Whether we like it not, we are consumed by our connections to cardboard boxes. As a child, with the delight of life around every corner, the box is the most amazing gift—not the contents, just the box. As a parent, when the mind and body separate more with each passing day, our possessions (and sometimes our bodies) are stored in boxes for future generations to curse and explore. Are we to be summed up solely by the contents of a cardboard box—a somewhat nihilistic attitude in corrugated paper? box. unabashedly demands ransoming our lives from the boxes tucked away under the bed, back of the closet, down in the basement, up in the attic and gives voice to the process, often painful, of packing and unpacking our lives.

Actor/director Dennis Elkins argues creatively for bringing order to the chaos of saving “junk” in our cardboard boxes. 

box. is an autobiographical journey of cleaning house after loved ones die and when those of us who are left must choose what to keep and what to shred. The easy solution is to dump the stuff in a box and deal with it later—but, when “later” comes, we still agonize with the left-overs in a comical way. This 70 minute one-man play, performed without intermission, demands ransoming our lives from the boxes tucked away under the bed, back of the closet, down in the basement and up in the attic. Giving voice to the sometimes prickly, yet pleasurable, process of packing and unpacking our prized possessions. 

Though a native of Elkhart, Kansas, Dennis spent several years in the academic theatre arena all over the United States, mostly in the Southeast and Rocky Mountain areas. Home base is currently the South Harlem area of NYC which enriches his time between acting, directing, teaching and writing opportunities. Favorite roles include Shylock, Polonius, Sir Toby Belch, Rothko, Picasso, Joe Keller and Edna Turnblad. Elkins is a certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and a member of Actors’ Equity Association. 

Dennis Elkins, writer and actor

25 years, until mid-2017, were focused on the academic theatre arena in the US Southeast and Rocky Mountain areas. Home base is currently the South Harlem area of NYC which enriches his time between acting, directing, teaching and writing opportunities. Favorite roles include Shylock, Polonius, Sir Toby, Rothko, Picasso, Joe Keller and Edna Turnblad. Elkins is a certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework® and a member of Actors’ Equity Association. 

Karla Knudsen, collaborator and director

Karla has taught in both the performing arts and foundation studies departments at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). Karla is a freelance teacher, director, performer, and acting coach. She also teaches/learns with her daughters through the Georgia Cyber Academy and is a consulting editor for ARTPULSE Magazine. Karla holds degrees from SCAD and Carnegie Mellon University.

Elaine Wong, lighting designer

Elaine is from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and received her MFA in Lighting Design from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. She is the resident lighting designer with the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts (CO) and with Resolve Productions’ Misterman (NYC/Ireland). She is currently a Master Electrician and Adjunct Professor with Montclair State University, and her website can be found at www.elainewong-LX.com.

Robert Hornbostel, sound designer

Robert is a freelance designer, engineer, and composer from Chicago. Robert designs with companies such as Porchlight Music Theater, Rivendell Theater Ensemble, Black Button Eyes, Roosevelt University, and Underscore. A graduate of Illinois State University, he has worked with companies such as The Santa Fe Opera, The Cape Playhouse, Music Theater Wichita, as well as teaching with Fort Lewis College, Western Illinois University, and University of Nebraska Lincoln. Information can be found at TechmagicDesigns.com.

Monique Cuyler, stage manager, design assistant and board operator

Monique is from Colorado Springs Colorado, and she recently graduated from Fort Lewis College with a BA in Technical Theatre. During her time at Fort Lewis College, she had one World Denver Broadway nomination in 2017 for Best Lighting Design for a straight play. This performance of box. is Monique’s first show after graduation. She is excited to work with outstanding designers as well as participating in the directing process.