Mark-Eugene Garcia Joins ‘THE SLOPPY ABANDON OF EXCAVATED LOVE’ at Fresh Fruit Festival

The Fresh Fruit Festival kicks off its Mainstage season with the provocative new drama THE SLOPPY ABANDON OF EXCAVATED LOVE, opening at The Wild Project.

The play follows Marcus, who discovers a journal from the 1980s and becomes increasingly absorbed in its contents. What begins as curiosity turns into a kind of emotional possession, as the past bleeds into the present. His relationship with his boyfriend Jason begins to strain, while his friendship with Kelvin grows more complicated, intimate, and volatile.

Written by Dennis Bush, the piece continues his long-standing relationship with the festival. Bush previously presented HEAD FIRST at Fresh Fruit, where it earned awards for Outstanding Play, Director, and Performance. A prolific voice in contemporary theatre, he has written more than 50 plays and monologue collections, with productions staged internationally from London to Johannesburg. His work is published and represented by Next Stage Press, and he also works as a script and dialogue consultant across theatre, film, and television.

Direction is by Lester Thomas Shane, guiding a cast that includes Collin Hendley, Chris Ikner, Grace Maddux, John Trindl, and Garcia. The production marks Bush’s return to Fresh Fruit in April 2026, following the premieres of his award-winning works (Mary)Todd, ...Where You Eat, and Head First.
Beyond the stage, Bush continues to expand his reach, with new one-act plays Sometimes the Voices and Like a Bolt of Lightning now published and available for licensing. His solo-actor play Alan Loves Audrey was recently performed in Los Angeles, further cementing his reputation for emotionally incisive, actor-driven work.

Performance Schedule

• Monday at 7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

​Tickets

Tickets for THE SLOPPY ABANDON OF EXCAVATED LOVE and other Mainstage events are now available. Performances take place at The Wild Project, located at 195 East 3rd Street in New York City.
More information: https://freshfruitfestival.com/26_mstage/