Article by guest writer, Dr. Mira Solis
As the Fresh Fruit Festival continues to champion the evolution of queer storytelling, a bold new voice is emerging from the halls of NYU Tisch.
Esme Roberts
Written when the playwright was just 17 and refined through the rigorous lenses of Playwrights Horizons Theatre School, Little Bitches is a raw, comedic, and unapologetically Gen-Z exploration of the “social hierarchy” that governs teenage life.
Set against the nostalgic, pressure-cooker backdrop of a California summer camp, the play captures that “weird age” where the simplicity of childhood activities meets the jarring arrival of the male gaze and adult expectations.
The Title: Reclaiming the “Bitch”
The title Little Bitches is intentionally provocative. It serves as a three-pronged commentary on:
- External Perception: How society labels young women who don’t fit a specific “pretty and fun” mold.
- Internal Friction: The toxicity that arises when young women are pressured to compete for male attention.
- Empowerment: A reclaimed badge of honor, turning a slur into a source of pride and autonomy.
“I wanted to turn ‘bitch’ into something powerful that these girls can own… a commentary on that in-between state between childhood and adult life.”
Identity Without the “Other”
At the center of the narrative is Jenna, a character who mirrors the playwright’s own journey of coming out. Unlike many traditional “coming-out” stories, Little Bitches eschews explicit homophobia in favor of exploring internalized struggle.
The play makes a radical argument for normalization: being gay doesn’t mean being “other.” Jenna is sweet, sensitive, and fully realized; her sexuality is a part of her, but it doesn’t prevent her from participating in the “typical girl talk” about crushes and social dynamics. It is a play designed to be as relatable to straight audiences as it is celebratory for queer ones.
From Santa Monica to New York City
The play’s journey from its premiere in Santa Monica to NYU’s Bridge Productions—and now the Fresh Fruit Festival—highlights the universal resonance of West Coast teenage culture. While the “L.A. energy” and its specific beauty standards provide a subconscious tension, the story’s “mean girl” wit and awkward pacing have landed just as effectively with East Coast audiences.
The Creative Evolution
| Stage | Milestone | Key Influence |
| High School | Initial Script | Written for “fun” with zero pressure and instinctive structure. |
| The Crow (SM) | Comedy Training | Influenced by the “horribly embarrassed” tone of Pen15. |
| NYU Tisch | Refining the Craft | Applying story structure and “psychoanalyzing” characters at Playwrights Horizons. |
| Fresh Fruit 2026 | Professional Premiere | A clean-slate interpretation directed by Tori and Sam (NextDoor Theatre Co). |
The Logic of Comedy
The play’s “savage” dialogue and impeccable timing are products of a deep background in improv and sketch comedy (with groups like Etch a Sketch and The Lawfirm). Under the mentorship of Mickey and Nicole Blaine at The Crow, the playwright learned the “rules of comedy” that allowed a three-page sketch to evolve into a full-length exploration of social survival.
A Vision for the Future
For a young artist, featuring work in a festival that prioritizes diverse perspectives is more than a professional milestone—it’s a tool for processing reality. Little Bitches isn’t a “heavy” play; it is a campy, relatable celebration of self-acceptance.
And for those who can’t get enough of the camp dynamics, the journey is just beginning: a feature film adaptation is currently in development.
Arts & Entertainment Compass 
Leave a comment