A comedic play called Clyde's serves up a tale of second chances at Ground Floor Theatre starting May 16. The heartwarming comedy by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage blends humor and heart on a stage dedicated to amplifying the stories of historically marginalized communities.

The story revolves around the formerly incarcerated kitchen staff at Clyde's, a sandwich shop. As they navigate their new lives and their tough-as-nails boss, Clyde (played by Yunina Barbour-Payne), they find purpose and inspiration in their shared quest to create the perfect sandwich. Under the direction of Lacey Cannon Gonzales and Carl Gonzales, the cast has worked to bring these complex characters to life.

"Each performance offers a distinct experience; What occurs on a Friday night differs from a Sunday matinee," said the directors in an email to CultureMap, emphasizing the live allure of theater. "Nothing quite matches the atmosphere of sharing the same space, immersed in the energy of the actors and fellow audience members. Together, everyone is taking a collective journey."

While the play deals with heavy themes, it does so with a generous serving of humor. Reintegrating into society is, of course, not as simple as making a perfect sandwich, but the parallels are where truth can be found without forcing the point. The directors believe that laughter can be a powerful tool for connecting with audiences and driving home important messages.

"Humor serves as a powerful tool in storytelling," they continue. "We are fortunate to be working with incredibly talented actors that understand the energy and balance needed for this production. In rehearsals, we have worked together to bring nuanced perspectives to the characters. These conversations allowed us to navigate the comedic moments with finesse, while also delving into the heavier subject matter with authenticity."

As an incubator for innovative and groundbreaking works, Ground Floor Theater aims to illuminate the experiences of often overlooked groups, providing a platform for their stories to be told and their voices to be heard. In addition to Clyde's, this season features works about the trans experience, institutionalized racism, and an Iranian's imaginings of a world he can't travel (season extra).

"Representation in theatre is incredibly important," says Ground Floor Theatre founder Lisa Scheps, also in an email. "I think seeing ourselves realistically reflected back from the stage gives us a little credibility. As a trans person, it was only recently I saw trans representation in the media that wasn’t derogatory or clownish and that had a huge impact on me. GFT really wants to shine a light on those communities that seldom bask in its glow."

Returning to this spoonful of sugar idea — humorous theater about complex and often heavy topics — Scheps encourages people to seek out some viewpoints outside of their comfort zone and experience through storytelling.

"Theatre is a safe and entertaining way to do that," she says. "Who doesn’t want to learn about other lives, experiences, and adventures?”

In keeping with Ground Floor Theatre's commitment to "theatre for everyone," tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can basis. Suggested prices are $25 for general admission. Shows run May 16 through June 1. Tickets available at groundfloortheatre.org