X’s and O’s: A Football Love Story

From X's and O's: A Football Love Story

About the Play

4m, 2w
85 minutes

Are you ready for some football? Playwright and football superfan KJ Sanchez and Jenny Mercein’s fascinating and hard-hitting docudrama X’s and O’s: A Football Love Story is based on interviews with players, their families, and their fans. The play examines our country’s passion for a sport that is both generous and dangerous, life-giving yet lethal. X’s and O’s: A Football Love Story was commissioned by Berkeley Rep and developed in The Ground Floor, Berkeley Rep’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work.

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Reviews

"The docu-drama is a well-acted, tightly constructed, thought-provoking package that offers a captivating summation of football and our modern-day soul-searching related to the sport." Baltimore City Paper

"X’s and O’s is insightful, powerfully moving, and emotionally stirring on levels that one simply has to see to believe." theatrebloom.com

"X's and O's"...has heart and honesty. Most importantly, the play does what it set out to do — make you think in fresh ways about a game that holds a big part of this country in its thrall. Jenny Mercein's sensitive acting is another plus. " Baltimore Sun

"Insightful and intelligent, X’s and O’s is a thought-provoking, culturally relevant theater piece that is informative and entertaining enough to enchant even non-football fans. Whether a fervent fan or a casual observer who watches the Super Bowl just for the half-time show and commercials, this production packs pathos, humor and humanity to engage, enrich, and delight. Touchdown!" dcmetrotheaterarts.com

Huffington Post calls the show "a high energy drama.” Huffington Post

“Handsomely and smoothly directed by Tony Taccone, [X’s and O’s] unfolds on a round stage that looks like a sports-talk TV set, with multiple small and large screens…. Judging by the standing ovation at Friday’s opening, anyone who loves football might want to rush to see Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s world premiere.” SF Gate

“Eye-opening, unnerving yet entertaining...Even if you are not a football fan, it’s hard not to be moved...X’s and O’s is like the game itself: Some of the hits are so hard, they’ll make you uncomfortable, but you won’t want to stop watching!" Oakland Tribune / Bay Area News Group

“For all the zippy fun in the play – and there’s plenty – this is a play that says loving something blindly or madly is ultimately irresponsible if you’re not also considering the bigger picture. That X’s and O’s asks us to seriously consider the duality of football – its value, its cost, its cultural relevance – is a significant matter…. Credit director Tony Taccone with providing just enough flash with the stadium lights and the near-constant video projections to balance with the generally strong performances from his energetic cast of six.” Theater Dogs

“X’s and O’s certainly deserves to be seen. Whether you’re a rabid fan or someone who watches the Super Bowl just for the commercials, there’s enough pathos, humor, and humanity here to engage and delight! Special note is due ex-49er Dwight Hicks, whose portrayal of a fellow former player is hysterically funny and delightfully honest.” Talkin’ Broadway

“…a well-earned standing ovation.” Theatreworld

A "…fully formed and polished piece of theater that's informative and entertaining enough to please even non-fans." SFIst