Heart/Lung: An Original Play

Heart/Lung is a genre-blending new drama about a closeted lesbian doctor who falls in love with her patient, premiering this May at Brooklyn’s The Vino Theater. The play follows ambitious pulmonologist Patricia D. Smith from 1984 onward as she navigates a career shaped by identity struggles, love, and resilience. When she meets her first patient, Sandy, their instant connection is complicated by the realities of prejudice and the risks of being openly queer in her profession, forcing Patricia to choose between her truth and her career. Created by playwright and director AJ Dwayne, Heart/Lung has evolved from a short piece into a full-length production, grounded in extensive research and interviews. At its core, the play is a call for empathy, exploring the universal need to live with dignity, authenticity, and love.