrepressible Derek Smith barrels through an absurd assortment of vignettes with barefaced honesty and sensitivity. From vaudevillian ridiculousness and side-splitting physical comedy to an earnest rendition of a Red Hot Chili Peppers greatest hits medley, Smith is unafraid to poke fun at himself and his work while pointing to deeper concerns in love, aging, and the place of art in life."

Sarah Cecilia Bukowski, Dance Enthusiast

"Delight...almost makes me believe in god"

-Staff Picks

"A revelatory duo-turned-solo revenge dream ballet of epic and petty proportions. Like all great queer performance, Derek invoked the ennui of queer life, our shared humiliations and obsessions, while being rigorously, gorgeously stupid. Robust, rare faggotry that must be protected at all costs."

-Matthew Antoci, Staff Picks

TV:

Abby Glusker, UTA